News Reports, Editorials, Essays, etcetera : the many faces of journalism

Posted on May 30, 2018 by Skid

Share this post:

reprinted from January 7, 2018

The recent attention devoted the author Michael Wolff’s exposé “Fire and Fury” has sparked a debate on the “truthiness” of his journalism.

However, the book was never intended as a factual news report; Wolff clarifies in his opening that the novel is his perception and synthesis of the interviews and events that took place during his “blue badge” days at the White House. Therefore, readers should be expecting something closer to a lengthy editorial essay, a style of journalism that permits writers to communicate the truth as they interpret it.

In journalism, there is a great deal of difference between a news report (inform) and an editorial (inform and persuade) and political satire essay (inform, persuade, and entertain). Editorials are essentially short essays meant to influence public opinion, promote critical thinking, and sometimes cause people to take action on an issue. In essence, an editorial is an opinionated news story.

Fire and Fury, is simply a novel-length essay written from Wolff’s personal point of view. It contains learned arguments, observations of daily life in the White House, recollections of events and interviews, and reflections of the author. Some may argue that it is a political manifesto largely spewed from the mouth of a now apologetic Steve Bannon. It is not however, and has never claimed to be, a factual news report.

The Colour Purple

Posted on May 26, 2018 by Skid

Share this post:

There is a rumour in Caledon that stores are running out of purple paint. This would be unusual if it were not for the upcoming Ontario elections. Certain candidates, not wishing to be associated with the orange, green and red of the left of centre, or the new blue of the far right of centre, have chosen the colour purple as their compromise.

So what exactly does the colour purple symbolize? Traditionally purple is associated with royalty. luxury, power and ambition. A light lilac purple evokes an aura of feminine energy and mystery whereas deep purple indicates gloom, sadness and frustration. If you have too little purple you get powerlessness, negativity and apathy. But if you get too much purple you are surrounded by irritability, impatience, moodiness and arrogance. Clearly, purple is a colour that evokes many subliminal responses in people and can deliver a mixed and confusing message.

However, when used by political candidates, the message is clear. We, the comfortable electorate, will have no real idea on which side of the fence or the political spectrum he or she stands. Their purple is a perplexing conundrum and lacks clarity and transparency. It is a purple wool being pulled down over our eyes.

To make it absolutely clear how insidious this subliminal advertising is, consider these definitions from Jennifer Bourn writing for the Bourn Creative in January 2011: “The term ‘purple prose’ is used in reference to large exaggerations, lies, and highly imaginative writings. The expression ‘purple speech’ is used to describe profanity and bad language. The saying ‘purple haze’ refers to confusion or euphoria which may be drug-induced.”

During this upcoming election cycle, if you see candidates advertising in purple you should be aware of the subliminal advertising involved. Consider that Hank’s wife Marie in the hit series Breaking Bad always wore the colour purple, a misleading attempt to delude herself and others into thinking she was royalty. When they write brochures in “purple prose” and speak in “purple speech” they may be in a “purple haze” and want you to be just as confused when you vote.

I haven’t seen anything purple on the lawns or roadsides yet as this provincial election heats up, but there is a municipal election coming, so keep up your guard. We don’t need any purple reign in Caledon. Long live the red, orange, green and Bill Davis blue.

The way I see it.

***

Skid Crease, Caledon

Caledon Enterprise: worth repeating

Posted on May 25, 2018 by Skid

Share this post:

In the Thursday May 24, 2018 issue of the Caledon Enterprise, columnist and globally respected journalist Hap Parnaby penned a commentary that reminded me of Churchill’s warnings to Chamberlain and England. Hap’s historical observations are closer to home here in Ontario, and the coming storm may not have global consequences, but the chaos in our backyards could be locally catastrophic.

The article is titled: “Countdown to the June 7 provincial election” and begins with the excerpt “There is nothing in the resume of Douglas Robert Ford that suggests he has the makings of an Ontario premier.” I urge you all to read it, and read it again before you head to the polls on June 7. We have been watching the comi-tragedy reality show south of our borders playing out for the past year, and I hope that we don’t get the Canadian made spin-off in Ontario.

Twitter contributor Picard@Picard_M_Maker summed it up this way yesterday: “Doug Ford is like the cruelty of Mike Harris, the sleaziness of Patrick Brown, the incompetence of Tom Hudak, the corruption of Stephen Harper, and the bigotry and populism of Donald Trump.” All rolled into one. Now, we may not agree with all of Picard’s choices, but if all of those perspectives are accurate that would make Mr. Ford a very scary package.

I generally voted Progressive Conservative provincially and Liberal federally That changed provincially in the ‘90s when Mike Harris’s Common Stench Revolution flooded Ontario like an overflowing sewer. That stench lingers to this day. If you scratch and sniff Doug Ford’s lack of written policy papers, you’ll very quickly get that acrid scent of pig manure being spread on the Ontario landscape, But if our province has gone “nose blind”, we’re going to need a really big can of Febreze. The way I see it.

***

Skid Crease, Caledon

Caledon’s Crystal Clear Wisdom

Posted on May 12, 2018 by Skid

Share this post:

There is a fellow citizen in Caledon who offered me wonderful words of wisdom today. Crystal Larouche wrote in an email that we should all try to be nicer. Beautiful.

Unfortunately, I am an only child, alpha male, and if anything threatens my pack, I go on instant defense mode. So was the case when I was sent Crystal’s Facebook blog about members of Town Council who I deeply respect. Sorry Crystal, when you attack mine, I respond.

Before she reminded us all to play nice, this is what Crystal wrote: that the Mayor and his cronies were all rich landowners. First, Crystal is partially correct here. The Mayor, as a result of approved land sales , made a mint. And the false charges brought against the Mayor by Darnley and Bristol were not “dropped” as you wrote – he was found innocent of any wrongdoing and the complainants were charged $90,000 in court costs

The Mayor is legitimately a wealthy landowner, as are many political candidates in rurban and urban settings. With no children to take on the family farm, owners have no choice but to sell to developers.

Dear Crystal, Jennifer Innis is NOT a rich landowner, Johanna Downey is NOT a rich landowner. Their parents, or in-laws as in Ms. Downey’s case, may become rich landowners if they sell to urban development but what’s it to ya”? Not your land, not your problem. For a farming family to give up their historical title to a rapacious developer is not an easy thing. It cuts to the soul. But when the children move on and out, and no one is left to take care of the farm, what next?

In the meantime, in their roles as democratically elected politicians, do they each do a respectful and intelligent job representing their constituents? Absolutely yes! And we all have to remember that Bolton is NOT the Town of Caledon, or the belly button of the world.

Next, Crystal, sweet nice Crystal, wrote that those same members of Town Council treat their citizens “like shit”. .. her words, not mine. Really?! And you had the audacity to call me a bully? Dear sweet Crystal, saying that the democratically elected members of your Town Council are treating you “like shit” is hardly a “nicer” comment.

In summary, the Mayor was cleared of all false charges and awarded court costs. Any innuendo that he was guilty of anything is smear. The complainants were charged for court costs and who paid for that is still a mystery. The Regional Councillors you attacked are people who care, NOT like those funded by litigious developers. We’re not left with much here Crystal.

Yes, we should all try to be nicer.

Sincerely,

Skid

Trudeau Plays The Long Game

Posted on May 3, 2018 by Skid

Share this post:

I have made it abundantly clear in past writings that I consider Justin Trudeau to be not only a friend, but a man I admire. So it came as a shock to some when I wrote my last two political articles detailing his political missteps over the past session of Parliament. “Is the bromance over?” I was asked. “Jamais!” I responded.

You don’t spend fourteen days at sea with a guy exploring the Arctic with students and not make a lifetime bond. But considering someone to be a friend doesn’t mean that you agree with him all the time. He would have no hesitation in advising me to slow down before I “Ready. Fire, Aim!” and I have no problem in advising him to try his best to avoid a repeat of the three K’s – Khan, Khalistan, and Kinder.

To be fair, none of these events was of his doing. A senior staffer should have caught the Khan vacation and taken it to the Ethics Commissioner before the trip, and similarly with the Khalistan connection on his recent trip to India. However, the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline is a lot more com[plicated.

It is easy for those of us in the environmentally pure peanut gallery to cast aspersions about bitumen as we drive our SUVs to the shopping mall. People who drive fossil fuel powered vehicles shouldn’t throw tarbits. If a scientific approval process and full community participation are overseen by an environmentally literate Energy Board, all is well. We will still need pipelines into the foreseeable future, at least until Elon Musk straightens out the Tesla 3 production problems.

Until then, Canada, we have a problem, and that problem is the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. Without Alberta, that initiative could collapse. and Alberta is still a fossil fuel economy. Until Albertans can get their hands out of the oilsands and reach for the sun and the wind, we’re all stuck in the tar.

Justin Trudeau is waking along the edge of a sword with environmental purists like me on one side and corporate shareholders from Kinder Morgan on the other, each screaming for satisfaction. If you cancel the pipeline, you’re damned, if you approve the pipeline you’re damned. Trudeau is taking all of the heat right now for keeping his eye on the long game, trying to hold together The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change for the good of all Canadians well into the future.

With Saskatchewan and Manitoba resistant, and B.C. and Alberta locked in mortal combat, our Prime Minister is in a very difficult spot. Perhaps we should all just backoff a little and give him room to negotiate. A new and improved National Energy Board is a good place to start. Certainly, build us the best, most secure, most efficient pipeline you can, complete with a banked insurance coverage for any unforeseen disasters. And continue on that transition into clean renewable energy, Alberta. We stopped burning whale oil when we saw the consequences, and we can surely see the consequences of accelerating climate change unfolding.

Let’s all give those we have elected to run this country a little more understanding and some breathing room to do their jobs. My dad used to say that until you have walked a trail in someone else’s shoes, you cannot understand their journey. I have no idea what the pressures of being a Prime Minister must be like, but I can imagine. And I can’t imagine anyone else who I would rather lead the way into the next decade. Carry on Prime Minister, carry on!