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TDG & the Media
How a responsible media helps find public direction
After the attack on September 11, 2001, much of the world asked itself: “What do we do next?”
The Americans were contemplating an invasion of Afghanistan. Would we Canadians join the coalition? We were led through a wide-open debate in the Canadian media.
I was watching a lot of TV news at that time. Both Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Canadian Television (CTV) were bringing analysts from both sides of the question. The major newspapers were doing the same. Many Canadians were taking this debate seriously. Both sides certainly had their say, and many Canadians became more knowledgeable about geopolitics.
My recollection was that Prime Minister Jean Chretien did not display a strong opinion. He and the governing Liberal Party seemed to keep their option open — and let the debate come to a natural conclusion. And, after sufficient talking, a certain public opinion emerged and the Canadian Parliament sided with it. Canada joined the coalition.
The American news networks, on the other hand, were strongly supporting the invasion. There was no debate, almost forcing the “no” side to hide under a rock.
Soon after, we Canadians did it all over again with the invasion of Iraq. The Canadian media gave…
