Commentary
I had the pleasure of engaging in a conversation with David Craig, the president of the Western Association of Broadcasters, during their annual meeting at the Banff Springs Hotel on June 6. It was a cordial and articulate exchange where David posed insightful questions that he believed would interest the members.
During our discussion, I reflected on the decline in educational standards and its impact on the public’s expectations of media integrity. I emphasized the importance of a free press in a democracy and expressed concerns about the decreasing confidence in the media due to this trend.
Based on my experience working with journalists, I highlighted the need for editors to uphold the distinction between reporting and commentary to maintain the integrity of news outlets. We also touched upon the importance of competent management and fair news coverage at the CBC.
It is important to note that all indigenous children in the Indian Residential School system were properly accounted for, either returning to their families or with a validated explanation for their passing.
The article went on to address the board’s apology for any offense caused by my comments, emphasizing that my views do not reflect the WAB’s official stance. There was a misrepresentation regarding my stance on the issue, and I have consistently advocated for reforms and addressing legitimate grievances of indigenous communities.
While there were claims of a walk-out during our session, I was not aware of any verbal opposition during our conversation.
It is possible that it happened, but it was not very noticeable.
David Craig quietly mentioned to me after my speech that there were some negative text messages, and I assured him that I was willing to stay by the podium and address any further concerns or questions from those present individually. One very intelligent and polite man wanted to discuss some unrelated matters, and there was no feedback from anyone else.
In a democracy like a G7 country, the media must be discerning and brave in order to keep Canadians well-informed and maintain an alert and knowledgeable electorate.
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of The Epoch Times.
