Canadian coverage of the military has failed to pass muster

[PIK]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/canadian-coverage-of-the-military-has-failed-to-pass-muster/article1465052/ Edited February 12, 2010 by Charles Anthony
re-copied article deleted

[Smallc]

The media has a job to explore stories. That's all they're doing here. There's no bogey man here.

[M.Dancer]

The media has a job to explore stories. That's all they're doing here. There's no bogey man here.

I agree. The should however, like when they do science stories, art stories, film stories....have someone who has at least a passing knowledge of the subject.

I still remember clearly the story that appeared in the Post a few years ago about a training accident involving British soldiers in Alberta.

There deaths were described as a accident during a friendly fire exercise.

[William Ashley]

The thing that gets me here is the furious nature of treating the person like he is guilty before the trial even begins.

The press and public mentality often do this to accused criminals - when the premise of innocent until proven guilty and right to a fair trial are suppose to be aspects of the Canadian justice system.

Edited February 12, 2010 by William Ashley

[capricorn]

The press and public mentality often do this to accused criminals - when the premise of innocent until proven guilty and right to a fair trial are suppose to be aspects of the Canadian justice system.

You speak of the presumption of innocence and in the same sentence refer to the accused as criminals.

[CANADIEN]

Sentionalizing that series was just too tempting to a press that is now used to going for sensationalism because it means less work and more readers.

[dizzy]

The thing that gets me here is the furious nature of treating the person like he is guilty before the trial even begins.

The press and public mentality often do this to accused criminals - when the premise of innocent until proven guilty and right to a fair trial are suppose to be aspects of the Canadian justice system.

The presumption of innocence is the foundation of any competent justice system. But it has nothing to do with the court of public opinion.

[xul]

The media has a job to explore stories. That's all they're doing here.

And it can also contribute positive effect if the one who is under the inquisition is faultless and responses the question properly.

For example:

During an interview with Canada's top soldier, General Walter Natynczyk, a national television reporter asked whether, given that he had placed Col. Williams in charge in Trenton, he had any words for the families of the victims. Midway through his compassionate response, the reporter asked, “Do you feel responsible?”

The question's innuendo was barely camouflaged – do you feel responsible for the murders and the assaults? That question was the second “body blow” taken by Gen. Natynczyk in the past few days and was contemptible. To his credit, the Chief of the Defence Staff pointed out that he is responsible for more than 90,000 military personnel, regular and reserve. He avoided directly answering the question, which he should never have been asked.

Maybe there are a lot of people who agree with the writer of the article that the general was humiliated by the reporter, but they are wrong. If the reporter didn't ask the question to General Walter Natynczyk, should anyone suppose that there would be nobody amoung 30 million Canadian having the same question in their minds? If the media question the General, he will have the chance to clarify any misunderstanding on his rule in the incident. If the media avoids to question him, the question among many common Canadian will still exist and the general will not have the opportunity to explain his position to them.

Edited February 12, 2010 by xul

[Topaz]

Here's question if any knows the answer to....supposely he broke in and sexually assulted two women, so IF this true and IF he did this, did they IDed him??? Has there been anything from his wife?

[Oleg Bach]

It is absurd how American television - the History channel has a series about conflict in Iraq - You would think they would wait for it to be over before it becomes history.

[g_bambino]

Sentionalizing that series was just too tempting to a press that is now used to going for sensationalism because it means less work and more readers.

Bingo.