The writer is a Toronto-based journalist with over 20 years of experience covering social and geopolitical issues. She is a former magazine editor of Dawn
Ford’s ugly story has been meat for the media since March, when two leading national newspapers came out with an expose, alleging his involvement in shameful shenanigans like smoking crack cocaine, misbehaving in a drunken state and associating with drug dealers wanted by the police. Ford has never been popular in Toronto as he is known to be racist, crude and someone who disregards discipline, with his win coming as an incomprehensible shock to the city’s saner and liberal populace. So since his election, the media has hounded his moves, keeping cameras focused on him, his house and City Hall, in the delicious hope of unearthing scandalous tit bits. Last week, police verified videos of Ford taking drugs with wanted men, proving the allegations cited by newspapers. Cornered by evidence and an unrelenting media, the mayor eventually capitulated, accepting his mistakes, and the media celebrated his downfall as a personal victory.
While Ford has proven himself to be a despicable character, the question surfacing saner minds is the issue of impartiality (or the lack thereof) in journalism. In the fast spinning backdrop of social media, news is not so much about truth but about who gets to tell it first. Once the word is out — right or wrong — no matter how many rebuttals or contradictions are printed, the trophy is taken by the one ‘Breaking the News’.
Ironically, Joseph Pulitzer, the creator of the Pulitzer Prize — the highest honour in journalism — was the first to sensationalise headlines and print shocking pictures to make news-reading more alluring. He gave birth to yellow journalism and so promoted sales of his newly acquired paper at the time, The New York World. Then in the 20th century, Rupert Murdoch blatantly threw conventions to the wind, giving new meaning to journalism and to news, a lurid spin, making his paper the top sell of the day. He knew how to make news matter and in return to get what mattered to him. Ronald Reagan was said to have granted American citizenship to Murdoch in return for good PR and that’s when Fox News was born!
Till some years ago, Fox News was still a standalone phenomenon, but now, it is the norm, with every news outlet only selling that which makes money. Ethics, be damned! A politician’s sexual exploit will take precedence over a peace rally by students. Moral responsibility and facts without biases are forgotten traits, and political and business agendas take precedence over facts. Mediapersons, once known as intellectuals, have now become anarchists.
In Canadian newspapers, blatant partisanship and political endorsements are the custom during campaigns before any elections. The Liberal and Conservative papers have defined agendas and follow these unabashedly. Is this the true purpose of a newspaper? The media is a social watchdog but even criminals have a right to a proper legal system just as readers and TV news audiences have a right to form their own opinions and make their own judgments. When news reports turn into story-telling of the dirty kind, journalism loses its integrity and turns into voyeurism, which is what is happening in Toronto these days.
Since two weeks now, Torontonians have been waking up not to their first cup of Tim Horton’s coffee but to the first bite of Ford gossip, which they can’t seem to get enough of. The one-hour nightly segment of News at 11 on every channel, which should include all of Canada, has been giving the first 25 minutes to Fordisms. It is rather nauseating.
The ethics of ‘taking sides’ by a news dissemination body has been a recurring question even in Pakistan for the past few decades, but the press council continues to remain ‘in the making’ and stalwarts like Zamir Niazi have become an extinct breed.
When I first changed residences to this cold climate, I staunchly held the view that news in Pakistan was so much more vibrant and worthy than in the bland expanse of North America. But now, on the multiple Pakistani news channels (accessible everywhere around the globe), there is only the din created 24/7 by sensational headliners, where personal opinions, partisan politics and personal agendas thrive. Is anyone, ANYWHERE bothered about the question of ethics?
Published in The Express Tribune, November 9th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (8)
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I think you have got it completely wrong it was actually due to journalistic ability of The Toronto Star's and The Globe and Mail's journalist that the story came out but there is no way that you can compare pseudo journalist in Pakistan with the ones in Canada. There is a definite code of ethics and clear distinction is maintained between whats news and what is ones opinion.
If Ford is the culprit (as you have acknowledged), how is the media's exposing of him an unethical practise? Sure, they are also doing business through supplying news, but aren't those rewards well merited?
If the news was false or misleading, I would find your argument to be fair. But in this case, everything falls within the parameters of ethics. Media's pounding on the issue has done more benefit to the nation than to them.
Let's not forget: Rob Ford's admission of his guilt was a result of the constant media pressure on him and not just the police evidence found against him. For that, we can only thank The Star and the rest!
@Mirza: "....I have not seen any names during long talk shows as is it the duty of the viewer to know about those big shots. In the west they even write down the name of the president let alone unknown talkers. I do not have any Asian TV in my home and would never have. I do use the Net for the news. " . Thanks for taking the topic up. It would benefit the viewers enormously if names of the participating panelists is flashed every time the camera pans on them. It is quite puzzling that viewers do not complain.
Nice......I think the lead taken by World Wrestling, to call it entertainment shuld be followed by the News Media people.
I think the writer is lumping free speech and opinion with the news. A newspaper provides news mostly in summary. Most of the paper is devoted to opinions and analysis. Of course like Pakistan where rightwing parties always justify each of the 50 thousand murders of innocent civilians by fanatic terrorists in the west also rightwing supports all actions of rightwing. However, I have never heard or seen any news media siding with blatant habitual terrorist killers like in Pakistan. I have seen with my own eyes that Quranic verses and its translation being censored by the military govt of Gen Zia. If the verse talks about a tyrant ruler it would be deleted and there would be blank space under the Arabic verse so people go not get any idea. With 24/7 news culture there are not many new news every minute. They are all recycled and only opinions and commentary is shown. On my recent trip to Pakistan there is one TV channel dedicated to talking about cricket! While in the west they show the name of each participant in the beginning and while he/she speaks in Pakistani TV I have not seen any names during long talk shows as is it the duty of the viewer to know about those big shots. In the west they even write down the name of the president let alone unknown talkers. I do not have any Asian TV in my home and would never have. I do use the Net for the news.
Why does personal behavior of a politician of one western city makes news and op ed in Pakistan? Politicians are not role models in the west and they do not claim to be so. They are hired/voted into the office to do the job properly to public's liking not be role models for the kids. Has the mayor worked most of his life or living of other people's charity? Are the mayer's kids living in Canada or in a palace far away? We the Afia, OBL and TTP lovers are talking about one mayer's one private action! Sharm tum ko magar nahi aati.
you say: When I first changed residences to this cold climate, I staunchly held the view that news in Pakistan was so much more vibrant and worthy than in the bland expanse of North America. A few years ago I started a conversation with a guy in pub in Toronto and asked him about some going ons. He looked at me straight in my eyes and said: I am a canadian. I am not interested in politicians are doing. Obviously there is a difference of attitudes in these two countries.