Sue's Blog

Sunday, March 27, 2011

CTV Conservative Television

I watched the round up of the first day of campaigning presented by CTV National.

There is no other way to put this - the station is bias. Now some of you are saying - yeah we already know - however this is not a case of leaning right - it is a case of preaching right.

Harper wants the campaign about coalition - the CTV delivers. Harper wants to scare Canadians with his take on a coalition - CTV delivers. Harper wants to blame the "Opposition" parties for an "unnecessary" election - the CTV delivers.

They used a "sampling" of opinions on whether Canadians want another election - or so they say. We as viewers should demand we hear the question from the reporter - then the answer by a "Canadian". Further the sampling of opinion only included Canadians that were upset at having another election.

We then hear the CTV reporter or anchor use the word "charges" when referring to Harper and government in contempt of parliament and breaking the Elections Act. The CTV is careful not to say a finding of contempt.

They are also specifically targeting Ignatieff's leadership - both from Harper and then the chosen clip from Layton.

The CTV reporters did not focus on Harper's refusal to answer questions - the day the government fell yet absolutely hounded Ignatieff regarding a possible "coalition". The network is doing nothing to explain the history of coalitions and the fact they are as democratic a result as continuing minorities. In fact the same minority - over and over - just tells me that Canadians are afraid - not of a coalition - but afraid of a Harper majority.

Robert Fife may as well sign himself up as part of the Harper re-election team - not as somebody assigned to cover his campaign.

Some reporters and journalists complain about blogs and question the validity of what you - the reader - might find there. I would suggest to the CTV that social media such as blogs, twitter, and facebook will takeover from traditional media coverage this election - and  if they keep up their bias - the CTV will cause the demise of any credibility they have left.

The CTV has a responsibility to report without bias and if they wish to present a "right" opinion - leave it to their numerous pundits. In this way the CTV will treat Canadians as if they are intelligent and expect their journalists to provide information not opinion.

Finally the mainstream media are all reporting that "coalition" is the dominant theme so far. How is that - who is deciding that Coalition is what is on the minds of Canadians? Who is driving the "Coalition" discussion?
Oh you mean the media is driving "Coalition". I expect more from all Canadian TV, Print, and Radio News coverage. Is this what you - the media - think your power should be used for?

9 comments:

Unknown said...

When this province desperately needed the media to be our so called "OFFICIAL OPPOSITION" , where were they ?

Instead of doing a little investigative journalism , we actually had one journalist falling all over themselves to tell us that they voted for Williams and would do so again .That same person has written a PROFILE of Williams and is probably signing copies at this moment . Life can be good , can't it?

Any bets on what the first word is to come out of Randy Simms' mouth on Monday morning? Surely not COALITION !

Anonymous said...

Seems to me Canadians (collectively) surely do know what they want. They have elected several minorities in a row.
We all know minorities DO NOT last more than a couple of years (the current one is a record for longevity, is it not?).

The current opposition parties could have, right now, requested of the GG to be allowed to form a (coalition) government rather than have to go to the polls, no?

It seems clear to me what Canadians 'want' (judging by their demonstrated voting pattern over the past three elections), it is not up to the politicos, nor the media to keep telling us what we want.

Lloyd

Anonymous said...

What would be so wrong if the government represented a majority of those that voted?

Sue Kelland-Dyer said...

I am quite sure I am missing the point of the last comment.

Jerome said...

Sue, my point is that a coalition government that represents the majority of Canadians who voted, is more representative of a democracy than one that governs with one third support of the electorate.

Sue Kelland-Dyer said...

Thank you - I got it now - am a bit slow today. lol

George said...

I thought that Terry Milevski was brilliant asking the "coalition" question. He also tried to nail down Ignatieff on it.
It was funny watching Iggy trying to keep his smile and bailing out on the reporters so quick when Terry asked him about forming any coalition if a minority government gets formed.
I never seen panic quite like it, and it was funny...

Anonymous said...

CTV is Canada's FOX News Channel.

Sue Kelland-Dyer said...

George I am not interested in Iggy's take on coalition it is not his issue. A coalition is a legitimate and not scary outcome of any election in our country. This includes by the way Harper - if the Libs or NDP achieved a minority. I am interested in Harper's lies being exposed - as this deceitful behavior threatens our democracy much more.