Now on J-Source: Dan Henry's 30-year fight for cameras in court; Stephen Ward on objectivity; Toronto Star's 'Pathologist'

TORONTO, Dec. 13, 2012 /CNW/ -

FEATURES

Freedom of Expression
Daniel Henry on lack of camera and electronic access to courts: 'It's just not good enough'
Media lawyer Daniel Henry has been honoured by the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression with the 2012 Vox Libera award. In his acceptance speech, he called for journalists to keep pressing for camera access in court, saying that when journalists - and by virtue, the public - are denied access to courts electronically, it is, quite simply, not good enough.
Link to article

Ideas
The emotional commitment to objective journalism
Impartiality and objectivity as bloodless norms is an absurd caricature, argues Stephen J.A. Ward in the latest issue of Media magazine. With an intro by Media editor, David McKie.
Link to article

Health and Medical Journalism
Mental health coverage continues to miss the point
Covering mental health issues takes tact, responsibility and a commitment to stories that push back against societal stigma. Olivia Schneider looks at how mental health stories are covered, the problems that persist in the coverage and how journalists can overcome them. 
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Town Hall
Q&A with Toronto Star's 'Pathologist' Katie Daubs
The Toronto Star experimented with a graphic novel representation of reporter Katie Daubs' two-week stay indoors in Toronto's underground PATH system. It was a multi-platform project with maps, videos, photos and more. Here, Daubs answers some of Eric Mark Do's questions about the experience.
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Students' Lounge
Journalism school in Canada and Australia: Q&A with j-exchange student Lauren Waldhuter
Lauren Waldhuter is a journalism student at the University of South Australia who just completed a semester-long exchange at Ryerson University. Here she talks to Eric Mark Do about the experience and some of her observations on the two journalism programs, as well as the similarities and differences in the countries' media.
Link to article

IN THE NEWS

» Selena Ross named the winner of inaugural CIC-Walrus Longform competition
» Agriculture reporter among those facing criminal charges in missing sheep case
» Sun Media shuts down a number of community newspapers
» University of King's College expands graduate journalism offerings with MFA in creative non-fiction
» Recap: CJFE's A Night to Honour Courageous Reporting
» Cape Cod Times fires writer after serial source fabrication discovered
» Roger Gillespie joins Star Media Group start-up YourHamiltonBiz.com as managing editor
» Stephen Ward to become director of George S. Turnbull Center in Portland, Oregon

TOWN HALL

This story caught my interest, as I have run into these types of situations a number of times in 34 years working in community newspapers.

My first observation is that reporters in doing news stories must be objective and be seen to be objective. In smaller communities, signing a petition, even a fairly general one as in this case, is a strong sign of subjectivity. Whether or not it is the newspaper's policy, journalists should stay away from signing petitions, speaking at public meetings and expressing opinions or other obvious signs of what could be interpreted as bias.

The story's point about sources, businesses or MPs (as mentioned) refusing to deal with a newspaper because of a certain reporter is an important one. ...

Reader: Frank Bucholtz
Article: The intersection of politics, local news and the idea of journalists acting as citizens: Jill Winzoski's firing

J-Source and ProjetJ are projects of The Canadian Journalism Foundation in collaboration with leading journalism schools and organizations.

CJF News: Join the CJF for its Honorary Tribute to The New York Times at the 16th Annual CJF Awards on June 13, 2013. Jill Abramson, executive editor of The Times, will accept the tribute on behalf of the organization. Amanda Lang, senior business correspondent for CBC News and co-anchor of The Lang and O'Leary Exchange, will host the event. Sponsorship opportunities for the CJF Awards now available.

CJF News: Early-career photojournalists looking to gain national exposure can apply to the Tom Hanson Photojournalism Award. The winner will get a chance to work at The Canadian Press head office in Toronto. View the criteria, read about the experience from last year's recipient Michelle Siu and view her photos. Deadline is January 7, 2013.

SOURCE Canadian Journalism Foundation