Smith says mainstream media, political polarization major problems in Canada

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said the mantra in media when she started in it in the 1990s was to be fair, accurate, and balanced. “I think unfortunately we’re not seeing that portrayed in the mainstream media as much as we used to in the past,” said Smith in a Monday interview at the Public Affairs Association of Canada Annual Conference. “And maybe it’s because social media has changed the dynamic.” What Smith said she has observed now is when an issue trends on Twitter, that becomes what the media chases after as a story. She added people go to the media to cut through all of the noise. These people need to see what is trending on Twitter and have it explained and analyzed. When she was on radio, she said there were often not one or two sides to a story. If she found an important issue, she would interview multiple experts to find out what is happening with it. She requested mainstream media have higher standards than a person tweeting from an anonymous Twitter account. When it comes to issues affecting public affairs clients, she said their voices should be represented in those stories. She admitted it “is not always happening, and I just hope that the media will elevate and do better.” The premier went on to say Twitter has become a cesspit. While it works well as a broadcast tool, she said it is an ineffective interactive tool. This is because it brings the conversation down to the lowest common denominator. The Alberta government has been using it as a broadcast tool. If there is a topic people care about, it will put a link, infographic, or video up. They will be able to get greater depth. She predicted YouTube will become more important in the next few years, especially as newsrooms hollow out. People can set up a StreamYard account and have their own broadcast studio. A few academics have told her they believe YouTube will be the only visual broadcast medium left in 10 years. She said a great part about it is it has a range of videos from short clips to long-form interviews, so people can choose their experiences. When she thinks about political polarization, she said she worries about people who believe in right information. She finds there can be more than one right answer on an issue. While people might disagree on an issue, she said it does not mean they are engaging in misinformation. There might be many different pathways to get to a solution. If people want to reduce polarization, she said they have to believe their opponents are coming to an issue in a well-meaning way. She acknowledged she is unsatisfied with the pathway the world has gone down in the last few years. Smith concluded by saying people “should stop smearing people who they disagree with as spreading misinformation.” “Let’s just make sure that we get our information out,” she said. Alberta Grains Director of Government Relations, Policy, and Markets Shannon Sereda introduced Smith by saying it was an honour to welcome her. “Alberta Grains is the amalgamation of the Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission, and it officially came into effect on August 1st of this year,” said Sereda. “This required approval by the premier and her cabinet under the Marketing of Agricultural Products Act, so for that, I want to quickly thank the premier.” Because of this amalgamation, she said Alberta Grains can provide strong representation to the 18,000 grain farmers it represents. She said Smith is committed to finding the right balance between free enterprise, individual freedom and responsible government. This speech comes after Smith said in July she appreciates CBC expressing regrets for its story about her office contacting the Crown attorney’s office on charges related to the Coutts Border Blockade. READ MORE: WATCH: Smith says she did not want to drag on lawsuit against CBC“I’m glad that they acknowledged that their story was incorrect, so I feel vindicated,” she said. “I want to ensure that I have a good solid relationship with the media.”

Smith says mainstream media, political polarization major problems in Canada

Related Stories