Canadian reporter suspended for praising troops in Afghanistan

[Scrum]

It's the issue that's controversial, not what she wrote.

She should have read her companies regulations more closly.

She was not suspended for praising the troops like the thread title says. She was suspended to violation her companies policy. If she doesn't like the policy. she can find another job.

[motivez]

I think the important role a free press serves requires journalist's to be able to print pretty much whatever they want as long as it's within the law. Not sure if Canada has anything like that, though..

welcome to the forum, btw

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by Bob the Goat

CBC Radio/Television is a national radio/television network that is funded by Canadian taxpayers and carries no advertising. It is a unifying national entity in Canada and as such is scrupulous in its efforts to report news objectively without taking sides or pushing any one political agenda. In Canada the war in Afghanistan and our troops involvement there is a very pressing issue. Canada has not been involved in a combat war since Korea, (ended in 1951), and has developed a reputation for supplying peace-keeping troops to create a buffer between warring entities. The reporters position is seen as "taking sides" in a national controversy and as an employee of nationalized media her employers, the tax-payers, do not want journalists to take sides but rather report both views without exercising oped leanings. Of course some specific shows invite public participation, (CBC Radio Cross Country Checkup) and provide a wide range of individual opinions. These shows are usually moderated by neutral hosts.
As a CBC journalist she would have been well aware that she was crossing a line by expressing her personal opinion and praise in an open letter.

I didn't think a free market had anything to do with this. A reprimand would have been in order. But they went to far like all PC over-reactions and made a news story of it, and we are all free to comment!

[Diamond Cross]

Blame Canada.


Sheila: Times have changed
Our kids are kids are getting worse
They won't obey their parents
They just want to fart and curse!
Sharon: Should we blame the government?
Liane: Or blame society?
Dads: Or should we blame the images on TV?
Sheila: No, blame Canada!
Everyone: Blame Canada!
Sheila: With all their beady little eyes and flappin' heads so full of lies
Everyone: Blame Canada! Blame Canada!
Sheila: We need to form a full assault
Everyone: It's Canada's fault!
Sharon: Don't blame me
For my son Stan
He saw the darn cartoon
And now he's off to join the Klan!
Liane: And my boy Eric once
Had my picture on his shelf
But now when I see him he tells me to fuck myself!
Sheila: Well, blame Canada!
Everyone: Blame Canada!
It seems that everythings gone wrong
Since Canada came along
Blame Canada!
Blame Canada!
Some Guy: They're not even a real country anyway
Ms. McCormick: My son could've been a doctor or a lawyer it's true
Instead he burned up like a piggy on a barbecue
Everyone: Should we blame the matches?
Should we blame the fire?
Or the doctors who allowed him to expire?
Sheila: Heck no!
Everyone: Blame Canada! Blame Canada!
Sheila: With all their hockey hubbabaloo
Liane: And that bitch Anne Murray, too Everyone: Blame Canada!
Shame on Canada
The smut we must stop
The trash we must smash
Laughter and fun
must all be undone
We must blame them and cause a fuss
Before someone thinks of blaming uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuus