Anonymity guaranteed. Readers are also invited to post their thoughts here.
I won't look at any CanWest media but their free "community paper", wrapped around a thick wad of junk advertising, is dumped on my doorstep whether I want it or not. More often than not by the time I find it it has been scattered by the wind. I have contacted them several times and tried to get this stopped. In spite of their promises to do so it still keeps coming. I've started saving this litter and when I get a van-load I'll be delivering back to their local office. And it won't be neatly bundled. I'm tired of being treated with contempt by these people.
ihath (10 upthread) said:
"Clinical studies have shown that reading the Vancouver Sun three times a week will lower your I.Q. I just made that up but somebody should look into that......"
Alas, these days nobody need to look into or research anything because all you really need to make it true is an Institute to say it over and over and over and over and over until it just is.
Although I am not gainfully employed as a journalist (i.e. arts writer and news editor) at present, I still monitor issues that affect "the public's right to know" – especially as they relate to open, honest debate about such contentious issues as media concentration and charges of biased reporting. This item caught my slightly jaundiced eye this morning:
Adbusters invites CanWest journos to anonymously share their thoughts and opinions about the recent Reuters-CanWest controversy surrounding a "terrorist re-write" story here: www.canwestwatch.org
Can the public trust the staff at Adbust... [read more]
I suppose it can all come down to self-interest. It's easier to do what Asper is doing than it would be not to. Who doesn't want the money that comes along with owning the vast majority of Canadian media? Who doesn't want control over what people see and hear? Who doesn't want their name to be widely known and reverred? Most would say they don't, but oftentimes they don't think about things from the point of view of those they fight against. Saul D. Alinsky teaches us in Rule for Radicals, that no matter what, your side of the battle will always seem ethical from your standpoint. The same appl... [read more]
Simply refuse to consume their products, whether print, TV or otherwise! And spread the word that deception is among us.
You may not have Canwest to kick around. GE/NBC/Universal is trying to get the Canadian laws chanegd to allow GE/NBC to buy Canwest. The Global name would disappear in favor of "NBC", and the Global news would be consolidated into NBC with Brian Williams' newscast being seen in Canada with only a small Canadian segment each night.
If you think its bas now, wait til GE/NBC/Universal Americanizes Canwest!
Um, I'm not even sure why I'm confessing anything. Is it something to be ashamed of to hate CanWest? I hate them all. In my mind, media is not something that can be owned - as Adbusters has proven. I will not remain anonymous. In fact, I hope the bastards know who I am.
I'm happy to see that people are seeing this. I tought I was crazy ot think that Global TV was so pro-Israel. I think that this concentration of media is a very dangerous thing and should be adressed by the CRTC as soon as possible. It's happening on the french side also: Quebecor owns several magazines, TV and radio stations. Their propagnada is not as political, but they seem to be numbing the brains of people in Quebec, with low quality programming. All of this is really scaring me.
I've boycotted the Asper's media. I also boycotted what came before, when it was owned by His Lardship Conrad Black the Kleptocrat. They seldom printed my letters, but then they don't print much of the truth, do they? Their "journalists" can only be cowards or corporate sucks. Or obscenely rich. Surely to God they don't believe the crud they write, do they?
Not a confession, but a plea for more info, usable actions
that I, a peace-loving, truth-seeking person can do to show my anger at the multi-national corporate machine that owns our politicians and media. We (family & I) don't buy news papers,
(now an oxymoron), we recycle, and we protest when we can. But I feel that we would go further, do better, get the message out louder if we knew how.
To my anonymous friend from Calgary. I'm glad you admit "Israel does some things better than others". but you then go on to dismiss them. Keep in mind "some things" include honest elections and minority rights. If you feel that Israel is committing war crimes why don't you go outside and try throwing rocks at an RCMP car. When they shoot you, and they would, is that also a war crime?
To you the anonymous person from Calgary I'll give you some insight. You are talking about Israel commiting war crimes. Israel isn't in a war. Another thing: what is Israel doing compared to what other countries like Iraq are doing that is so wrong? If you give me a list of things that Israel is doing, I will give you a list 3 times as large using other middle eastern countries.
Is The Vancouver Province included in their tyranny?
Because I do so love reading the paper, but the idea of it lowering my intelligence.. well no wonder I fail tests.
Depressing as the state of our media actually is, I still find some humour in following the thinly disguised "reporting" by CanWest folks. My favorite part is when they play the victim of misrepresentation!! Don't believe me? Go visit their recently launched "media-watch" site: www.honestreporting.ca
Jon Cooper is your typical CanWest digester. He would like us to ignore the war crimes because Israel does some things better than others. Well Jon, no Muslim nation is currently committing war crimes in violation of numerous international laws and norms. CanWest and its readers are prolific in their one-sided support of everything Israel and United States with a good blend of all-out capitalism. It is shameless and obvious at the same time.
If you can point out even one Middle Eastern country that has Jewish, Muslim and Christian voters, other than Israel, I'd love you to tell me who. If you could point out even one Middle Eastern country that has a Gay Pride Parade other than Israel, please enlighten me. Your bashing of Israel is complete B.S.
As a guy who works for CanWest, I can say that I do not disagree with a lot of the 'bashing' going on. But are you people stupid? To say the downturn in fair media coverage is a CanWest issue alone in Canada is retarded. I bet half of you are CBC supporters and they are no better - they are the GOVERNMENT'S TV station. Do you think THEY don't watch over what their reporters are doing? The media, like many things nowadays, is about money. What makes money is what works - regardless of how stupid or unfair it is. We're the ones buying it - whether you choose to believe it or not. You want change? Don't blame CanWest, blame yourselves.
I've studied media in university and all I have to say is the quality of journalism is a joke. It tows the company line because everyone needs to pay rent. I'd rather work at a fast food joint for minimum wage than be censored by corporate dogs who tow the neocon banner of censorship and suppression of freedom of speech. Every neocon should be condemned to solitary confinment and force-fed their own media puke.
After having taken a visual culture class at school, I really noticed the damage advertising and such distorted means of media can do.
Biased news that distorts, twists and omits the truth isn't a good thing - it compromises democracy. The real problem isn't the Asper family perce. It's media conglomeration - where only a handful of media elites own many media companies. Simple solution - 1 company - 1 owner. That should be the focus. What would that take? Changes to the law?
I am a dictator in my house: all Canwest papers/tv/radio are out of bounds here! So is CNN, Fox, Time etc. who I consider bedfellows of Canwest. They take advantage of soft Canadian laws.
As a freelance writer, I often have work published by the CanWest chain. They pay a pathetic amount, much less than minimum wage, for the original article and then they republish it gratis on the Internet and if the article is used in any of their numerous newspapers from across the country, they pay a flat rate of $25.00. Needless to say, one can't eat on a regular basis with this kind of remuneration. My input to CanWest Global was recently cut due to fiscal concerns, or so I was told.
Interestingly, awhile back, I made a placard, using what I found in the back of my old van, some cardboa... [read more]
I am relieved to find that I am not the only person scanning the National Post with increasing wonderment and chagrin at the proliferation of pro-Zionist propaganda. I guess the solution is to stop the scanning...
I wrote an independent article on the proposed Canadian Museum of Human Rights, an Asper's project. read the unprinted story here
The English version was being written for the National Post, which expressed interest. I wrote a piece that, while critical of many of the premises of the museum, was still respectul and nuanced. Specifically, I expressed the worry that the museum could turn into an "anti-terrorism / pro-Israeli-anti Palestinian" institution.
When the editors read the final version, they rejected it out of hand. Later, Montreal's le Devoir published the piece, in French.
DEAR FRIENDS,
IF YOU ARE TIRED OF THE OTTAWA CITIZEN'S SHABBY JOURNALISM AND YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES, YOU CAN HELP US RAISE OUR VOICE IN PROTEST. JUST FOLLOW THE EASY STEPS BELOW AND FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO AS MANY PEOPLE ON YOUR LIST AS POSSIBLE.
1) Please cut and paste the letter to the Ottawa Citizen below in a new message window
2) Add your name and address at the bottom and write in the subject heading "I too will subscribe when you stop the lies"
3) Email it
4) CC your message to:
lm... [read more]
Here in New Zealand CanWest owns 2 or our 4 public TV channels (free) 29+ of our radio stations (that means ALL besides indie/pirate/school) AND huge chunks of our news papers. I'm scared
CanWest is a symptom of our contemporary lifestyle. It's easier to turn off and tune out to what we are fed by Fox, CNN and CanWest, than to look for real information. The reason that they are so successful is the packaging: easily digestible entertainment. You can liken it to a chocolate bar compared to a gourmet sandwich on whole meal bread. When you’re on the run it’s easier to grab the bar. The problem is we’ve been running so long that our teeth are beginning to rot and the sandwich has become too hard to chew. So how do we go about fixing the problem? The few that are aware of this slide...
Reminiscent of the Fox spin in the USA, the Canwest spin on the Israel-Palestine situation in the Middle East is very dangerous to neocon geopolitics. Because of the incredible strength the US has in the UN and the support it receives from citizens because of the news they're fed through slanted news wires like Fox and CNN, Israel is allowed to control the UN in it's favors. In truth, Israel is a human rights disaster that has done more "wrong-doings" then Iraq, Iran, and Palestine put together.
Support Canwestwatch, support F.A.I.R (fairness and accuracy in reporting, an american equivalent to Canwestwatch).
It is absolutely essential to the values that have had a good run here in Soviet Canuckastan that we stop Asper and his ilk "by any means necessary."
Clinical studies have shown that reading the Vancouver Sun three times a week will lower your I.Q. I just made that up but somebody should look into that. Consumers demand clear "Canwest Free" labeling or "Contains Canwest propaganda" on all Canadian media products.
"CBC Watch" articles aren't insightful critiques of CBC. They are simply ramblings about how CBC is too pro Palestine and needs to better represent the slated view of the whole Israel/Palestine conflict that our southern neighbors have adopted. Canwest and the Aspers need to curbed immediatly,
This corporation -- just like dozens of other media corporations -- is using and abusing one of the most precious and important elements of society to make money. Journalism should benefit people, not companies.
Living in BC today means we, the citizens, have slipped into Orwell's "memory hole" as long as the Canwest empire is left unchallenged. Their open attack on labour and the pro-privatization editorials that come right out of the Fraser Institute are a travesty to the profession of journalism. The Gordan Campbell Liberals are pissing all over our heads but Canwest keeps telling us it's just raining! Reforming media concentration is obviously required now! In the meantime, what's stopping all of us from a boycott of all Canwest operations? Hit em' where it hurts!
Being an entertainment journalist, independent entertainment does not get anywhere near the amount of press it deserves or downright needs. The reason why CanWest covers what it does in its 'entertainment' section is because they get grants and money from the major players in the consume this, fear that entertainment industry. Until the big brother wakes up, we're going to continue to live under a homogonized, standardised lifestyle built on consuming and less on independent thought. I know the Asper's and the board at Canwest don't care about independent, genuine entertainment coverage, but i... [read more]
CanWest media, you should be ashamed of yourself. Journalism should expose the truth and challenge the status quo. Instead you are helping the powers that be continue their reign of corruption and terror unchallenged. I will never under any circumstance purchase any of your papers, or use any products/services that are advertised on your mediums.
Odd, I was going to start putting down a business plan for a CanWest watch type organization after seeing how they Americanize all their news.
They simply are the Fox News Network of Canada. They are so right-wing and not afraid to hide it anymore. I refuse to ever purchase any of their papers, and I will not consume any products or use services advertised on their mediums.
It is high time they have their wings clipped and a true independent media take their place. It is time to end the right-wing media stranglehold on Canadian media. I cannot endure anymore stories about how we better kiss American ass or else...
CanWest undermines the democratic process in Canada. I do not read their papers and I do not watch the TV stations they own. I just can't stomach their deliberate manipulation of news. I have complained several times to the CRTC and just recently wrote them again to complain about CHUM and their canceellation of a very popular TV talk and call in show. I was also dismayed when I learned the Green Party was prevented from participating in the leader debate prior to the fedeal election. I really dislike the Greens but I believe in their right to be heard.
We need less ranting and more rational and clear arguments (hard-hitting is OK). Here's my bit:
The USSR, Mainland China, and other so-called 'communist' regimes, have been rightly criticized for their government's control of the media. An independent and diverse media has been held up as the cornerstone of democracy. We don't have that here in Canada and North America. We need effective laws about concentration of media ownership. The 'market' has produced a concentration of control of the media every bit as anti-democratic as in the old USSR, Mainland China and the others.
I have to put up with a great breakfast spoiler-the Gazette.
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