"That this suspect allegation was stated as fact is a clear violation of basic journalistic ethics and merits a prompt on-air correction."
October 11, 2023
Dear Chris Bury, Natasha Hall, and Aaron Rand,
I’m writing to request on-air corrections following an interview on Montreal Now with Aaron Rand & Natasha Hall, which aired on CJAD 800 and was published online on October 10, titled “MULCAIR: This is some of the worst horrors ever perpetrated.”
During the interview, your guest used highly inflammatory language and made statements which are backed by no evidence whatsoever. The hosts did nothing to intervene and only reinforced his comments.
Your guest said:
“When you have children being beheaded, how is it possible not to know which side you’re on?”
There is no evidence to support this claim whatsoever. It was stated by an i24 journalist, Nicole Zedek, without evidence, and has circulated since then. In a follow up interview with India Today, Zedek admits she did not actually see evidence of this claim herself. A report from the newspaper Anadolu states that an Israeli army spokesperson said they have “no information confirming the allegations.”
That this suspect allegation was stated as fact is a clear violation of basic journalistic ethics and merits a prompt on-air correction.
Sincerely,
Jason Toney
Director of Media Advocacy, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East