(You may need to click twice or if you wish Go Directly to the clip on Google Video)
This- is Mississauga.
Well, so much for my plan for today's Blog... I was going to write about Maher Arar's comments at North America's first international conference on investigative journalism held this week in Toronto.
Especially this part.
"Arar called on reporters to serve the weak and vulnerable, not the powerful and anonymous.
Arar continued:
He says an investigative, independent and responsible news media is the public's best defence against corruption and abuses of power.
I was going to write about how vital courageous, rigorous, investigative journalism is to a democracy --but then my eyeballs skinned their knees on this headline in the National Post.
"Parrish lashed over 'iron fist' comment"
Like. Seriously.
Where did the National Post's "iron fist" (in quotations no less) come from? Certainly not from Parrish --either from remarks in the Toronto Star or during last Wednesday's Council meeting.
Here's one possibility...
How does:
"Hazel McCallion's iron grip on Mississauga council and the city she has run for almost 30 years is slipping." written by Toronto Star Staff reporter, Phinjo Gombu translate into the National Post's headline:
"Parrish lashed over 'iron fist' comment"
All this Mahoney/Parrish kerfuffle took to get right was reading one Toronto Star article and listening/watching the Mahoney/Parrish exchange.
There's the other problem with far too much of today's journalism --boo boos, unintentional or otherwise.
A national paper can get something wrong like "Parrish lashed over 'iron fist' comment" and later retract that statement with a full apology to Councillor Parrish.
But it won't matter.
All people will remember is that Parrish accused McCallion of ruling with an "iron fist".
Kind of reminds me of a couple years ago when the news was filled with:
"McDonalds to offer transfat-free fries!"
A week or two later, they oops-ied their intentions. But there are still people hittin' the Golden Arches Drive Thru who believe to this day that they're scarfing down healthy heart-friendly McFries.
A fine example of a Classic Corporate Communications Coup.
(Hmmm, let me try....all I need is a National Post article on AH --here's one!)
"Published: Monday, June 26, 2006
TORONTO -- American copper giant Phelps Dodge Corp. (NYSE:PD), promising no negative impact on Canada, has struck a deal to buy Inco Ltd. and Falconbridge Ltd. for about $40 billion US."
She winds up and delivers a curveball to the plate!
"NATIONAL POST URGES U.S. TAKEOVER OF CANADA"
Signed,
The Mississauga Muse
"We must employ every possible tactic to dissuade those who try to silence us with fear"
---The Mississauga News Editorial (2007-03-24)
Click here for John Stewart's Blog
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