PM Harper & the Media

[August1991]

I just listened to part of Michael Enright's CBC radio programme this morning and I thought of Mulroney's remark. Harper is going to have a very tough time. Worse than Mulroney received. There will be no honeymoon. From Day One, Harper will be under a microscope.

English-Canada's media is concentrated in Toronto and from what I can see, Toronto doesn't like Harper, doesn't like these Conservatives and doesn't like the idea of Calgary having any importance.

The mere suggestion that Harper wouldn't meet the press for a scrum in the last day of the campaign lead to many articles about how Harper is already becoming arrogant and aloof.

At any misstep, the Toronto media will describe Harper as either a naive incompetent bumpkin from the hicks or else as a hypocrite who is as arrogant as all the other politicians. Harper will have absolutely no margin of manoevre.

----

I don't know what Harper and the Tories can do about this. Of course, they will have to manage their communications strategies carefully. I think benign neglect might work, if punctuated with specific intervention. I think the English-Canadian media is a paper tiger, bullies who back off quick at the first sight of danger.

[geoffrey]

I'm concerned about this as well. I doubt if the media will continue their protective view of Harper once he's in office, the gloves will definitely be off then.

We'll be back to those crazy redneck religious Albertans in a hurry.

[tml12]

I'm concerned about this as well. I doubt if the media will continue their protective view of Harper once he's in office, the gloves will definitely be off then.

We'll be back to those crazy redneck religious Albertans in a hurry.

It is hard to remember a Conservative in my lifetime who got good press.

Mulrooney, wow, as I recall he got awful press.

[Guest eureka]

English-Canada's media is concentrated in Toronto and from what I can see, Toronto doesn't like Harper, doesn't like these Conservatives and doesn't like the idea of Calgary having any importance.

Almost correct, August, but once again you miss the point. Nobody with any intelligence could like what Harper wants. Nobody with any intelligence could like what the Conservatives (what a misnomer) want - those few Conservatives who actually know what the score is.

Nobody objects to Calgary having any importance, though. The objection is to the determination to dismantle the federal government of Canada.

If you have not yet become aware of that, I am surprised. That is all that it is about. Even his tax obsession is secondary to that one. Albertans in particular are too ecstatic about the thought that they may have a local boy in Ottawa to ever understand the dangers.

[geoffrey]

I'm concerned about this as well. I doubt if the media will continue their protective view of Harper once he's in office, the gloves will definitely be off then.

We'll be back to those crazy redneck religious Albertans in a hurry.

It is hard to remember a Conservative in my lifetime who got good press.

Mulrooney, wow, as I recall he got awful press.

I wasn't coherent enough in the Mulroney days to remember it that clearly.

From my understanding Clark also got awful press.

[Biblio Bibuli]

I'm concerned about this as well. I doubt if the media will continue their protective view of Harper once he's in office, the gloves will definitely be off then.

Stephen Harper and Peter Mansbridge are long time personal friends so the the most important media outlet ought to be fair and friendly.

[geoffrey]

I'm concerned about this as well. I doubt if the media will continue their protective view of Harper once he's in office, the gloves will definitely be off then.

Stephen Harper and Peter Mansbridge are long time personal friends so the the most important media outlet ought to be fair and friendly.

I didn't know this, where'd you find out about this?

I just personally can't see Stephen and Peter having a beer around the BBQ.

[Biblio Bibuli]

Stephen Harper and Peter Mansbridge are long time personal friends.

I didn't know this, where'd you find out about this?

I was told this by one of the Vancouver Sun's editors, about 3 or 4 days ago.

[sharkman]

I was just watching the CTV noon news program and they had interviews with Harper and then Layton. At the outset, the one host said they invited Martin, but he declined. And now I know why, The CBC news channel gave him at least 20 minutes of uninterrupted live coverage of a stump speech in Richmond, B.C. Unbelievable!! The CBC is really pulling out all the stops to help the Liberals, their hatred of the Tories will translate into biased coverage after the election and if the Tories do anything to the CBC budget they'll scream about it. They have real power and they intend to use it.

[geoffrey]

I was just watching the CTV noon news program and they had interviews with Harper and then Layton. At the outset, the one host said they invited Martin, but he declined. And now I know why, The CBC news channel gave him at least 20 minutes of uninterrupted live coverage of a stump speech in Richmond, B.C. Unbelievable!! The CBC is really pulling out all the stops to help the Liberals, their hatred of the Tories will translate into biased coverage after the election and if the Tories do anything to the CBC budget they'll scream about it. They have real power and they intend to use it.

Actually this is the first campaign where I'm not complaining about CBC interference.

If anyone here watched the 'Your Turn' segements, you would have seen that Martin got the roughest ride, and Harper pretty much had no questions that were too difficult. I was expecting some abortion, same-sex marriage, or even American influence questions... none. It was all accountability and tax reform, the topics that conservatives do best on. Maybe this helps the Mansbridge/Harper friendship theory.

[Montgomery Burns]

I just listened to part of Michael Enright's CBC radio programme this morning and I thought of Mulroney's remark. Harper is going to have a very tough time. Worse than Mulroney received. There will be no honeymoon. From Day One, Harper will be under a microscope.

English-Canada's media is concentrated in Toronto and from what I can see, Toronto doesn't like Harper, doesn't like these Conservatives and doesn't like the idea of Calgary having any importance.

The mere suggestion that Harper wouldn't meet the press for a scrum in the last day of the campaign lead to many articles about how Harper is already becoming arrogant and aloof.

At any misstep, the Toronto media will describe Harper as either a naive incompetent bumpkin from the hicks or else as a hypocrite who is as arrogant as all the other politicians. Harper will have absolutely no margin of manoevre.

----

I don't know what Harper and the Tories can do about this. Of course, they will have to manage their communications strategies carefully. I think benign neglect might work, if punctuated with specific intervention. I think the English-Canadian media is a paper tiger, bullies who back off quick at the first sight of danger.

This is nothing new. The right is always forced to deal with a hostile leftwing MSM.

[I Miss Trudeau]

I just listened to part of Michael Enright's CBC radio programme this morning and I thought of Mulroney's remark. Harper is going to have a very tough time.

You're kidding, right? Harper has been given a free ride by the media this campaign. What makes you think thats going to change if the Conservatives form the government?

[August1991]

I was just watching the CTV noon news program and they had interviews with Harper and then Layton. At the outset, the one host said they invited Martin, but he declined. And now I know why, The CBC news channel gave him at least 20 minutes of uninterrupted live coverage of a stump speech in Richmond, B.C. Unbelievable!! The CBC is really pulling out all the stops to help the Liberals, their hatred of the Tories will translate into biased coverage after the election and if the Tories do anything to the CBC budget they'll scream about it. They have real power and they intend to use it.

Actually this is the first campaign where I'm not complaining about CBC interference.

If anyone here watched the 'Your Turn' segements, you would have seen that Martin got the roughest ride, and Harper pretty much had no questions that were too difficult. I was expecting some abortion, same-sex marriage, or even American influence questions... none. It was all accountability and tax reform, the topics that conservatives do best on. Maybe this helps the Mansbridge/Harper friendship theory.

That "Your Turn" interview was based on a random selection of people and their questions. I suppose the CBC could bias the final choice of questions presented. And Mansbridge did follow-up questions.

I only saw Harper's interview and I too was surprised at how easy it was.

----

I'm reticent to claim the media is a cabal with an agenda. But most of the English-Canadian media is concentrated in Toronto and it reflects this view. In this election, it appears the Liberals will mostly win seats in Toronto, English Montreal and Vancouver. Urban journalists will be looking for fault in Harper's performance.

Harper could do as Mulroney (and Trudeau and Richard Nixon) and go over journalists' heads and speak directly to Canadians. For this, Harper is going to have to develop a relationship with ordinary Canadians, something that he is just starting to do.

[emailforcanada]

Who ever you support it is totally true that the media plays a critical role. As much as we might like to think otherwise, most people based their core opinions on what the see on TV or read in the headlines. When we see bias either way it is uncomfortable and frustrating. In general the folks in the media feel they are infalible and will seldom acknowledge that they could do a better job

CTV has been particularly dissappointing.

I was just watching the CTV noon news program and they had interviews with Harper and then Layton. At the outset, the one host said they invited Martin, but he declined. And now I know why, The CBC news channel gave him at least 20 minutes of uninterrupted live coverage of a stump speech in Richmond, B.C. Unbelievable!! The CBC is really pulling out all the stops to help the Liberals, their hatred of the Tories will translate into biased coverage after the election and if the Tories do anything to the CBC budget they'll scream about it. They have real power and they intend to use it.

Actually this is the first campaign where I'm not complaining about CBC interference.

If anyone here watched the 'Your Turn' segements, you would have seen that Martin got the roughest ride, and Harper pretty much had no questions that were too difficult. I was expecting some abortion, same-sex marriage, or even American influence questions... none. It was all accountability and tax reform, the topics that conservatives do best on. Maybe this helps the Mansbridge/Harper friendship theory.

That "Your Turn" interview was based on a random selection of people and their questions. I suppose the CBC could bias the final choice of questions presented. And Mansbridge did follow-up questions.

I only saw Harper's interview and I too was surprised at how easy it was.

----

I'm reticent to claim the media is a cabal with an agenda. But most of the English-Canadian media is concentrated in Toronto and it reflects this view. In this election, it appears the Liberals will mostly win seats in Toronto, English Montreal and Vancouver. Urban journalists will be looking for fault in Harper's performance.

Harper could do as Mulroney (and Trudeau and Richard Nixon) and go over journalists' heads and speak directly to Canadians. For this, Harper is going to have to develop a relationship with ordinary Canadians, something that he is just starting to do.

[Rovik]

It may be true about the Toronto media hating the Conservatives and bias towards the Liberals but one can also say that Western Canadian media (especially in Calgary) is equally bias towards the Conservatives and against the NDP and the Liberals.

[Shakeyhands]

Wow... according to Canada.com only the CPC has policies on everything!!!! God Bless Stephen!!!

http://www.canada.com/national/features/de.../issues_05.html

[tml12]

Wow... according to Canada.com only the CPC has policies on everything!!!! God Bless Stephen!!!

http://www.canada.com/national/features/de.../issues_05.html

Go CPC Go!!!

[geoffrey]

It may be true about the Toronto media hating the Conservatives and bias towards the Liberals but one can also say that Western Canadian media (especially in Calgary) is equally bias towards the Conservatives and against the NDP and the Liberals.

Just playing to the audience, I don't blame them, its how you sell papers.

[tml12]

It may be true about the Toronto media hating the Conservatives and bias towards the Liberals but one can also say that Western Canadian media (especially in Calgary) is equally bias towards the Conservatives and against the NDP and the Liberals.

Just playing to the audience, I don't blame them, its how you sell papers.

I think you're right.

But that is where my problem with the CBC comes in: they should be selling to a national audience. They should not be biased.

Of course, a newspaper of anglophone Quebec (the Montreal Gazette) will be pro-federalist, but the CBC should at leased show some restraint in their leftist bias.

I should note, though, that in this election the CBC has gotten better. One will only hope they stay that way...

[geoffrey]

I think you're right.

But that is where my problem with the CBC comes in: they should be selling to a national audience. They should not be biased.

Of course, a newspaper of anglophone Quebec (the Montreal Gazette) will be pro-federalist, but the CBC should at leased show some restraint in their leftist bias.

I should note, though, that in this election the CBC has gotten better. One will only hope they stay that way...

I definitely have a renewed respect for the CBC after watching their coverage this election. Now if they would only axe Au Courant I'd be a happy camper.

[tml12]

I think you're right.

But that is where my problem with the CBC comes in: they should be selling to a national audience. They should not be biased.

Of course, a newspaper of anglophone Quebec (the Montreal Gazette) will be pro-federalist, but the CBC should at leased show some restraint in their leftist bias.

I should note, though, that in this election the CBC has gotten better. One will only hope they stay that way...

I definitely have a renewed respect for the CBC after watching their coverage this election. Now if they would only axe Au Courant I'd be a happy camper.

[BubberMiley]

But when every other media outlet in the country (except maybe the T.O. Star) is biased heavily to the right because they're owned by large corporations, at least the CBC creates some balance.

[tml12]

But when every other media outlet in the country (except maybe the T.O. Star) is biased heavily to the right because they're owned by large corporations, at least the CBC creates some balance.

Because they are paid by this country's leftist governments...

[geoffrey]

But when every other media outlet in the country (except maybe the T.O. Star) is biased heavily to the right because they're owned by large corporations, at least the CBC creates some balance.

Because they are paid by this country's leftist governments...

Maybe its time to pull the plug.

[BubberMiley]

Exactly. The corporate media has no interest in expressing alternative points of view, so the public system is the only place that will ever happen. Compare how often the Frontier Centre for Public Policy or the Canadian Taxpayers' Federation are asked for their perspective on issues as opposed to left-wing organizations--there's absolutely no balance in the mainstream media. The concept of the liberal media is a myth dreamed up by the corporate media to make it seem like they're doing their job.