Jump to content

Evan Solomon: You're Fired!


Boges

Recommended Posts

Not sure he actually interviewed anyone he sold art to. It seems the only thing he did wrong was not informing the CBC as to the extent of his involvement with the company he had with his wife. More breach of corporate policy than journalistic ethics.

I don't understand why buying and selling art would be a breach of corporate policy here. Are they claiming his "celebrity" is their property and he used his celebrity to make these deals or something? The whole situation is a bit strange to me.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 130
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

I don't understand why buying and selling art would be a breach of corporate policy here. Are they claiming his "celebrity" is their property and he used his celebrity to make these deals or something? The whole situation is a bit strange to me.

Well the subject may have felt that buying the art would mean an easier/favourable interview. Perception is everything here though. Even if that wasn't his intent, someone might feel that way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well the subject may have felt that buying the art would mean an easier/favourable interview. Perception is everything here though. Even if that wasn't his intent, someone might feel that way.

I agree with that if he was interviewing people whom he was doing business with, but Black Dog suggested he wasn't. I just mean in the case that he wasn't interviewing the people, then I'm not sure how that breaches corporate policy. Would buying his own groceries breach corporate policy? If not, why does art?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I don't understand why buying and selling art would be a breach of corporate policy here. Are they claiming his "celebrity" is their property and he used his celebrity to make these deals or something? The whole situation is a bit strange to me.

Earning secret commissions from people is not exactly ethical in and of itself.

I suppose, if he was interviewing Balsillie or Carney the secret commission (that is, the fact the Balsillie and Carney did not know that Solomon received a commission) could protect Solomon from conflict of interest accusations.

But really, should it?

Would he ask softer questions to be more approachable as to then make more art sales and earn more secret commissions?

I think he would and that's why he has no business in a newsroom.

This is not as damning as Amanda Lang's conflicts but it is pretty bad.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So Solomon was selling art for artists and taking a cut? But the buyers didn't know as an art broker Solomon was getting a cut? That sounds strange. I'm pretty sure people who buy art know that the dealer gets a commission. That's why local artists price go up when they start selling through galleries.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Canadaland points out that CBC knew about this but didn't take action until the story ran. This is how management handled Ghomeshi too.

Knew about what? I'm trying to understand the impropriety here and I'm not really seeing it. Using his celebrity to lure and beat women is pretty clear.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Knew about what? I'm trying to understand the impropriety here and I'm not really seeing it.

I'll admit to not knowing the specifics to the degree of WHO did he interview vs WHO did he sell to. Jesse Brown, in the piece, didn't seem to debate that point however it was clear that there are some examples, eg. Lang, that were handled differently.

CBC knew about this story before it ran, though. Donovan gave them the information.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ok, so he sold art to people he interviewed and the argument is that having a business relationship with interviewees could bias his reporting. Makes sense. But seems awfully nitpicky in this case. It's not like Rex Murphy writing positive commentary on the oil industry, while being paid by them. Not disclosing that "these guys paid me to say this" is tangibly different than "this guy bought a painting off me a few years ago."

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Canadaland points out that CBC knew about this but didn't take action until the story ran. This is how management handled Ghomeshi too.

So what will be the next big crisis to hit the CBC? You can guarantee management will be involved in possibly looking the other way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So what will be the next big crisis to hit the CBC? You can guarantee management will be involved in possibly looking the other way.

It will be when their balance sheet budgets is eroded even worse than now as they lose all revenue from hockey.

If the CBC was a private sector company, they'd have been sold or chopped into bits long ago. Their management has failed in every way imaginable for a long time now, except for managing to keep the carcass from being buried entirely. That is not an economic triumph but entirely political.

Their biggest failure by far over the last few decades was a consistent, relentless failure to produce-despite plenty of money- anything that anybody wanted to watch. Supporters of the CBC claim it is all the fault of Harper, but in reality it has been weak management for a very long time that has killed the CBC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

*Cough* Are you sure ? You support Harper, right ? He seems to me a perfect example of the disaster that you fear/support/vote for.

Despite what you may think, if Stephen Harper wishes a change, he faces many, many obstacles.

Imagine now that Tom Mulcair becomes PM. What bureaucratic obstacles would he face?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • Tell a friend

    Love Repolitics.com - Political Discussion Forums? Tell a friend!
  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      10,712
    • Most Online
      1,403

    Newest Member
    nyralucas
    Joined
  • Recent Achievements

    • Jeary earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Venandi went up a rank
      Apprentice
    • Gaétan earned a badge
      Very Popular
    • Dictatords earned a badge
      First Post
    • babetteteets earned a badge
      One Year In
  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...