"The role of good journalism is to present the news accurately in context, and not through a skewed lens. The segment and Ms. Bergeron-Oliver’s choice of contextual information comes across as intent on downplaying the broad base of support for Palestinian independence and human rights. I call on CTVNews to strike a better balance in future reporting."
March 18, 2024
To:
Omar Sachedina, Anchor, CTV News
Annie Bergeron-Oliver, Reporter, Parliamentary Bureau, CTV News
Michael Stittle, Managing Editor, CTV News
Dan Taylor, Managing Editor, CTV News
Adam Lachacz, Web Producer, CTV News
Dear Mr. Sachedina, Ms. Bergeron-Oliver, and other CTV News staff,
I am writing to comment on your late-night coverage of the NDP Motion on Palestine that took place yesterday, March 18, 2024, entitled, “NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations.” While I believe that the segment did a good job highlighting the Parliamentary drama that took place late yesterday, I have a few important critiques of the coverage, and one important correction:
- Bergeron-Oliver mentions that no G7 countries recognize the state of Palestine, but she fails to mention that 139 of the UN’s 193 nations recognize Palestine. Of the G20 nations, nine countries (Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Turkey) have recognized Palestine as a state. As such, Ms. Bergeron-Oliver’s summary of the world’s view is highly selective, and tends to suggest that global support for Palestinian statehood is weak, when it is actually widespread.
- Also, while she highlighted the drama over the vote, Ms. Bergeron-Oliver failed to point out that ALL BUT THREE Liberal caucus members voted for the resulting motion, and the entirety of the NDP, Bloc and Green caucuses supported it. As such, it is extremely misrepresentative to highlight a clip of Anthony Housefather – one of the lone dissenting Liberals – in your segment.
- Your broadcast segment also failed to highlight the Palestinian civilian death toll which was the primary driver for the NDP motion.
On this last point, the print portion of your reporting has totally inadequate. You mention:
The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking another 240 hostage. Since then, amid ongoing retaliatory strikes by Israel, the conflict's death toll has surpassed 30,000 in Gaza, there have been mass displacements and a widespread humanitarian crisis continues to worsen.
First, I contrast your use of the “active voice” to describe how Israeli deaths: “Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1200 people…” vs. your “passive voice” to describe Palestinian deaths: “the conflict’s death toll has surpassed 30,000” I must insist that you use “active voice” in both cases. As such, the sentence about Palestinians should read, “Since then, Israel has killed well over 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza, not to mention mass displacements…”
I also must insist that you specify that thousands of Palestinians have been killed by means other than by “strikes.” Israel began its ground offensive months ago, and you should be careful to point out that Palestinians have been killed via not only “strikes,” but also gunshots, tanks, dehydration, starvation and malnutrition.
The role of good journalism is to present the news accurately in context, and not through a skewed lens. The segment and Ms. Bergeron-Oliver’s choice of contextual information comes across as intent on downplaying the broad base of support for Palestinian independence and human rights. I call on CTVNews to strike a better balance in future reporting.
Should you wish, feel free to contact me at 438-380-5410.
Sincerely,
Thomas Woodley, MPA
President, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East