Margaret Mascarenhas' replies to Cecil's 4 Questions are to the point. Here in Canada, columnists are given bigger scope to get their views to the readers. In recent cases, two columnists were fired because they wrote something that was unkindly to the ruling Liberal government. Similarly, the publisher of the Ottawa citizen Russell Mills, was fired. The firing of the publisher raised many questions, including mention in the parliament. It is learnt that the paper carried an editorial unfavourable to the prime minister who's a friend of the owners of CanWest, the group the owns Ottawa Citizen and many big papers across Canada. The publisher said he has right to fire his employers. But it has sparked a debate in the journalistic circles. Even the publisher of Canada's biggest paper, The Toronto Star, said the firing of such a senior journalist who spent more than three decades at the paper and is considered a disciplined journalist was wrong. But the group denied Mills' firing had anything to do with its friendship with PM Jean Chretien. Anyway, this has also raised the possibility of MPs demanding the governemnt set up an inquiry into media concentration. Another columnist, Ashok Chandwani, who incidentally is of Indian origin, was also fired from his long-time job at the Montreal Gazette. The details of his firing are sketchy. I have tried to contact him, but unable to do so till now. Similarly, Lawrence Martin, a respected columnist and biographer of the prime minister, lost his job at the National Post, another paper owned by CanWest. Here's an extract from another Indo-Canadian, Haroon Siddiqui, Emeritus Editorial Page Editor, of The Toronto Star, "It is not size alone that has Canadians riled up. Rather it is the toxic brew of a vast empire run authoritatively by its owners. The Asper family of Winnipeg is violating Canada's cherished tradition of a free media.
CanWest's 14 metropolitan dailies must carry head office-written editorials on issues close to the Aspers' heart, such as supporting the governments of Jean Chrétien and Ariel Sharon. The papers are also under orders not to editorially contradict those positions, eroding regional voices on those topics. CanWest staff contravene or criticize company policies at their peril. The firing of Ottawa Citizen publisher Russ Mills proved that, as also the earlier departures of Montreal Gazette publisher Michael Goldbloom, Halifax Daily News editor Bill Turpin and many columnists. CanWest has spawned a culture of fear and self-censorship among journalists. This has already translated into shamelessly one-sided coverage and commentary on the Middle East. News of controversies involving CanWest itself is routinely blacked out in company newspapers and TV stations. Or reported with a corporate spin. The erosion in the fundamental freedom of journalists to report without fear of intimidation has prompted calls for an inquiry into concentration of ownership and journalistic independence." Over lunch one day I asked Siddiqui why he didn't get the Managing Editor's job after he was the Editorial Page Editor and then shifted as Emeritus Editor, he told me that he prefers to be a columnist because it gives him a better opportunity to express his views instead of day-to-day running of a newspaper. I have read Margaret's column and I support her stand. I don't want to repeat what Margaret said in reply to Cecil 4 questions. I think I read on goanet either from Cecil himself or someone else that Cecil is a journalist or is involved with the media. That he doesn't understand the concept of "censorship" and it's application in journalistic practices surprises me. Mixing his own issue regarding goanet and Margaret's issue with GT, is nothing more than confusion compounded. In a recent post to goanet, he told me "Ignorance is Bliss". In his case, it's so true. Eugene Correia __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Sign up for SBC Yahoo! Dial - First Month Free http://sbc.yahoo.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
