Gavin and Andrew sit down and discuss the Alberta NDP governments decision, and near immediate 180 reversal to ban The Rebel Media, and Sheila Gunn Reid, the Rebel Media’s Alberta Bureau chief from government press conferences. They boys also discuss the implications of allowing the government to dictate who is a journalist and the effect of social media on journalism.

Episode 16 Show Notes

Intro

Hello to all of our listeners out there in podcast land, and welcome to episode 16 of the Canadian Patriot Podcast, recorded February 15, 2016.

Gavin – a business owner, gun enthusiast, hunter, atheist and host of the Greater Toronto Area chapter of the Tactical Beard Owners Club – and for this episode would like to be referred to as “The Dude”. You know, that or, uh, His Dudeness, or uh, Duder, or El Duderino if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.

… and I’m your host Andrew – I’m a libertarian, competitive shooter, gear reviewer at www.everydaytacticool.com, and gun club director

We’d love to hear your feedback about the show. Please visit canadianpatriotpodcast.com/feedback/ or email us at feedback@canadianpatriotpodcast.com

Available on Stitcher at http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=77508&refid=stpr and iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/canadian-patriot-podcast/id1067964521?mt=2

What are we drinking?

Gavin – White Russians

Andrew Homebrew Red Ale

Petition

https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-179

Debate and vote on a motion calling on the government to rebuild trust in the RCMP among High River residents by holding an independent judicial inquiry into the legal justification for the RCMP entering 4,666 High River homes;
Determine how many of these unwarranted entries violated the privacy rights and property rights of these High River residents; and
Determine if these entries were contrary to any of the provisions of our Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Topic

Background

Former Sun Media columnist and Sun News Network host Ezra Levant’s new online news site, The Rebel (therebel.media), has become one of Albertans’ top Internet sources of reporting and commentary in just its first year in operation.

In January when it was announcing the results of its royalty review, the NDP held a closed-door technical briefing where government experts explained the details to journalists.

When Rebel contributor Sheila Gunn Reid showed up for the briefing, she was turned away. The event was for “accredited media only.”

When Levant hired highly respected Edmonton media lawyer Fred Kozak to have the Rebel bans lifted, the NDP had Justice department lawyer, Jason Fung, provide a curt, one-sentence response: “Our client’s position remains that your client and those who identify as being connected to your client are not journalists and are not entitled to access media lock-ups or other such events.”

‘The Rebel’ Ban Sparks Debate Over What Constitutes Journalism In The Digital Era
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/18/rebel-ban-sparks-debate-over-what-constitutes-journalism-in-the-digital-era_n_9260858.html

Alberta NDP says ‘it’s clear we made a mistake’ in banning Ezra Levant’s The Rebel

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/national/alberta+rebel+reporters+stay+least+weeks+while+reviews+policy/11725261/story.html

Why the Premier of Alberta shouldn’t get to decide who is ‘media’

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/why-the-premier-of-alberta-shouldnt-get-to-decide-who-is-media/article28775443/

‘We made a mistake’: Alberta government rescinds ban on Rebel Media pending review

http://globalnews.ca/news/2520531/notley-government-bans-right-wing-group-from-covering-announcements/

‘The Rebel’ Reporters Booted From Alberta Government Events

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/02/16/the-rebel-ezra-levant-notley-bully-alberta-media_n_9243426.html

NDP seeking to muzzle opposing journalists

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2016/02/15/ndp-seeking-to-muzzle-opposing-journalists?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=recommend-button&utm_campaign=NDP+seeking+to+muzzle+opposing+journalists

Implications

Freedom of the press

Canada’s 1982 constitution guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of the press.

Section 2b of the Charter explicitly states that we all have the right to “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.”

“I’m not traditional media. I’m not mainstream media. But my personal politics aside, that doesn’t give the government a right to determine whether I’m legitimate or not.” Sheila Gunn Reid

The rise of the internet and alternative media

-fewer newspapers, fewer subscribers

-more people cutting cable service

-more people going to social media and online news outlets

Who can be the media?

Canadian Association of Journalists guidelines

http://www.caj.ca/ethics-guidelines/

-Accuracy

-Fairness

-Right to Privacyo

-Independence

-Conflict of interest

-Transparency

-Promises to sources

-Diversity

-Accountability

-Digital media: Special Issues

Ethical practice does not change with the medium. We are bound by the above principles no matter where our stories are published or broadcast.

Federal Press Gallery

Members must prove that their principal occupation is reporting, interpreting or editing parliamentary or federal government news, and that they work for an organization that reports on a regular basis on such news. Rebel co-founder and freelancer Brian Lilley is a gallery member, as is rabble.ca reporter Karl Nerenberg.