Now on J-Source: Police funeral coverage; live court reporting; Keith Davey's legacy

TORONTO, Jan. 26 /CNW/ -

TOWN HALL
Marching to the police beat The media coverage of the Toronto Police during the G20 may have tarnished their image. Last week, they may have gained it back after the funeral for an officer. But some call the funeral coverage excessive, befitting royalty or heads of state, and wonder if there was a link between the two. Dana Lacey reports.
Link to article

LAW
Russell Williams' lawyers say courtroom tweets "crude, unnecessary", lacked context
In an interview with The Ottawa Citizen's Chris Cobb, the defence team of convicted rapist and murderer Russell Williams blasts journalists for going too far with live courtroom reporting. Let this continue unchecked, they say, and journalists may inadvertendtly hamper justice.
Link to article

TOWN HALL
Keith Davey's media legacy
Toronto Star public editor Kathy English's latest column explores the political and media legacies of former Canadian senator and Liberal strategist Keith Davey, a champion of journalism who died last week at the age of 84.
Link to article

STUDENTS' LOUNGE
Pros vs. joes
During the chaos of the G20 summit, news came from many sources -- some credible, some incredible. Has journalism degenerated into amateur hour? This week, we feature Michelle Medford's story from the winter issue of The Ryerson Review of Journalism.
Link to article

THE BIG ISSUE

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Taking back our journalism
On a frigid January night in Saskatchewan, the CBC's Anna Maria Tremonti announced to a packed lecture hall that enough is enough. "It's time to take our journalism back," said Tremonti, delivering the 31st annual Minifie Lecture, hosted by the University of Regina School of Journalism.

Government secrecy is on her hit list, along with the practice of chasing stories without questioning their legitimacy. The fiery speech amounted to a call to arms for the young journalists in the crowd, who she implored to challenge the desk and demand worthwhile assignments. "There's no better time to be a journalist," she promised, leaving the 'can't-get-worse' unspoken. For the rough notes, check out the live blog by popular Saskatchewan political blogger Saskboy. For the official transcript, watch this space.   

Tremonti's talk covered a tremendous amount of ground. Explore these related topics on J-Source.        

• Teaching Journalism
• Freedom of Expression
• Investigative Journalism
• The Future of News 
• Field Notes

EVENTS CALENDAR

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• January 25, BC Colloquium on science and media
• January 26, ON "Too Asian?" Talk Back
• January 28, ON Understanding WikiLeaks Free Talk
• January 28-30, BC 10th Annual Magazine Camp
• February 7, BC Behind the scenes at science journal Nature
• February 8, WEB CNA webinar: headline writing
• February 15, ON CJF Forum: The vaccine-autism link controversy. A science journalism case study
• February 16, ON Massey College Press Club Night
• February 17, ON PWAC Professional Development Series
• March 4, ON Journalism, Confidentiality and the Courts
• See all events here.

IN THE NEWS

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Aussie academic journal to publish peer-reviewed journalism

Transcontinental hires social media and mobile strategists

Journalist Terrence Belford passes away

Globe health reporter wins public policy award

Maclean's iPad app built by U.S. developer

CRTC seeks to relax broadcast restrictions 

Banff Media's green producer award gets Suzuki endorsement

Shaw Media appoints marketing VP

Threats, complaints stop Iran film

Study finds some newspapers successful with a pay model

RECENT POSTS

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How to stop misspelling names

Why Canada needs more media analysis education

Toronto Star's "You be the Editor" challenge reveals why we don't let the public edit newspapers

TOWN HALL

"You Be the Editor is a neat marketing gimmick. However, there's a much more effective way for a reader to exercise editorial input: You buy the paper, or you don't."
Reader Comment: Claude Adams
Post:Toronto Star's "You be the Editor" challenge reveals why we don't let the public edit newspapers  

"What's curious about the piece is the presumption that suicide always reflects a disturbed mental frame of mind and accordingly is never a rational act. Specifically it ignores completely people who have an incurable or debilitating illness and as a consequence choose to end their lives. In obituaries newspapers traditionally reports these deaths via the highly neutered words "died suddenly." And it is also true that doctors figure out other ways of describing these deaths. If you want to see something really weird look at the statistics related to deaths from anorexia. Most of them are found in people over the age of 65 and not young girls because when people kill themselves by stopping eating the official reason for their demise listed on their death certificates is not suicide but the aforementioned anorexia."
Reader Comment: Stephen Strauss
Post: Why the media doesn't cover suicide (and why it should)

COMING UP AT THE CJF:
THE VACCINE-AUTISM LINK CONTROVERSY: A SCIENCE JOURNALISM CASE STUDY
with BRIAN DEER of The Sunday Times of London
February 15 in Toronto

SOURCE News - Media

For further information:

The Canadian Journalism Foundation
La Fondation pour le journalisme canadien
59 Adelaide St. E, Ste 500 / Toronto, ON / M5C 1K6
416-955-0630 / programs@cjf-fjc.ca http://cjf-fjc.ca