Politics
Tuesday May 16, 2006
Most Extensive Ever Mass Media Coverage of March for Life Canada
CBC, National Post, Toronto Star Offered No Coverage
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By John-Henry Westen
OTTAWA, May 16, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The ninth annual March for Life which took place last Thursday attracting some 5,700 participants garnered more press coverage than in any previous year. However, the public broadcaster - CBC television, the nation's largest circulation paper - The Toronto Star - and the supposedly 'conservative' National Post all offered no coverage.
(coverage: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06051502.html)
CTV and Global television both offered reports on the March for Life. (See on line article: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060511/abortion_activists_...
Note that the photos do not show any youth and mostly older men)
CTV, in addition to news coverage of the march (See link below) offered a panel discussion on the "pro-life debate" which ran over 6 minutes providing pro-life MPs Tom Wappel (Liberal) and Maurice Vellacott (Conservative) the opportunity to express their defence of the right to life for unborn Canadians. (See link below)
Over a dozen newspapers across the country covered the story with at least a minor mention. A Canadian Press story on the March was picked up by many of those newspapers and a few papers wrote stories based on the experiences of local pro-lifers in attendance.
It came as little surprise to pro-life leaders that the biased public broadcaster CBC television and the left-leaning Toronto Star did not cover the March, however, many were surprised that the supposedly 'conservative' National Post also failed to offer coverage.
A letter by Sammy Kurusmather, an 18-year-old Brampton Ontario high school student, published in today's National Post states, "As a daily reader of the National Post, I was really disappointed that your newspaper did not have even a few lines about the March for Life rally in Ottawa last Thursday." Kurusmather added: "This year's event was one of the biggest ever, with youth outnumbering the older anti-abortion advocates. This is a cause thousands of youth support: We are not only the future -- we are the present, and we want to be heard."
The abortion issue remains an issue of great contention in Canada since in the absence of a law on the matter there are no legal restrictions on abortion. Recent polls indicate that a majority of Canadians would like to see human life protected by law at some point before birth. (coverage: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/nov/05111502.html)
Apart from media blackout, the newspaper which offered the most distorted coverage of the March was the Globe and Mail. While a head-count at the March found over 5,700 participants, and the CP coverage noted "several thousand", the Globe reported "several hundred" on Parliament Hill. (see the Globe coverage: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060512.ABORTION12/TPStory/?qu...)
To express your concerns:
Letter to National Post:
Letter to Toronto Star:
Letter to Globe and Mail
Concerns about CBC to Minister of Canadian Heritage:
Beverley Oda
* See two CTV news video clips (links at right side of page) at:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060511/abortion_activists_...
See Monday's LifeSiteNews.com stories on the March for Life
Fr. Pavone: Terri Shiavo's Room was "Thick" with Prayers and Thoughts of Supporters
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06051501.html
Canadian March for Life 2006 - 5,700 Take Part - Goal Set for 10,000 Next Year
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2006/may/06051502.html
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