Aspertorials, gag orders, wire copy and editorial budget cuts blow a chilling mood through newsrooms, unavoidably ending up with self-censorship. When Izzy Asper spoke up about the “anti-Israel” cant of news coverage across the world, his employees listened. Russell Mills: “Although his comments were not specifically directed at CanWest newspapers, how else could his editors interpret his comments except as direction on how they should cover the Middle East conflict?”

That self-censoring trend puts a cap on diversity, says communications professor Walter Soderland. “One would imagine papers across the country would have different points of view. Normally, you take an issue and usually, people disagree. The function of journalism is to get as many of these views out there.”

Unfortunately, that's just not how you'll find Middle East coverage in CanWest. Copy editors are reportedly directed to rewrite wire copy describing Palestinians as "militants" to either "suicide bombers" or even more dramatically, "homicide bombers."

Soderland adds that because of Canada’s vastness, one editorial slant just can’t work. “Given Canada, what is a national stance? Where you physically stand in Canada really determines your point of view.”

Except if you read, watch or listen to CanWest.