"Although I appreciate you giving voice to pro-Palestine protesters, please provide details about the situation in Gaza in future reporting, as it would help your viewers make more sense of the intentions behind the pro-Palestine protests and protesters."
March 18, 2024
To:
Amanda Connolly, Managing Editor of Politics & Breaking News, Global News
Elton Hobson, National Managing Editor, Online Video, Global News
Rishma Govani, Director of Communications News & Radio, Global News
Dear Amanda Connolly, Elton Hobson, and Rishma Govani,
I am writing to express my concern about the News segment: “Israel-Gaza: Toronto police arrest at least 2 pro-Palestinian protesters outside Trudeau event,” published in Global News on March 16.
The video title and caption are misleading. Viewers are led to believe that the two people who got arrested are pro-Palestine protesters, but it is not entirely the case.
As reported in a CP24/CTV News article, “Twenty-five year-old Jack Antonio Di Tomasso of Toronto has been arrested and charged with mischief, and 61-year-old David Menzies of Richmond Hill has been arrested and charged with obstruct to a peace officer and breach of peace bond.”
It is unclear if Jack Antonio Di Tomasso is a pro-Palestine protester. However, David Menzies is the host anchor of Rebel News, a far-right news outlet, and he was allegedly at the protest to “ask questions” to protesters.
In a Winnipeg Sun article, it is reported that Menzies has been arrested multiple times prior because of his interactions with Liberal and Conservative politicians. His latest arrestation was in January outside of Richmond Hill, Ontario, where it hosted an event with Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
I, therefore, ask you to change the video title and caption to not depict pro-Palestine protests and protesters falsely, unfairly, and negatively.
Here is a short list of suggestions for titles from media outlets that have shared Canadian Press’ developments regarding this story:
- Rebel News reporter one of two arrested at protest that delayed Trudeau event, published on March 16 in the National Post
- Rebel News host among two arrested at protest that delayed Trudeau event, published on March 16 in Winnipeg Sun
- Police arrest two at protest outside Trudeau event, including Rebel News host, published on March 16 in Toronto Star
- Police arrest two at protest that delayed Trudeau event, including Rebel News host, published on March 16 in Global News
Although I appreciate you giving voice to pro-Palestine protesters, please provide details about the situation in Gaza in future reporting, as it would help your viewers make more sense of the intentions behind the pro-Palestine protests and protesters.
I hope Global News will make these changes and consider my suggestion when reporting on pro-Palestine protests in the future.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East