Posted on 09/29/2008 10:05:13 AM PDT by fanfan
CBC News apologized Sunday for publishing a column about Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, conceding that it was "viciously personal."
More than 300 people complained to the CBC ombudsman about a column that ran on Sept. 5 on CBCNews.ca by award-winning freelance writer Heather Mallick.
The article, "A mighty wind blows through Republican convention," reportedly said Ms. Palin was chosen to appease the party's "rural," "unlettered" "white trash" base and said that the vice-presidential nominee looked like a "porn actress."
CBC News publisher John Cruickshank said in a letter that the public broadcaster erred in judgment. Vince Carlin, the CBC Ombudsman, did not fault Ms. Mallick for "the caustic nature of her tone or the polarizing nature of her opinion." "But he objects that many of her most savage assertions lack a basis in fact,"
Mr. Cruickshank wrote. "Mallick's column is a classic piece of political invective. It is viciously personal, grossly hyperbolic and intensely partisan. And because it is all those things, this column should not have appeared on the CBCNews.ca site."
The column was attacked by the National Post as well as Fox News. Ms. Mallick wrote: "[17-year-old] Bristol has what is known in Britain as the look of the teen mum, the ‘pramface.' Husband Todd looks like a roughneck; Track, heading off to Iraq, appears terrified. They claim to be family-obsessed while being studiously terrible at parenting. What normal father would want Levi ‘I'm a f--kin' redneck' Johnson prodding his daughter?"
As a result of the complaints, new editing procedures have been put in place "to insure that in the future, work that is not appropriate for our platforms, will not appear," Mr. Cruickshank wrote.
In his assessment of the complaints, Mr. Carlin also noted that cbcnews.ca displays a "very narrow range" on its ....
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalpost.com ...
But I thought having a publicly owned media would bring objectivity!/sarcasm
What’s the old punchline - I wouldn’t know what a porn actress looks like. Obviously, the writer of the hit piece does. Lets you know what she watches.
Greta got it right. She said that Mallick was, quite simply, a “pig”.
Actually, I think Greta was being kind.
Crocodile tears...
Heather Mallick what does one expect from a direct offspring of Hitler or was it Stalin?
Hi Judy,
I haven’t seen you in ages.
Are we getting a majority this time?
Apologies are cheap and easy. CBC needs to take substantive action with regard to this plug-ugly (both physically and psychologically) person. Fire her now!
She looks more like the Chia Pet.
Agreed.
Our mission is clear. Write to news outlets every time we see lies, bias and inappropriate invective.
Yes. I wrote to the CBC myself over this.
They must have had thousands of letters, and emails.
As one of the party’s “rural,” “unlettered” “white trash” base, I’d like to personally invite Heather into the belly of the beast, in the hope that she’ll be able to offer an informed opionion in future.
>> “A mighty wind blows through Republican convention,” reportedly said Ms. Palin was chosen to appease the party’s “rural,” “unlettered” “white trash” base and said that the vice-presidential nominee looked like a “porn actress.”
I am neither “rural”, “unlettered”, nor “white trash” ... and she appeals to me. In fact, she appeals to this suburban, white-collared, doctorate-holding upper-middle-class citizen to a far greater extent than CBS News does.
As for her appearance ... I’d not dignify such bitter bile with commentary.
H
I agree, plus most people don't read them. But, what can you expect from a hack news organization that let Dan Rather get away with what he did. CBS news has zero credibility with anyone who still has at least one neuron still firing.
Anyone out there who can find Heather Mallick’s e-mail address?
Meaning they are a respected news network with the majority of the Sheep.
Same here.
I am a mother of two, own my own business, live in a rural setting, heat my home with wood only....
In my letter I told them that, and said I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for an apology, since I wanted to vote for Stephen Harper again, before I turned blue and died.
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