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COUNCILLOR’S REPORT
10 Glebe Report March 10, 2017

Fake news, no news and

the erosion of journalism

If you’ve never taken a The ability of gov-
moment to be thankful ernments or politicians
for this quality com- to communicate is
munity newspaper, limited without a
you should do so now. strong fifth estate. No,
Not just because it’s social media cannot
For a comprehensive overview, a valuable source of in themselves replace
please visit our web site: information and debate independent, profes-
www.sandyhill.ca or call about issues and events sional journalism. City
hall and councillors can
that touch our lives but
Nathan Gurnham at (613) 832-1717 because it could someday distribute newsletters,
be the only such source. Councillor send emails, maintain
Many smaller cit- David Chernushenko a website, Tweet and
ies no longer have a www.capitalward.ca more, but our reach
local daily newspaper will always be limited.
nor TV or radio offer- Furthermore, our mes-
ing daily coverage of local issues. In sage will always and should always
Hop Into... some cases, there are no longer any be suspect. That’s to say, you should
paid journalists assigned to cover city
always be asking yourself, “Well,
hall. I know what you’re thinking. Is that’s one version of this story, but I
that really such a bad thing given the wonder what’s not being said?” Ask-
nonsense that often passes for pol- ing hard questions, digging deeper and
itical discourse? I feel that way too filtering all relevant information is the
some days. job of journalists.
But seriously, what would the world
look like if we had no professional,
credible sources of arm’s-length news
coverage and analysis of government
151B Second Ave. (Just steps from Bank St.) and politics? Unfortunately, we’re “Please support your
613-233-7277 closer to that scenario than I ever community paper, subscribe to
thought possible.
Much of our news is already delivered
Please place your EASTER ORDERS early online, often with little or no fact check- a local paper and tell them what
ing or clarity regarding who produces
to avoid any disappointment. the news and what their interests or you do and don’t like about their
biases might be. We’re seeing more and
online orders @ www.sassbakery.ca more fake news and “alternative facts.” coverage...
Ottawa is not immune to this trend.
When I took office in late 2010, city
hall still buzzed with journalists dedi- So while I’m happy there are still
cated to covering the city beat. Despite some media out there delivering
recent cuts by national news chains accurate news and analysis, I lament
and broadcasters, there were at least the deterioration of this fundamental
three full-time reporters covering city pillar of society and democracy. But
hall for the Citizen and the Sun, as well because lamenting won’t change this
as regular columnists writing about trend, last month I decided to act by
municipal issues. The same goes for renewing my subscription to a local
CBC and CTV, although the A Chan- newspaper despite the slow erosion of
nel had already shuttered its news its size, scope and quality.
operation. There was strong coverage Then, I considered how much news I
by CFRA and a couple of other news access online, often via links on Face-
radio stations, Metro and various for- book, and I realized: I’m not paying
profit community newspapers, not to a cent for any of this. If I’m not pay-
mention the French-language media. ing and you’re not paying, is anybody?
Most had multiple reporters. So how can I expect my most reliable
Fast-forward six years: Some of news sources, like the Guardian and
these media outlets no longer exist the National Observer, to employ
or no longer have dedicated city hall professional reporters, analysts and
reporters. The two English-languages editors, and fund essential investiga-
dailies share a newsroom and con- tive journalism? If nobody subscribes
tent. Reporters are also videographers, and if Google and Facebook now
photographers, sound technicians and rake in more than 80 per cent of the
bloggers, plus they’re expected to fill a advertising dollars that used to go to
Twitter feed. I’ve had a Radio Canada traditional media, they can’t.
reporter simultaneously interview and When all the reliable media outlets
film me in French then do it all over have laid off their staff and closed up
again in English with the results end- shop, what are we going to be left with
ing up on both radio and television in for news? We will be left with a smat-
both languages. Some might call this tering of individuals and small outlets
efficiency. I call it stretching journal- working for nothing, plus news releases
ism to the breaking point. and privately funded sources of infor-
Journalists play a critical role in mation. Expect less truth and even
sustaining the informed, engaged more harmful and divisive fake news.
citizenry that is at the heart of a func- So please support your community
tioning democracy. When we lose that paper, subscribe to a local paper and
kind of journalism, whether through tell them what you do and don’t like
editorial interference, staff cuts, less about their coverage, and subscribe to
quality control or excessive commer- at least one or two of your favourite
cialization of the news, democracy “free” online sources. Our democracy
gets throttled. depends on it!

613-580-2487 david.chernushenko@ottawa.ca www.capitalward.ca