Archive
27 Sep

York University gives libel notice to Toronto Life for article alleging campus is “hunting ground for sexual predators”

<p><img alt="" class="imagecache-large inline-image" src="http://j-source.ca/sites/www.j-source.ca/files/imagecache/large/images/York2.JPG" title="" /></p><p>York University said it gave a notice for libel to <em>Toronto Life </em>and Katherine Laidlaw, the writer of an article alleging that its campus has become a “hunting ground for sexual predators.”</p><p>The article, titled “Fortress York,” appeared in the October issue of <em>Toronto Life</em> and asks “why there are so many rapes at York U.”</p>

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24 Sep

Journalists who trespass: Case law is murky on both physical and digital trespass

<p><em>This is the third part of a weekly four-part series on legal issues 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> and <a href="http://j-source.ca/article/what-journalists-need-know-about-newsgathering-and-individual%E2%80%99s-right-privacy">Part 2 on privacy here</a>.</em></p><p><strong>By Thomas Rose, law editor</strong></p>

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23 Sep

Star public editor: Reporters struggle to pry records out of court clerks

<p><img align="left" alt="" class="imagecache-thumbnail inline-image" hspace="10" src="http://j-source.ca/sites/www.j-source.ca/files/imagecache/thumbnail/images/English_4.jpg" title="" /> <strong>By Kathy English, public editor of the <em>Toronto Star</em></strong></p><div style="clear:none;"><p>When heading to court to seek out records of criminal court proceedings, reporter Jesse McLean has taken to dressing in the sort of smart suits lawyers wear in the hope that the court clerks who control access to this important information might be more helpful to him.</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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17 Sep

Ontario Ministry of Attorney General reviewing media access to criminal courts

<p>A <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/09/17/ontario_reviewing_access_to_criminal_court_records.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Toronto Star</em> investigation</a> has found Ontario courts are increasingly denying access to criminal records that legal experts say should be accessible to the media. Now, the Ministry of the Attorney General is reviewing its policies on media access to criminal court records in a bid to make the province’s justice system more open and transparent.</p>

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16 Sep

Trespass charge against Star reporter dropped

<p><strong>By Grant Buckler</strong></p><p>Trespassing charges against Alex Consiglio, the<em> Toronto Star</em> reporter arrested in June after photographing a scuffle on a platform at Toronto Union Station, have been dropped, the <em>Star</em> <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/09/13/trespass_charge_dropped_against_star_reporter_who_photographed_news_event_at_union_station.html#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> Friday.</p>

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11 Sep

What j-students need to know about protecting anonymous sources

<p><em>This is the first part of a weekly four-part series on legal issues young journalists should be cognizant about as they embark on their careers. </em></p><div><strong>By Thomas Rose, Law Editor</strong></div><p>On Jan. 21, 2004, armed with a search warrant, members of the RCMP <a href="http://www.adidem.org/Juliet_O'Neill_and_Ottawa_Citizen_Group_Inc._v._Attorney_General_of_Canada">raided the offices</a> of the <em>Ottawa Citizen</em> and the home of one of its journalists, Juliet O’Neill.</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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