Archive
14 Sep

Journalists protecting sources: When Don Martin willingly gave up his anonymous source

<p><strong>By Thomas Rose, Law Editor </strong></p><p>The value and credibility of modern journalism rests primarily on the belief that it exists to serve the public good. There is perhaps no greater demonstration of that principle than a reporter who is willing to suffer the consequences of not revealing a source who provides information the public should know about.</p>

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24 Feb

Is law enforcement turning journalists into agents of state surveillance?

<p><strong>By Thomas Rose, Law Editor</strong></p><p>They’re called "production orders" and they signal what may be a growing trend among law enforcement agencies to co-opt journalists into becoming agents of state surveillance.</p><p>Production orders occur when a judge agrees to a police request to compel media outlets to surrender material obtained by journalists in the course of preparing their news reports. </p>

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17 Sep

What journalists need to know about newsgathering and the individual’s right to privacy

<p><em>This is the second part of a weekly four-part series on legal issues young journalists should be cognizant about as they embark on their careers. Read <a href="http://j-source.ca/article/what-j-students-need-know-about-protecting-anonymous-sources">part 1 on anonymous sources</a>.  </em></p><p><strong>By Thomas Rose, J-Source law editor</strong></p><p>Privacy is one of those issues that are especially tricky for journalists looking to balance the rights of the individual with the needs of the greater public interest.</p>

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27 Aug

Live blog: Everything you need to know about court reporting in real-time

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15 Jul

David Skok on Nelson Mandela and the importance of press freedom

<p><strong>By <a href="http://globalnews.ca/news/701060/mandela-and-the-importance-of-press-freedom/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David Skok</a></strong></p><p>Nelson Mandela left a mark on all South Africans. Here is my story.</p><p>I was lucky to meet Nelson Mandela once. It was in November 2001, and he was in Canada receiving an honourary degree from Ryerson University.</p>

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6 Jul

Did journalists violate rights of B.C. terror suspects?

<p>Allegations that two Canadian citizens planned to explode homemade devices similar to the kind used in the <a href="http://www.canada.com/news/RCMP+makes+arrests+plot+bomb+legislature/8605777/story.html">Boston marathon bombing</a> during Canada Day celebrations at the B.C. legislature in Victoria is shocking.  </p><p>The horror of what might have happened to thousands of revelers who came to celebrate what makes this country great was mitigated only by news that police had thwarted the plot and detained two suspects.</p>

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3 Jun

Toronto Star reporter arrested after photographing Union Station scuffle

<p><strong>By Grant Buckler</strong></p><p>Toronto police arrested a <em>Toronto Star</em> reporter, put him in a headlock and handcuffed him for taking pictures after a GO Transit officer was injured in a scuffle at Union Station, the <em>Star</em> <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/06/03/toronto_star_reporter_arrested_ticketed_after_taking_photos_of_injured_go_transit_officer.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports</a>.</p>

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24 May

Why hasn’t Mayor Rob Ford sued the Toronto Star?

<p><strong>By J-Source Law editor Thomas Rose</strong></p>

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20 May

Opinion: Media’s latest stories on Toronto’s Mayor Ford a challenge for a court fight

<p><strong>By Paul Benedetti, J-Source Editor-at-Large</strong></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The latest Mayor Rob Ford scandal reminds me of a teaching example I have used for several years now.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Each spring I teach new journalism students and one of our first lessons is about the real role of a reporter.</span></p>

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3 May

CJFE Freedom of Expression Review cites many problems, some good signs

<p><strong>By Grant Buckler</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.cjfe.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Canadian Journalists for Free Expression</a> has released its annual <a href="https://cjfe.org/resources/features/2013review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Review of Free Expression in Canada</a>, surveying free expression and access to information issues and grading various institutions from A to F on their performance in the past year.</p><p>“Freedom of expression in Canada truly does span the spectrum from head of the class to flunking out,” the report observes.</p>

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