After a single viewer complained, an inquiry was launched and an Ontario TV station censured after a slip of an anchor’s tongue over residential schools, says Blacklock’s Reporter..“The broadcaster demonstrated a lack of the necessary respect,” ruled the Canada Broadcast Standards Council..“Precision in language is what separates journalists from everyone else.”.The credibility of TV news “should be driven by the use of precise language,” it said..“To do otherwise would cause viewers to call into the question the credibility and authority of broadcast news media.”.CKCO-TV Kitchener, Ont. in a suppertime newscast last August 16 reported local vandals defaced a statue of Queen Victoria..“Well, after being doused in red paint for a second time this summer the Queen Victoria statue in Victoria Park is being cleaned up,” said one announcer..A co-host added: “The first time this vandalism happened was back on Canada Day. This was when many Canadians were reckoning with the country’s colonial past following the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential camps.”.Use of the noun “camps” prompted a single complaint to the Standards Council..Arbitrators ruled the word was confusing since it was unclear to viewers whether it referred to “summer camps” or “concentration camps, an extremely dark and horrific meaning.”.“The term ‘Residential Schools’ has been widely used since the latter part of the 19th century,” wrote the Council..“Therefore there is a clear and unambiguous history for the use of this term.”.The council concluded CKCO-TV breached a Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Code Of Ethics that states, “It shall be the responsibility of broadcasters to ensure news shall be represented with accuracy.”.It rejected an explanation from the TV station’s news director that the “camps” reference was a simple error..“The panel believes that given the many historical wrongdoings related to residential schools it was imperative that the proper term be used,” wrote the Council..“While the use of precise language is always important, it becomes far more salient in the context where Canadians are trying as a population to face and deal with the historical injustices against Indigenous communities..“Canadian media have a role to play in correcting the historic record on residential schools.”.The lone viewer who complained said the slip of the tongue was a “perpetuation of misleading and false tropes” about residential schools and demanded TV station employees undergo awareness training..The Standards Council finding carries no financial penalty. The station must announce its censure on-air.
After a single viewer complained, an inquiry was launched and an Ontario TV station censured after a slip of an anchor’s tongue over residential schools, says Blacklock’s Reporter..“The broadcaster demonstrated a lack of the necessary respect,” ruled the Canada Broadcast Standards Council..“Precision in language is what separates journalists from everyone else.”.The credibility of TV news “should be driven by the use of precise language,” it said..“To do otherwise would cause viewers to call into the question the credibility and authority of broadcast news media.”.CKCO-TV Kitchener, Ont. in a suppertime newscast last August 16 reported local vandals defaced a statue of Queen Victoria..“Well, after being doused in red paint for a second time this summer the Queen Victoria statue in Victoria Park is being cleaned up,” said one announcer..A co-host added: “The first time this vandalism happened was back on Canada Day. This was when many Canadians were reckoning with the country’s colonial past following the discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at former residential camps.”.Use of the noun “camps” prompted a single complaint to the Standards Council..Arbitrators ruled the word was confusing since it was unclear to viewers whether it referred to “summer camps” or “concentration camps, an extremely dark and horrific meaning.”.“The term ‘Residential Schools’ has been widely used since the latter part of the 19th century,” wrote the Council..“Therefore there is a clear and unambiguous history for the use of this term.”.The council concluded CKCO-TV breached a Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Code Of Ethics that states, “It shall be the responsibility of broadcasters to ensure news shall be represented with accuracy.”.It rejected an explanation from the TV station’s news director that the “camps” reference was a simple error..“The panel believes that given the many historical wrongdoings related to residential schools it was imperative that the proper term be used,” wrote the Council..“While the use of precise language is always important, it becomes far more salient in the context where Canadians are trying as a population to face and deal with the historical injustices against Indigenous communities..“Canadian media have a role to play in correcting the historic record on residential schools.”.The lone viewer who complained said the slip of the tongue was a “perpetuation of misleading and false tropes” about residential schools and demanded TV station employees undergo awareness training..The Standards Council finding carries no financial penalty. The station must announce its censure on-air.
