Globe public editor: Journalists need to have a thick skin, but Rob Ford took it too far

By Sylvia Stead, public editor of The Globe and Mail

In my 20 years or so as an editor responsible for working with this newspaper’s legal counsel, I’ve heard from a few reporters who are so angry with comments made about them, they want to sue for libel or slander.

By Sylvia Stead, public editor of The Globe and Mail

In my 20 years or so as an editor responsible for working with this newspaper’s legal counsel, I’ve heard from a few reporters who are so angry with comments made about them, they want to sue for libel or slander.

Some reporters have been called unprofessional or sleazy and at times scurrilous stories have been made up by people angry with the media coverage when they want to get back at the reporters.

While I have recommended various ways of stopping or controlling the slander, such as writing stern letters or columnists responding in their work, or responding on Twitter, I have always stopped short of agreeing that a lawsuit should be launched.

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If I worked at The Toronto Star today, I would be making a different argument. It is one thing to be called a “maggot” or “sleazy” or have a claim that a reporter deliberately misquoted someone. In those cases, you have to have a thick skin and accept you will be criticized in public for your work.

It is quite another to have someone suggest a reprehensible personal slur.

In this case, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford told Conrad Black in a television interview that aired last night that a Toronto Star reporter was in his backyard (in truth the reporter was legally on city property next door) and taking pictures.

Here is a description of what Mr. Ford said, according to Globe columnist Marcus Gee’s article:

“‘I have little kids. When a guy’s taking pictures of little kids’ – and here Mr. Ford shook his head and gave a small, skeptical laugh – ‘I don’t want to say that word but you start thinking, ‘What’s this guy all about?’

To continue reading this column, please go theglobeandmail.com where it was originally published. 

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