LETTER

CBC no firewall from fake news

 

Your editorials on fake news (vs traditional media) are important for us to consider, not only because of its distorting effect upon the US election but because it already has been used in Canada, and we had best be aware of it before we get hit with a tsunami of Trumped-up news reports. In our last election, there were nasty rumours on the internet about Mrs Harper’s personal life, as well as Mr Trudeau’s personal habits, and, of course the big robo-call scheme, which your editorials mention. Fake news has always been around in some form – manipulating the media, it used to be called. Everybody tried to do this, from media owners to politicians and even conspiracy wakkos.

A national broadcaster not in the pocket of corporations or the wealthy may give us a firewall in Canada, but not much. CBC appears above the fray because it defers to power – this is not the traditional role of media in a free country, to speak uncomfortable truths to the powerful, besides keeping us commoners informed so that democracy has its requirement of an “educated population” fulfilled, somewhat.

Thanks for bringing this debate to town!

Ronald Morris
Aylmer