Canada: PMA condemns harassment of journalists

9 February 2022

The Public Media Alliance is deeply troubled by reports of growing harassment, intimidation and threats towards journalists in Canada. Journalists must be allowed to report freely, without fear of reprisal or hostility.

In his latest blog, CBC News Editor in Chief, Brodie Fenlon, wrote about the new measures the public broadcaster is taking to keep its journalists safe in light of recent security concerns.

Referring to the latest vaccine-mandate protests in Ottawa, Brodie said: “We reduced our visibility and hired extra security. We identified fallback positions for our reporters and field crews. We conducted risk assessments for each deployment”.

The extra precautions follow a spate of incidents, which included threats of physical attacks, damage to CBC vehicles, and the surrounding and intimidation of a reporter by an angry crowd. A Radio-Canada reporter in Ottawa had to abandon a planned live report because protesters were approaching her screaming. Others reporting on protests were heckled as “propaganda”, while some had objects thrown at them.

The Canadian Association of Journalists has also expressed its alarm regarding the continued rise in attacks against journalists – both off- and online – including a significant rise in racist, antisemitic and misogynistic threats and abuse.

CBC/Radio-Canada staff have also reported threats of “arrest, graphic violence and extra-judicial trials”, via their inboxes and social media. “References to Nuremberg and treason are common. The dialogue is rife with allegations of conspiracy and “fake news”, Fenlon writes.

“As the public broadcaster, we will not be intimidated or step back from our commitment to independent, fact-based journalism and the public service mandate that drives all of our work” – Brodie Fenlon.

While it is certainly not the case that all protesters are complicit in these incidents, there is a growing distrust in news media and journalism, often bolstered by those spreading conspiracy theories and disinformation. This, coupled with threats and violence, severely hinders the ability of journalists to do their jobs and accurately inform the public and democracy.

Ending his blog, Fenlon writes: “While the safety of our teams in the field and online remains a top priority, our commitment to journalism and truth telling has not wavered.

“As the public broadcaster, we will not be intimidated or step back from our commitment to independent, fact-based journalism and the public service mandate that drives all of our work. But it’s important for you to know what we are encountering on the ground.

“At stake are the press and media freedoms guaranteed under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — the very same section that guarantees protesters the right to assemble and demonstrate peacefully.”

The Public Media Alliance condemns all intimidation of and attacks on journalists. We stand in solidarity with those working for our member CBC/Radio-Canada and other Canadian news media facing such threats.

Header Image: Ottawa Ontario Canada January 31 2022, Parliament Hill – Trucker Convoy Protest. Credit: Franklin McKay / Shutterstock.com