"The reality is that most readers will not even make it that far into the article, such that you’ve effectively downplayed the very backlash this article is supposedly concerned with while amplifying the defense. The result is an article that is deeply unbalanced and fails to fairly report on its subject."
September 23, 2024
Dear Joanne Laucius and Nicole Feriancek,
I'm writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) regarding your recent article, "uOttawa antisemitism advisor quits after backlash over praise for exploding pagers in Lebanon.”
What concerns me primarily is the prejudicial placement of viewpoints featured in the article. The article heavily features Artur Wilczynski’s statements and self-defense near the top. This is what most readers will view. After that, readers are presented with a lengthy overview of Wilczynski’s position at the school and praise from the Jewish Federation of Ottawa. It isn’t until nearly the end that we hear a singular critique from Independent Jewish Voices Ottawa. The reality is that most readers will not even make it that far into the article, such that you’ve effectively downplayed the very backlash this article is supposedly concerned with while amplifying the defense. The result is an article that is deeply unbalanced and fails to fairly report on its subject.
Next, while your piece manages to mention twice that Hezbollah is listed as a terrorist organization by Canada, you fail to note any of the international condemnations of Israel’s pager attack in Lebanon. The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, said the use of booby-trapped devices is a violation of international law and “it is a war crime to commit violence intended to spread terror among civilians.” Abdallah Bou Habib, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Emigrants of Lebanon, called Israel’s actions a “terrorist attack.” Even former CIA director Leon Panetta called the operation a “form of terror.” This is to name only a few of the many examples of reputable actors condemning Israel’s attack that killed and injured civilians, including children. It is remarkable that such context would be omitted from an article about the controversy over Wilczynski praising the attack as “brilliant.” Without context like I’ve just mentioned, readers will struggle to understand that Wilczynski is praising what many experts are calling not merely a war crime, but a terror attack on Lebanon. Such omissions of key context constitute a violation of basic journalistic ethics. I urge you to update your article.
Sincerely,
Jason Toney
Director of Media Advocacy, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East