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Let's talk about journalists testifying at Parliament, I guess.
I've been a witness at committee twice, never in my capacity as a @macleans reporter, always with the @caj. The first was at #PROC, on opening up the board of internal economy. The second was at #CHPC on local news.
I've been a witness at committee twice, never in my capacity as a @macleans reporter, always with the @caj. The first was at #PROC, on opening up the board of internal economy. The second was at #CHPC on local news.
The #PROC testimony felt weird. The @caj message was simple: the board should be open by default. I also said this:
"I'm happy to take any questions you have, which as you can probably understand is kind of a bizarre thing for a journalist to say to a room full of politicians."
"I'm happy to take any questions you have, which as you can probably understand is kind of a bizarre thing for a journalist to say to a room full of politicians."
That might sound clunky, but I was trying to recognize the inherent weirdness of appearing. I backed away from opinions:
"I'd rather not comment on whether or not an independent body or independent oversight is more or less appropriate. That's not really my expertise."
"I'd rather not comment on whether or not an independent body or independent oversight is more or less appropriate. That's not really my expertise."
Here's the whole conversation we had that day. Peter Milliken was a witness earlier. He was much more useful. https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/41-2/PROC/meeting-7/evidence#Int-8143805
The testimony at #CHPC was all about local news. I appeared with @HugoAPRodrigues. That felt much more natural. We were advocating for some things, including more support for non-profit news. I said this:
"I should be clear that I do not speak on behalf of my current employer."
"I should be clear that I do not speak on behalf of my current employer."
You can read that whole conversation here. https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/CHPC/meeting-25/evidence
The point is, I never felt comfortable in that chair. I never talked about my own reporting, but is it wrong for a journalist to do that? Does it set a bad precedent? Maybe the answer isn't black and white.
My least favourite part of appearing at a parliamentary committee was the distinct sense that MPs were trying to get me to say things so they could score points. Had they used my *reporting* for those purposes, using me as a means to an end, would have felt manipulative.
