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The Dion video and journalism ethics

Norman Spector, October 9, 2008 at 10:42 PM EST

In launching his election campaign in 1986, BC NDP leader Bob Skelly fumbled his opening statement and asked to begin again. The cameras kept rolling, and the whole thing was shown on television that evening.

If there was any breach of journalism ethics in Halifax today, it was ATV anchor Steve Murphy's agreement to start the interview over again. Twice.

The test? Ask yourself what viewers would have seen had this been a live interview.

Surely, that's the degree of truth that Canadians have a right to expect from the mass media. And any journalist who doubts whether the video should have been shown to Canadian voters should ask himself whether he's gotten too close to some of the politicians he's been covering.

What we see on the video is not the result of a language problem, or a hearing problem. It's the result of an opposition leader who is still thinking like an opposition leader, and not like a prime minister. Or, to put a more noble gloss on Mr. Dion's flub, a man who has not learned, or is unwilling, to engage in the time-tested politician's evasion of answering the question you want to answer, not the one that's being asked.

  1. Chris Sigurdson from Canada writes: It was CTV's decision to run the interview. Good or Bad- that was their call.
    The bad judgement came from Harper jumping on the gaffe. He could have taken the high road and let people decide for themselves whether or not Dion is a capable prime Minister.
    But no- Harper is a petty vindictive unsympathetic opportunistic weasel.
    If Harper made a similar gaffe in french- and Dion ridiculed him- It would have blown up in Dion's face.
  2. Oscarh Canadian from Canada writes: This incident reminds me of the Conservatives showing Jean Chretien's facial disfigurement in a past election. Canadians reacted with disgust at that. The fact that Harper jumped on this says a lot more about harper than Dion. The warm, fuzzy blue sweatered Harper just vanished. The real Harper showed up tonight for all Canadians to see - and that is a good thing. To suggest that Dion cannot be an effective Prime Minister because he misunderstood a hypothetical question is truly bizarre behavior on Harper's part. A sign of desparation. And why would CTV show it when their reporter said he would start it again? Lots of shame to go around
  3. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Well, we certainly recognize someone who is still thinking and acting like an opposition leader, and that person would be Mr. Harper. Govern when you can electioneer for two years?
  4. Pat Y from Canada writes: Your conclusion makes no sense.

    Dion has said what he will do if he is elected on Tuesday. Obviously, that would be his answer if he were in Harper's shoes right now.
  5. Phillip Huggan from Wpg, writes: Dion got the interpretation correct, "if I were elected PM 2.5 years ago?". Duffy dismisses this (implying incorrect interpretation) and reasks the question "no, if you were PM now". Dion didn't call him on it. Then Harper pulls a Kim Campbell.
    Duffy is dishonest or he doesn't understand semantics. And he's fat and bald.
  6. Critical Reasoning from Calgary, Canada writes: Phillip Huggan: Duffy didn't conduct the interview. You clearly know who Mike Duffy is (fat and bald), so it's not a case of mistaking the interviewer's name.

    You didn't watch the video!

    And yet, you have some amazingly specific, pro-Liberal party commentary on the video you did not watch. It's almost as if you were following a script emailed to you this evening by a certain shadowy political organization I shall not name.
  7. Linda Dial from Calgary, Canada writes: Defending Mr. Mean again? We'll see when GM and Ford file for bankruptcy who is Mr. Warm and Fuzzy.
  8. KT Ocean from Canada writes: The question was illogical. Presumably CTV wanted Dion to say what he would do if he were Stephen Harper. Dion got that, and started by asking for confirmation that CTV meant if he were PM 2 1/2 years ago. But the CTV interviewer said no, and that he meant today. I can only g uess that meant if you were PM and you did everything that Harper did (i.e. don't go back in time) so now you are where he is now, what would have do. However, the interviewer then changed the question to what would you have done, thereby negating his own refusal to go back in time.

    So Dion likes logic and likes questions and answers to have real meaning. Sounds like a good trait for a Prime Minister.
  9. 1 2 from Canada writes: This will backfire against Harper at the polls.

    ABC
  10. Carmel Suttor from Toronto, Canada writes: CTV's attempt to embarrass Dion will backfire. Interviewers frequently agree to start interviews again, and show only the take that the politician considers the real interview. Showing the outtakes is a blatant violation of fair journalistic practices. How often has Harper asked to do a second take? If Harper wanted clarification of a question in a French interview, M. Dion would not call a press conference to gloat. I'm sure I'm not the only voter who is now deciding to vote Liberal.
  11. B M from Barrie, Canada writes: Agreed, Harper's attack on Dion was ill timed. If he absolutely had to say something, he could have waited until today an claimed he just saw the video. With that said, for the past week, both Dion and Layton have been calling Harper everything from, disconnected, out of touch, not fit to lead, not a leader, to a liar and dishonest and yet there has been no accountability for either of them for doing so. I guess in the business of politics, if you can't take it, don't dish it out. Personally, I don;t think the network should have aired the entire video. The question was asked to get an answer, not create an embarassment for Dion. If it took three takes to get the answer out, then they should have edited out the first two takes. Let's keep this campaign about issues and policies. We're Canadians after all...not Americains. As far as Duffy is concerned, he lives for contraversy. He's the Canadian political equivalent to Gerry Springer. Just watch his show. He almost always gets 3 opposing candidates on the show, asks them a volatile question and sits back and grins like a Cheshire cat while they duke it out. Just ignore him.
  12. P S from Canada writes: Harper's hurting. The low road, which he's taken, is going to hurt him more than it will help. All it will serve to do is solidify his base and turn off the people on the fence about the Conservatives in Quebec and Ontario (the people Harper needs to ensure that he will form government).

    And I echo the sentiment about ATV's decision to air the video. Poor taste, ethically questionable -and blatantly motivated by a team of journalists not concerned with impartiality.
  13. kK J from mississauga, Canada writes: I want an apology from S. Dion and J. Layton. The apology is for going around the Country all week - from coast to coast to coast - telling everyone that would listen that we are last in the G7. That we are the worst in the world, that our banks are failing.

    I want an apology because our banks are not falling WE HAVE THE SAFEST AND STRONGEST BANK SECTOR IN THE W O R L D. We are the leader of the G8 we will lead the way in growth in 2009 - we have net job growth and the opposition parties are so out of touch the said the exact opposite. They did not have the pride of Country to tell the truth about these very important matters.

    I want an apology because they created so much stress in households right across the Nation.

    I want an apology because they DIDN'T NOT TELL THE TRUTH about our Country and made horrible remarks - horrible enough to panic many people.

    If the media let's these parties get away with not telling the truth then it is a real blow to the general pubic. A spectacular statement made against our Country that is untrue. I believe the Canadian people are deserving of a BIG APOLOGY!
  14. Brian Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: This was not an issue of language or hearing. After the third take, Dion clearly understood at least the gist of the question.

    The issue, therefore, is Dion's reply. And he failed miserably in his response to the question. He is not ready to become Prime Minister. Pure and simple.
  15. rick from river city from Canada writes: Dion may be able to deliver rehearsed English phrases over and over but he does not comprehend the English language in open conversation. We cannot have a PM with such an obvious weakness. He has had three years to overcome this problem but, like bankruptcy, leadership and having a realistic platform he has failed on all counts. Canadians do not need to be desperate just because the Liberal party is.
  16. Pat Y from Canada writes: rick

    Get serious. Dion proved he was able to handle the English language during the 2 hour English language debate.

    I know the conservatives were hoping he would fall on his face, but stooping to using THIS confusing question of proof of his inability to understand the language is pretty low.
  17. B W from Canada writes: kK J from mississauga, Canada - what are you talking about? I think it's you who has skewed the message through your response. Dion and Layton have spent this week showing concern about how the banking crisis around the world will impact us. That concern includes a review of our banking system yes, (although I don't think either party has really said we'd experience the same problems here), but the greater concern is how this banking crisis will impact Canada's economy and how Canada will be able to respond. The response "Canada's banks are the safest", only responds to a small part of their concern.
  18. kK J from mississauga, Canada writes: The Conservatives are not using anything to belittle Dion. He did it himself. He did a good job in the debates you can tell by the polls. So all you are doing is same old same old - PM Harper is a sweetheart he did not attack him, he pointed out to the people of Canada the lack of integrity the Liberals have - the Conservatives have been acting since last year to protect us from these economic situation.

    Dion and the Liberals have no plan - CARBON TAX (it has no set target to get our pollution levels down - it just moves money around and taxes the hell out of everything that gets turned on or breaths )? - is going to have to be recalculated because Mr. Bumble - I mean Dion calculated on a 4% growth rate - when in reality 0.9% is what many say is the near real growth. So his miscalculated platform will put us in the poorhouse - I mean a big honkin deficit - BILLIONS!

    I'm still waiting for an apology from the left for telling so many lies this week regarding the state of our position in the world - they said we were last when in fact WE ARE NO ONE under this Conservative Gov. and just FYI the Americans are 40th.

    The Conservative Government certainly has kept us truly strong and free.

  19. Jackson Savage from Canada writes: Rick, get a grip. First of all, Pat Y is right. A 2 hour debate showed Dion understands English. The guy is a university professor. He is very intelligent and wrapping his mind around our simple language is not a concern. Tell yourself whatever you like it was a bogus question. How could he have been PM today if he wasn't the day before? As for realistic platforms, well Harper denies the obvious present and truly doesn't realize that we must be looking to the future (new tech and a new economy based on such). You're living in a dream world but unfortunately for you the implications of your inaction and lack of any vision here in the real world will destroy your world of dreams and that of future generations.
  20. kK J from mississauga, Canada writes: BW I think you should go back over this week in politics.

    The phrase was recited everyday all week at every stump Mr. Bumble stumbled upon (sorry about that take 4). Why would I be upset about something that was not said. They were rehearsing for some dark fantasy film. Because we are doing so much better than other Countries.

    It is such a quickly changing situation that we can't afford to have a left party, like the Liberals, having meetings for 30 days and a huge tax program that would just suck the life out of anything that breaths. The don't have a realistic plan at all.

  21. Mark S Noel from Canada writes: I find it interesting how the Liberal poster seem to think the Tories should always take the high road and not remark on their errors. Yet the entire Liberal campaign has been one of fear mongering, and out and out vile lies against the Tories. Just look at the Liberal attack ads, Harper Bush?!? If the Liberals want to dish it out then they have to be will to take it too.
  22. North Star from Canada writes: Harper said in his CBC interview with Peter Mansbridge that 'we were going to cut interest rates'. Doesn't Harper know that the Bank of Canada is independent of of the government? Or Harper is lying and does know, trying to take credit for something he has nothing to do with.

    Harper cannot be trusted
  23. rick from river city from Canada writes: Dion was able to handle the English debates because while others were speaking on a topic he could prepare his canned Liberal response. Put in a situation where he apparently did not anticipate the question in advance he struggled to understand a question in English and then avoided answering it, instead going back to one of his canned Liberal responses. Canadians should expect parties to put forth a candidate who is conversant in both languages... Dion is not.
  24. Jackson Savage from Canada writes: It really is hilarious to hear the cons cries of fear-mongering. Facts are facts. Harper would have us in Iraq. Harper doesn't believe in deadlines (2011) as this would be cutting and running. Harper spent years trashing the thought of Quebec nationhood but changed his tune for votes. He has never believed in the science of climate change (I wonder if he even believes in science at all) but all of a sudden he and Baird are "believers". He talks of Liberal inaction on the environment and 35% increases in GHG as if he weren't putting roadblocks in front of any efforts being made. He adores Bush and the Republicans.
  25. The Sentinel from Canada writes: Dion's faux pas is now Harper's fault? Get a grip on reality folks. Even Duceppe said he understood what the reporter was asking. Duceppe went on to say the problem was not the question. The problem, according to Duceppe, is Dion's lack of substance - Dion has no plan except the Green Shift.
  26. Wayne Serebrin from Winnipeg, Canada writes: I am not a member of a political party, but I am interested in fairness.
    I think it would have been best not to restart the interview and then it might have been clearer to the television audience that the question was poorly worded. Interviewer Steve Murphy responds to Dion's question that he didn't mean if Dion was PM two-and-a-half years ago, but, rather, today ... today, what would Dion have done if he was PM? (the mixed tenses are very confusing even to an Anglophone). What was Murphy asking? Dion goes on to explain what he would do if elected in a few days.
    I also think that if the interviewer agreed to begin again then he was agreeing to start from the "final restart of the interview". The whole issue is a bit of a "tempest in a tea pot," but airing these false starts, which really resulted from a very poor question to begin with, seems rather unfair to me.
  27. Jean Baillargeon from Canada writes: Dion asked Murphy to clarify his question. He was right to do so. The question as stated at the start of the interview is meaningless: "If you were PM, what would you have done differently than Harper?" I thought people learned in primary school not to use two verb tenses in the same sentence. Did Murphy mean "what would you have done?" or "what would you do?" Who knows.

    That a political commentator writing for the Globe and Mail fails to see this obvious mistake in the use of the English language is simply appalling. That he goes on to criticize Dion for wanting to avoid discussion is appalling.
  28. Kavita Sharma from Canada writes: The clips showing Dion asking for verification of a badly worded question should not have been shown. What did it prove? If anything, it proved that the interviewer was being unclear, not assisting Dion in understanding the question and being unethical in releasing the clip when he said he would not. Shame on Canadian media today.
  29. kK J from mississauga, Canada writes: I watched the P.Mansbridge interviews with both PM Harper and S. Dion it was just ridiculous. The contrast could not have been more blatant. He was disrespectful to our PM and really hit PM Harper with some low blows - Mansbridge showed no class at all. I thought it was awful but that's the CBC.

    In contrast I thought P. Mansbridge was going to lean over the table and give Dion a big wet kiss. Really, the love-in was on the screen right in front of us (I made the kids leave the room). We got to see a loving relationship - the one the CBC always say they don't have with the Libs.left . Gotcha. I hope I didn't hurt any Libs./left feeling - I know how sensitive you all can be.
  30. ken ventura from Ottawa, Canada writes: Ctv did the correct thing. This is news worthy. This shows the lack of language skills a possible Prime Minister has. Ethically a reporter has a duty to inform his readers or watchers of what he deems to be newsworthy. The future Prim Minister not mastering both official languages would be news to some Canadians. Public servants in managerial positions are required to take a bilingualism test when the position is deemed bilingual imperative. Why should a Prime Minister be exempt from this rule. The clip showed Mr. Dion fully understood the question because he corrected himself. He just had a hard time articulating that in english.
  31. Mark Aranson from Canada writes: This issue has me concerned at many levels. The commercial media in this country are steam rolling towards the CNN model which, while journalistically poor, is commercially sucessful. Mike Duffy typities this movement - he is no more an Ottawa Bureau chief than is Jerry Springer - if you watch Don Newman (CBC Ottawa Bureau chief) you are left with the impression that Duffy is very much an amateur. The decision to air the outakes was opportunistic and vile. To attempt to sway the outcome of the election just before election day is at the very least unethical. Surely there is some governing journalistic body that could or should apply sanctions. CTV really deserves to be held accountable in a significant way. Steve Murphy not only posed a tense-contraditory question but he changed tenses in offering "help" to Mr. Dion making his help suspiciously obstructionist. For Mr. Murphy the trust is now gone and he should be resigning. It's too bad the viewing public were not able to coordinate themselves in some way as to shut out CTV to show their displeasure with these American (CNN) - style antics but that is probably too much to expect. As for Mr. Harper and the "Conservatives" I find that Canadians have such a short memory. This is not the Progressive Conservative party of old - the "back room" is made up of Reform party elite - did you really think the Reformers went away? Mr. Harper has been muzzeling them as best as he can in the hopes of winning a majority government but they are still there. And they are chomping at the bit to get their fingers into canada's social and foreign policies, economy and institutions. For me, this makes my choice not only easy but compelling. Danny Williams has it right this time. As for Mr. Dion, he is trustworthy, intellligent and a proud Canadian as proven by his development and delivery of the clarity act. Is Mr. Harper trustworthy? You decide.
  32. DJ Vick from Calgary, Canada writes: Regarding Dion's interview with CTV-Atlantic, it 's been 3 days since Dion was asked what he would do if he was Prime Minister during this economic crisis. Does he still not understand the question ? He does not have an answer other than he would impose a carbon tax and have meetings for 30 days. This is the person who wants to be Prime Minister of Canada.
    Ask the people of BC how they like their new carbon tax and how it's already affecting things like property taxes as municipalities pass on their increased costs to taxpayers. The Prov. Liberal gov. there is in big danger of losing the election this coming spring and are starting to panic.
    Commodity prices are dropping and Dion wants to punish the only industries that are keeping Canada from going into a deficit. What a perfect recipe for a recession. It completely defies all logic of any normal thinking person.

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