In this case, the presentation of comment was not full, fair, and proper. How might viewers react to this ‘expert commentary’ differently if they were aware of Varner’s role with the Exigent Foundation? CJPME believes the interview might be interpreted in a vastly different manner.
Dear David Hughes and CTV News Channel,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) regarding the CTV News Toronto 7pm broadcast, in which Joe Varner was interviewed around 7:45pm. The clip I am referring to can be viewed here.
Joe Varner was introduced as a “Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute.” However, that description omits an essential biographical detail.
Joe Varner is an Exigent Voice, meaning he promotes the “educational mission and public-interest work” of the Exigent Foundation, a pro-Israel group in Canada funded by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. As an Exigent Voice, Varner was gifted an all-expenses-paid trip to Israel. When he comments on Iran for a news program, his conflict is a material one that should be disclosed to your viewers.
Varner is not an expert but an advocate. When he speaks of “the United States and the West” and how they must take the Strait of Hormuz by force, he is speaking also of Israel.
CAB’s Code of Ethics states:
It is recognized that the full, fair and proper presentation of news, opinion, comment and editorial is the prime and fundamental responsibility of each broadcaster. This principle shall apply to all radio and television programming, whether it relates to news, public affairs, magazine, talk, call-in, interview or other broadcasting formats in which news, opinion, comment or editorial may be expressed by broadcaster employees, their invited guests or callers.
In this case, the presentation of comment was not full, fair, and proper. How might viewers react to this ‘expert commentary’ differently if they were aware of Varner’s role with the Exigent Foundation? CJPME believes the interview might be interpreted in a vastly different manner.
Varner is well within his rights to enjoy the privileges of his world view, but it is only fair journalistic practice that those decisions and his active affiliations be associated with his commentary. This is a news program, and his role as an Exigent Voice is not incidental in this context, he is speaking about issues directly related to Exigent’s advocacy and Israel’s interests.
While I presume CTV was simply unaware of this affiliation, we urge the broadcast to air this information in a correction.
Sincerely,
Jason Toney
Director of Media Advocacy, CJPME