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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2 May

Opinion: On Brian Burke, journalism and Internet anonymity

<p><strong>By Thomas Rose</strong></p><p>Let’s face it; the reason most people are talking about Brian Burke right now is because he’s a well known powerful member of the hockey world who is defending himself against allegations of sexual impropriety involving a younger, attractive sportscaster who is not his wife.  If the case ever makes it to trial, and most cases involving defamation do not, the outcome will likely hinge on how the defence frames the issue. </p>

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12 Apr

UPDATED: CRA wants CBC to reveal tax cheats; doesn’t want CBC to reveal original source

<p><strong>By Tamara Baluja</strong></p><p>The Canada Revenue Agency is offering a compromise to the CBC, saying the broadcaster can keep secret the original source of information, but still reveal the 450 names of alleged tax cheats.</p><p>The CBC is one of the dozens of media organizations that belong to the U.S.-based International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which released explosive stories last week about how the rich and powerful hide their assets in offshore tax havens.</p>

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25 Feb

Journalists, lock up your cellphones

<p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 15.994318008422852px;">Journalists who use their cellphones may want to get into the habit of password-protecting their devices in the wake of a ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal which found police do not need a warrant to </span><a href="http://www.ontariocourts.on.ca/decisions/2013/2013ONCA0106.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Nimbus Sans L', sans-serif; font-size: 11.818181991577148px; line-height: 15.994318008422852px; color: rgb(192, 2, 2); text-dec

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6 Dec

Newspaper orders CBC to reveal sources

In a unique case for media law, Fred Kozak, president of the Canadian Media Lawyers Association, will defend a CBC reporter’s journalist-source privilege — against another media outlet. This story […]

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9 Nov

Globe ruling protects sources, allows use of leaked information

CommentaryBy Dean JobbThe Supreme Court of Canada has made it tough for lawyers, police and other investigators to “out” journalists’ sources. The court’s Oct. 22 ruling in Globe and Mail […]

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22 Oct

Globe ruling sends strong message to protect sources

NewsThe Supreme Court of Canada has sent a strong message to judges, warning them that journalists should be ordered to identify confidential sources only in rare circumstances — especially the […]

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20 Sep

Source protection: ‘Disappointing’ ruling has silver lining

By Brian MacLeod Rogers On May 7 the Supreme Court of Canada ruled against the appeal brought by the National Post and Andrew McIntosh to set aside a search warrant […]

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20 Sep

The upside of the confidential sources ruling

By Dean JobbThe next-day headlines focussed on the Supreme Court of Canada’s refusal to give journalists the constitutional right to protect sources, but they didn’t tell the whole story. There’s […]

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20 Sep

Sparks Fly Over Squamish Fire Report

The Squamish Reporter, a local news website, says it was threatened with a lawsuit and asked to reveal the source of a leaked Fire Underwriters Survey after publishing a news […]

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