J-Links for July 24: Pierre Duchesne wants an apology; CRTC approves Global News channel in B.C.; Canada’s crime rate lowest in 40 years

In Canadian media:

Pierre Duchesne cleared of bias, wants apology from Liberals

In Canadian media:

Pierre Duchesne cleared of bias, wants apology from Liberals

Three weeks after former CBC/Radio-Canada political reporter Pierre Duchesne quit, he announced his Parti Quebecois candidacy. The move prompted the provincial Liberal party to file two official complaints questioning his journalistic integrity. Since he’s been cleared by Radio-Canada’s ombudsman, who said he found no evidence that the broadcaster’s journalistic codes were breached, Duchesne wants an apology from the Liberals.

CRTC approves Shaw’s application for B.C. channel, amidst opposition

A new 24-hour news channel called Global News: BC 1 will launch early in the New Year after the CRTC approved Shaw Communication’s application for the channel. Numerous other regional broadcasters that were stating concerns over whether the channel would air local advertising opposed the application.

What do readers want? Longform reads or quick, dumbed-down articles? Maybe both.

Victoria, B.C. journalist Natalie North discusses what readers are looking for in journalism today; some online news outlets are ‘dumbing down’ articles although some readers still crave long-form, story-driven articles. Between Hollywood gossip and sensationalized news stories North says it seems as though readers want variety.

In international media:

Israeli reporter convicted of possessing classified army documents

Uri Blau, a reporter for Haaretz newspaper in Israel has been convicted under a plea bargain of possessing secret army papers, given to him by a former spy, which showed assassination targets of Palestinian figures. As part of the plea bargain, Blau agreed to admit to possessing the documents but without intending to harm state security.

Today’s read:

Canada’s crime rate at lowest level in 40 years

The country’s crime rate dropped by 26 per cent in 2011 compared to a decade earlier, marking the lowest crime rate in 40 years, says numbers released today by Statistics Canada. The amount of violent crime is included in the decrease however there were increases in homicides and the sexual targeting of children.