How biased is the CBC?

[August1991]

I must admit that the CBC's (and R-C's) silence is deafening.

----

Pierre Trudeau must be rolling in his grave.

In the Voir interview, Mr. Lafond says Mr. Vallieres was "meticulous" in his research, examining countless documents including Laporte's autopsy report.

"Moreover, Pierre was not alone with saying that: Jacques Ferron also believed that the federal powers-that-be had executed Laporte, to discredit the FLQ, which was extremely popular with the Quebec population until that point, and put blood on the hands of the separatists," said Mr. Lafond.

National Post

Vallieres never ceased to argue that the federal government had in effect killed Pierre Laporte. Vallieres had various convoluted theories and explanations that ultimately boiled down to blaming the federal government, and specifically Pierre Trudeau. (According to Vallieres, Laporte's death was a set-up, planned by Trudeau, so that ordinary people would associate violence with separatism.)

"... extremely popular with the Quebec population... "? Huh?

The husband of Michaelle Jean seems to have many well known Felquist friend, He made a few movies about them and worked with at least one of them. Another one of them (who was part of the cell that kidnapped Pierre Laporte) renovate a part of his house...

You are right, Bakunin. It may be the FLQ connection that will be the real problem.

[kimmy]

Those stories are still newsworthy until discredited.

I guess that's the difference between you and me. I don't consider rumours newsworthy.

The rumours themselves might not be newsworthy, but the fact that they are big news in Quebec's sovereigntist scene is undoubtably, undeniably newsworthy.

Finally the CBC posts the story.

Only 14 hour time lag. Better late than never I guess....

The CBC is the first to report other stories. The National Post frequently ignores news items that other media outlets cover. Each media outlet has to make certain editorial calls that may see unreasonable after the fact.

And how do people view the National Post around here? I don't think I've ever posted a reference to a National Post article on this site without getting a response along the lines of "pfff-- National Post? That's just biased crap."

The editorial decisions made by media outlets affect their credibility.

This is not the first time that this message board has discussed the CBC virtually ignoring a story unfavorable to the government that other major news outlets were carrying front-page. Is it not fair to wonder how independent the CBC really is? Is it fair to wonder whether they had "help" in arriving at this puzzling editorial decision?

-k

[Argus]

Those stories are still newsworthy until discredited.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I guess that's the difference between you and me. I don't consider rumours newsworthy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Rumours which have drawn public comments from several provincial premiers as well as MPs and cabinet ministers neccesitating the Prime Minister telephone people to reassure them?

Apparently the new GGs husband spoke very glowingly of a nutty Quebec seperatist and his book, which alleged Pierre Laporte was murdered by the RCMP. He said the man did meticulous research and there must be at least a grain of truth to the allegations.

[shoop]

I guess that's the difference between you and me. I don't consider rumours newsworthy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I guess the difference between die-hard Liberal supporters and the majority of Canadians. A story of this kind should be newsworthy regardless of who is in power. There are questions about the extent to which a background check was done, the loyalty of the Queen's representative in Canada to the monarchy, whether or not the RCMP is meddling in political affairs, if this is another example of desperation and short-sightedness on the behalf of the Martinites....

If you don't think it's newsworthy don't read it. But there are so many potential stories here that the publicly funded broadcaster should at least be acknowledging it.