Month: September 2008

A Carleton j-school project needs a little more oomph …

Jeff, Paul, Chris — don't take this the wrong way cuz you guys are fabulous journalists with a long track record of outstanding work and, on top of that, you're all a bunch of swell guys and have been tremendously helpful any time I've asked for your advice or help.

But as ivory tower media critics/observers – oy! That new site of yours is awful! Your promise (I think) is that you'll take a critical look at what we're doing over here in the MSM so far as covering the election. Great. Good idea. That's an important role.

But I've got to tell you: The amateurs in the blogosphere do a better job of keeping us on our toes. They generally do it faster, and, so far, they do it better. Don't believe brother Wells. He's being too kind. As Ben Bradlee famously said, “Get some harder information next time.”

Some friendly advice:

• You have friends in newsrooms, I have friends in newsrooms. We all have friends in newsrooms. Don't be afraid of friends in newsrooms. Name names. Call a spade a spade. Crack a few eggs. If it's crap, it's crap. If it's great, it's great.

• News, gentleman, just doesn't happen in The Globe and Mail and on CBC television. How's the paper in Nanaimo covering this election? What about the Metroland giveaways? What's going on with private radio? (I think I can name precisely one non-CBC radio reporter here on the Hill.) The PMO knows that talk radio moves the dial on key issues. Do you?

• in 2006, being online was an option for most MSM outlets. It is now an imperative. How are the MSM dealing with that? Are more resources being applied to the online operation?

• I'm doing my site on my own dime and my own time, pretty much, but even I could afford a digital camera. Can Carleton spring for a little audio and video on your site? Ask your students: Do they like to read the news or watch it?

• Um, the site's promo says, “a daily publication produced by faculty and students in the School of Journalism and Communication.” Where be the students?

• A special note for Paul: It says right there in your bio that you're working for EKOS. Fair enough. But you only talk about them and no one else. It feels kinda odd that EKOS keeps comin' up …

Now, I'm probably being a bit of a dink here but that's because, like you guys, I care a great deal about the mainstream media in this new 'digiverse' and I think that, if you do what you set out to do, you could help things and raise some important questions. The survival and prosperty of a mainstream media fulfilling the role that it took upon itself in postwar Canada and the U.S. is, important, I think, for democracy. Journalists, as you guys know, of course, comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Bloggers and 'citizen journalists' just aren't built for that kind of mission. They don't have the money for it. They're important but they do 'advocacy journalism', a polite way of saying, they are writing/reporting to sustain their sociopolitical worldview. When the MSM is at its best, the only worldview it tries to sustain is that you ought to know what's going on. You ought to know tomorrow's weather, yesterday's sports scores, and what politicians are doing today with your money.

So, please, keep at it. Keep pokin' at the MSM beast. But please put just a little bit more oomph into it.

Cheers!

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22 Minutes' Geri Hall gets handcuffed for having a crush on Harper!

My colleague, Andrew Mayeda, is on the road this week with the Prime Minister and sends along the following from Halifax:

Geri Hall

Is it the sweater vests, the carefully coiffed dome of hair? Or is it just the power that comes with being prime minister?

Apparently single women voters can’t contain themselves around Stephen Harper.

At a press conference in Halifax on Friday morning, a fetching young woman in a low-cut blouse and black skirt sat in the second row. Her presence did not go unnoticed by some male reporters covering Harper’s campaign.

Suddenly, while the prime minister was fielding a question on gas prices, the woman stood up and approached him.

“I’m so sorry, I’ll be so brief. I represent the single females out there,” she said, as RCMP officers jumped in. “Girls love a guy with a sense of humour. We could have a little fun.”

The prime minister’s security detail whisked her out the door, but not before she shared her true feelings: “Stephen Harper, I love you.”

It was later revealed that the woman was Geri Hall, a cast member on CBC’s spoof news show, This Hour Has 22 Minutes.

Party officials say they knew who she was beforehand, but had no idea what she had planned. In fact, RCMP officers slapped handcuffs on Hall before they realized it was all a joke.

Harper took it in stride. When Presse Canadienne reporter Fannie Olivier prepared to ask the next question, he said, “And you, too?” To which Olivier replied, “No, I have no declarations of love to make today.”

Later, Hall interviewed Harper for the show—a fact that only some reporters on the tour found amusing, given that media organizations are paying a princely sum to be on the plane, and only a handful of media outlets on tour have been granted one-on-ones.

“She’s meeting the prime minister in his hotel room right now for a proper interview, and I’m sure his wife is there,” senior party source said slyly.

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Nunvaut's health minister takes Tory nomination

CBC North is reporting that Leona Aglukkaq, Nunavut's health minister, will quit that post to become the Conservative candidate in Nunavut, a riding currently held by retiring Liberal MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell.

From the CBC report:

A longtime Nunavut civil servant from Gjoa Haven, Aglukkaq was elected as MLA for Nattilik in the 2004 territorial election, making her one of two women elected to the 19-person assembly that year.

She was named health and social services minister shortly thereafter, a position she held until Wednesday's announcement, which ended days of speculation in Nunavut over her political future.

The Conservatives have not officially revealed their candidate in the Nunavut riding, but the party's website shows a biography of Aglukkaq as of Wednesday afternoon.

“The eyes of Canada and the world are fixed on the North, and it is essential that we are properly represented during this important time,” the biography reads in part.

“As your Conservative candidate, I am ready to bring my experience and understanding of our region’s unique culture and needs to Ottawa and to work as part of the Conservative team during this important time in our region’s history.”

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CEOs, economists say carbon tax is fine; Harper, Layton say it ain't

Stephen Harper spent a fair amount of time today saying that, if the Liberals get in power and institute a carbon tax, the country could be thrown into recession and, as a bonus, national unity would be threatened.

Jack Layton, too, had not very nice things to say about Stephane Dion’s carbon tax and income tax cut.

Here though, are some non-partisan types, that actually think Dion’s approach is best.

First, here’s an excerpt from e-mail exchange I had before the writ was dropped with Mark Jaccard, a professor at Simon Fraser University, who specializes in the economics of climate change policy:

Conservatives have intensity cap on industry (with a huge 100% offset loophole), and no price or regulation on the 50% of emissions coming from non-industry (vehicles and buildings). These policies will not reach the emission reduction targets for 2020 that Harper and Baird say they will.

[The] NDP want [an] absolute cap on industry. All permits will be auctioned and the money used to subsidize offsets among non-industry. This won’t work. Industry will shut down from the cost hit. And offset subsidies do not reduce emissions.

I am not pro-Dion (see my 2006 CD Howe attack on his policies when he was environment minister) but the Liberals (and Greens) have the only policies that are realistic in that they apply an economy-wide cost on emissions to industry and non-industry. That or an economy-wide absolute cap (which Dion promises within 2 years) is the only way to reduce emissions without destroying the economy.

And here’s the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, a lobby group which represents CEOs at Canada’s biggest companies:

There is no question that taxation can be effective in changing business and consumer decisions and behaviour. Environmental levies such as a carbon tax are transparent, making the price of emissions clear and consistent. They can encourage long-term investments in research and in capital equipment by establishing a known rate of return.

But Canadians must recognize that significant levels of taxation likely would be required to drive significant changes in behaviour.

We are not proposing a new tax. However, if any new environmental tax were to be proposed, it must be a substitute for existing forms of taxation, not a revenue grab. Any new tax in Canada must not discriminate against any particular sector or region, and should be implemented only as part of broader tax reform that aims to enhance our country’s economic as well as environmental performance.

This is especially important with respect to environmental taxation, since the burden of such taxes in most cases flows through to the individuals who ultimately use the energy or consume its resulting products. Simply adding to Canada’s tax burden under the guise of environmental responsibility is a recipe for both damaging the country’s economy and undermining public support for environmental goals.

And here’s what Matthew Bramley, director of the climate change program with the Pembina Institute, an advocacy group which has often been at odds with both Liberals and Conservatives, has to say about today’s claims:

Mr Harper and Mr Layton’s opposition to carbon taxes is contradicted by leading economics and business organizations who say taxing pollution is a good way to harness market forces to fight global warming. There is no evidence to support Mr Harper’s claim that a modest carbon tax would cause a recession. In fact, Mr Dion’s proposed tax would need to be further increased to enable Canada to meet science-based targets for greenhouse gas reductions.

Unchecked global warming will cause immense economic costs. Canadians expect a fact-based debate about not just the costs of acting but also the costs of failing to act and failing to repair Canada’s damaged reputation on this issue.”

One of the problems for Canadians, reporters, and experts like Jaccard and Bramley when it comes this debate about costs is that, so far, only the Liberals (much to the dismay of some of those very same Liberals) have actually spelled out how much more coal, diesel fuel and natural gas will cost. The Conservatives and the NDP admit that their regulatory approach to getting rid of greenhouse gas emissions involves some costs but, so far, we haven’t had a clear accounting from either party about what they might be.

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Fun with iTunes or Bob Willis is NOT Lionel Richie

There's not too many genres of music I don't like. As a result, I've got a massive iTunes library that's all over the map. Among the CDs and vinyl that I've recently encoded: James Levine conducting Izthak Perlman through some Mozart concertos; Canadian new wave rockers Blue Peter's 1983 record Falling (that had the hit “Don't Walk Past”); The Hives 2001 compilation, Your New Favourite Band, and The Ultimate Collection of hits by those crazy mid-century Texas swing masters, Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.

Now it's that last one that's given me the hiccups.

When you move a new item into iTunes, iTunes helpfully checks to see if it's got the album art on some database for whatever it is you're popping in. If it does, do nothing more. Your album art appears magically. If it does not, go find it on the Web or scan it in yourself and paste it in.

Now here's the fun part with today's encoding excersie. My CD of Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys' The Ultimate Collection is popped in the computer and iTunes rips away. Then iTunes reaches out on its database looking for The Ultimate Collection and pulls up this:

Commodores

Now, being Canadian and all, I'm not up on my race relations the way our American friends are but I'm pretty sure that Lionel Richie is not Bob Wills and his band, who were all white guys in Texas in the 1940s. (Oddly or coincidentally, I also have The Commodores The Ultimate Collection in my iTunes library. If you've got an “Ultimate Collection”, apparently I'm your record buyer) In any event, here's the cover that should be associated with Bob Wills' Ultimate Collection:

Bob Wills

Now the weird thing is, iTunes lets you paste whatever cover art you want for any title. But though I was pasting Bob Wills like crazy, I'm still ending up with Lionel Richie. I can't shake it! iTunes is convinced that anyone who put out an album called The Ultimate Collection must be The Commodores.

Finally – I figured it out. If iTunes isn't accepting your album art, check to see what the 'Compilation' status is for the selected tunes. If it's 'Yes', switch it to 'No' and you'll 'ultimately' succeed …

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Tory bloggers howl for heads to roll over puffins

Over at Small Dead Animals, a favourite hangout of the most rabid of right-wingers, there are howls for the heads of those in the Conservative war room responsible for the pooping puffin.

Kate McMillan, SDA's headmistress, gets it started with this post:

Conservative Web Presence Still Riddled With Childish Shots

The media are falling all over themselves in faux outrage over a cartoon puffin shown crapping on Stephane Dion's shoulder at the Conservative party website notaleader.ca. It's been yanked, with some lame excuse about an overzealous web designer.

You know, we tried to warn you idiots.

The Conservative official said the type of voter targeted by notaleader.ca at tends to be someone between 18 and 30, who has not yet developed a loyalty to one political brand or another.

“They are anti-establishment, libertarian, web- and tech-savvy, and politically incorrect,” said the Conservative adviser. “We set out to build a website that appeals to them.”

Just more evidence that…

“There exists a persistent misconception inside political/media circles that the political interweb is the domain of “tech savvy twenty-somethings”. The Conservative's website has, in all likelihood, been influenced by this ridiculous assumption and that means it's time to fire some of the high-priced help. If your web people haven't even a remedial understanding of their audience demographic, they have no business being involved in your communications strategy.”

Then the anonymous commenters jump in:

bryanr: Not very impressive, There are still a lot fence sitter voters out there. Leave the cheap theatrics to the Liberals.

Edward Teach: Well they've already committed the first cardinal sin of web design: Making the front page entirely out of Flash! When will people get it through their stupid heads? Flash is for animation ONLY, not wholesale web design and layout! If all you know is Flash, then you're NOT a web designer!

bryanr: i just sent off a mail to the party, Basically saying scap that crap stick to the facts, We don't need to make Dion look like a fool as he shoots himself in the foot all the time anyways. Lets not lose the momentum on tacky ads that the msm will have a field with. Remember the backlash on the chretien photo.

Rich: Someone needs to get control of this and fast!

Anyone in the CPC listening? This could be a BIG negative.

molarmauler: I'm pissed.

An excellent policy announcement ruined by puffin shit. I'd be firing people.

Garry: When a Radio-Canada guy asked the PM about the birdshi* he just couldn't resist bringing up the Chretien facial distortion from '93 and some added commentary to boot. Harper looked sincere apologizing (twice).

bryanr: the star & GM are having a field day with this, Comments section are not good (although they never are anyways) Good part Week 1 could & should lose traction when we get into the meat of the campaign.

And a Yes somebody should be canned for this.

Calgary Junkie; bryanr is right, Dion already does a great job of looking foolish. So let's back off of that theme somewhat.

The last thing we want is for “poor picked on” Dion to get any sympathy from anywhere. Plus, there is the possibility that the Liberal base will get energized, and motivated to work harder to fight that “bully” Harper.

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

ConservativeKingston: You guys would do far better if you stopped whining about how the MSM is treating this issue, and recognize that YOU CAN DO F*CK ALL ABOUT IT. The issue is out there, and it's entirely of the CPC's making. Whoever approved this “ad” needs a kick in the ass, because they should have bloody well known this type of reaction was going to happen. This was such a childish, pointless ad anyway.

Who's running the show on this one?

A reality check on the daycare fight

Stephen Harper is in Winnipeg this morning but, just like they were yesterday, his war room operatives back in Ottawa were up early releasing a new series of Dion attack ads.

The attack ads were unveiled by Heritage Minister Josee Verner and Conservative candidate Lisa Raitt, who is running, not without some controversy, against Liberal Garth Turner in the southern Ontario riding of Halton. The new ads — which the Conservatives describe as “a public information campaign” say that Dion will eliminate the $100-a-month subsidy paid to the parents of young children.

On Monday, the Liberal campaign denied that they had any plans to eliminate that payment.

But the Tories say the Liberal protests are not credible, that Dion has a hidden agenda when it comes to the subsidy program, known as the Universal Child Care Benefit.

The Conservatives point to this interview published in the Oct. 21, 2006 edition of National Post. Dion is responding to questions from an unnamed interviewer:

Post: What social program would be your top priority?

Dion: Many, but since you have asked for only one, I will play the game: it is the Child Tax Benefit, and increasing it, as I have already discussed. The rate of child poverty in this country is a disgrace and I will not tolerate it.

Post: Would you cancel the Tory daycare plan? What would you replace it with?

Dion: Yes. The Dryden plan was much better. We need child care facilities to provide Canadian parents with real choice. It's a matter of social justice, but also of sound economics: child care facilities are a good way to encourage flexibility and mobility of our workforce, at a time when, often, two parents are working outside the home.

The Conservatives, in the last campaign, promised to set aside $250-million which businesses and other institutions could tap into to build new daycare spaces. The Tories said that initiative would create 125,000 daycare spaces. In fact, that program was a flop and created no spaces.

Instead, the Conservatives transferred that money to the provinces.

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Dueling Web sites: Scandals and leadership

   

       

   

   

       

   

Not a Leader
Scandalpedia

With no small amount of glee, Conservative party operatives – usually young and mostly male – have spent months assembling video footage of just about every dumb thing ever said by Stephane Dion and other Liberals.

Early this morning, they unleashed most of that video at a new, often-nasty, anti-Dion site.

The Liberals have been having fun, too, at the expense of Stephen Harper and several cabinet members. This morning, they launch their own attack site, which will go live later today. The Liberal site, Scandalpedia.ca, draws its inspiration from the online reference site Wikipedia. The Liberals promise an online compendium of Conservative scandals and failures to honour campaign promises involving the likes of Maxime Bernier, Stockwell Day and John Baird.

“The party that ran on accountability has not exactly covered itself in ethics and accountability,'' said the Liberal official.

These website launches are the newest iterations in campaigns that, so far, have been characterized by a lot of name-calling between Tories and Liberals. They're also a good example of how all parties are using the latest online services and technologies to reach past traditional methods of communications to find new pools of voters. [Read more about this…]

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World News Roundup: Canadian PM gambles on snap election!!!

Brett Favre's debut with the New York Jets was (quite rightly, says this NFL fan) the big news in The Big Apple today but, there was little Canada, still hanging on to a spot on the home page of the online edition of the New York Times at 7 pm:

Mr. Harper is not charismatic and often appears irritated, particularly when he is challenged. But his personal approval ratings in pre-election polls are significantly higher than those of Stéphane Dion, the Liberal leader. Mr. Harper was favored as potentially “the best prime minister” by 50 percent, compared with 20 percent for Mr. Dion.

Mr. Dion, an accomplished academic, is entering his first election as leader. He speaks English awkwardly, and even speaking in French, his first language, Mr. Dion at a podium can sound as if he is still lecturing dryly on public administration and political science at the Université de Montréal.

The most striking negative prompting Mr. Harper’s decision is a deteriorating economy. Although high oil and commodity prices have so far prevented a significant slowdown, recent economic data suggests that Canada is now being dragged down by the problems of the American economy. [Read the rest]

The mighty BBC actually sent out an alert early this morning, letting its subscribers know that Obama vs McCain isn't the only high-profile political fight gripping North American polticos. We've got Harper vs Dion vs Duceppe vs Layton vs May and that was good enough to keep news about the Canadian election high up on BBC's site early this evening but the version up on their site at 7 pm Ottawa time noted only quoted the Harper handout at Rideau Hall and did not quote any other political leader, even though those leaders spoke a good eight hours ago:

Holding the election this year breaks Mr Harper's own fixed-date election law, something he had said was necessary to prevent prime ministers calling elections when polls indicated they were in a favourable position.

Mr Harper has made it clear he is running on economic issues and criticised the Liberals' plan to tax greenhouse gas polluters while cutting other taxes.

“Between now and October 14, Canadians will choose a government to look out for their interests at a time of global economic trouble,” Mr Harper said in a statement.

“They will choose between direction or uncertainty; between common sense or risky experiments; between steadiness or recklessness.”

The opposition leaders are expected to make their own addresses later on Sunday. [Read more]

News that Canada was in election mode also made The Times of India, The Christian Science Monitor, and, notably, Al Jazeera.

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