J-Source

HonestReporting Canada’s targeted harassment machine - J-Source A self-professed media watchdog has been weaponizing antisemitism and trying to poison journalistic standards on covering Palestine. Media workers on the perils of the relentless intimidation and disi...

A self-professed media watchdog has been weaponizing antisemitism and trying to poison journalistic standards on covering Palestine.

Media workers spoke with @sparksriley.bsky.social about the perils of the relentless intimidation and disinformation manufactured by a ‘digital army for Israel:’

Former CBC human resources employee sues over workplace so toxic staff were given a 'crying room' Lawsuit also alleges CBC kept a secret 'do not hire' list that disproportionately blacklisted marginalized, disabled and Indigenous people.

Former CBC human resources employee sues over workplace so toxic staff were given a 'crying room'

The lawsuit also alleges CBC kept a secret 'do not hire' list that disproportionately blacklisted marginalized, disabled and Indigenous people:

AI in Canadian newsrooms: media engaging cautiously - J-Source Canadian journalism's AI adoption reveals a patchwork of policies and gaps

Canadian journalism’s AI adoption reveals a patchwork of policies and gaps

CBC News further expands local journalism, bureaus | CBC News This year, CBC News will add 33 local journalists and create 11 new bureaus, increasing its Canadian footprint from 66 to 77 locations.

CBC News is adding 33 local journalists and creating 11 new bureaus, increasing its Canadian footprint from 66 to 77 locations.

Many of the new positions are based in Central and Western Canada:

Postmedia Suspends Toronto Sun Parliamentary Bureau Chief After Tweet Applauding ICE Killing Minneapolis Woman Postmedia says Bryan Passifiume’s tweet about ICE killing of Renee Good was ‘regrettable and insensitive’

Postmedia has suspended Bryan Passifiume, a Toronto Sun bureau chief, for a tweet after the killing of a Minneapolis woman by ICE, reports @lukelebrun.ca @pressprogress.ca

“In this case, the far left ended up catching a few well-deserved bullets for their miscalculation,” he had tweeted.

The Narwhal’s press freedom case against the RCMP, explained Stay informed about The Narwhal and Amber Bracken’s lawsuit against the RCMP as we fight for press freedom in B.C. Supreme Court

Follow updates on the case from @thenarwhal.ca here:

RCMP arrest and detain photojournalist and documentary filmmaker during pipeline protest on Wet’suwet’en territory - Canadian Press Freedom Project RCMP officers arrested and detained photojournalist Amber Bracken and documentary filmmaker Michael Toledano during a land rights protest on Wet’suwet’en territory.

The RCMP’s defence has included a number of false claims. They allege Bracken wasn’t working as a journalist when arrested; they also claim Bracken was “aiding or abetting” protesters. Neither of these claims are true or supported by any evidence.

The Narwhal’s press freedom case against the RCMP, explained Stay informed about The Narwhal and Amber Bracken’s lawsuit against the RCMP as we fight for press freedom in B.C. Supreme Court

The Narwhal says their lawsuit, filed in 2023, seeks “meaningful consequences for police when they interfere with the constitutional rights of journalists covering events in injunction zones.”

RCMP tried to get photojournalist Amber Bracken charged and detained without bail, documents show Bracken was arrested in 2021 after Mounties removed protesters blocking access to a Coastal GasLink construction site in B.C.

Jail video shows Bracken touching an officer’s shoulder with a finger; the officer claimed he had been hurt, and police asked prosecutors to charge Bracken with assault and detain her, likely for months, until trial. Prosecutors declined.

RCMP tracked photojournalist Amber Bracken in active investigations database In court over Coastal GasLink injunction, RCMP officer reveals police were collecting details about journalists Amber Bracken and Michael Toledano

The RCMP knew who Bracken was and knew she was covering the protests: Narwhal editors had spoken with police, and Bracken was carrying a press pass and assignment letter. Police records also show that they had been tracking Bracken:

RCMP arrest and detain photojournalist and documentary filmmaker during pipeline protest on Wet’suwet’en territory - Canadian Press Freedom Project RCMP officers arrested and detained photojournalist Amber Bracken and documentary filmmaker Michael Toledano during a land rights protest on Wet’suwet’en territory.

Some of her gear was later found abandoned under a pile of rubble in the protest camp, which had been bulldozed by the RCMP.

RCMP arrest and detain photojournalist and documentary filmmaker during pipeline protest on Wet’suwet’en territory - Canadian Press Freedom Project RCMP officers arrested and detained photojournalist Amber Bracken and documentary filmmaker Michael Toledano during a land rights protest on Wet’suwet’en territory.

During the arrest, police pointed rifles at Bracken. She was handcuffed and detained for three days. Police confiscated Bracken’s cameras and equipment, preventing the publication of her photos until she was released from jail.

RCMP arrest and detain photojournalist and documentary filmmaker during pipeline protest on Wet’suwet’en territory - Canadian Press Freedom Project RCMP officers arrested and detained photojournalist Amber Bracken and documentary filmmaker Michael Toledano during a land rights protest on Wet’suwet’en territory.

Recap: the RCMP arrested Bracken while she was on assignment for The Narwhal covering protests against pipeline construction on Wet’suwet’en territory in B.C. Documentary filmmaker Michael Toledano was also arrested.

The Narwhal Is Suing the RCMP. Stakes Are High for Journalism | The Tyee The judge’s ruling could reinforce the right of journalists to report from inside police ‘exclusion zones.’

Photojournalist @amberbracken.bsky.social and @thenarwhal.ca had their first day in court this week, in a significant press freedom case which aims to hold the RCMP accountable for arresting Bracken in 2021:

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My latest piece for @jsource.bsky.social, Beyond the Famine Frame, pulls back the curtain on how editorial decisions, political pressure, and industry gatekeeping have eroded trust — and why the famine narrative isn't the shift in coverage some think it is.

Beyond the famine frame - J-Source The war on Gaza has exposed a breaking point between young people in Canada and traditional media

The war on Gaza has exposed a breaking point between young people in Canada and traditional media, writes @imankassam.bsky.social

Beyond the famine frame:

First batch of Google’s $100 million is paid. Here’s who won big and who didn’t - J-Source A look at how Online News Act funds are being distributed

#NEW: This month, 100+ publications got their share of $100 million from Google.

Most that applied for funds have been approved. But Indigenous-led online publication, @indiginews.bsky.social was denied.

A breakdown of the details, in my first for @jsource.bsky.social

j-source.ca/first-batch-...

First batch of Google’s $100 million is paid. Here’s who won big and who didn’t - J-Source A look at how Online News Act funds are being distributed

First batch of Google’s $100 million is paid.

@brishti.bsky.social reports on who won big and who didn’t:

La FPJQ demande à Honest Reporting Canada de mettre fin à ses tactiques d’intimidation des journalistes MONTRÉAL, 12 février 2025 - La Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec (FPJQ) invite Honest Reporting Canada à mettre fin à ses pratiques qui visent à intimider les journalistes. Image ...

Citing data from the Canada Press Freedom Project, a @jsource.bsky.social initiative, the Fédération Professionnelle des Journalistes du Québec is demanding that HRC drop its intimidating tactics against journalists

www.fpjq.org/fr/nouvelles...

Burnaby Now, New Westminster Record, Tri-City News to close Challenging economic conditions cited as reason for closure.

Burnaby Now, New Westminster Record, Tri-City News to close

2024 is deadliest year for journalists in CPJ history; almost 70% killed by Israel - Committee to Protect Journalists Introduction More journalists were killed in 2024 than in any other year since the Committee to Protect Journalists began collecting data more than three decades ago. At least 124 journalists and medi...

"More journalists were killed in 2024 than in any other year since the Committee to Protect Journalists began collecting data more than three decades ago. At least 124 journalists and media workers were killed last year, nearly two-thirds of them Palestinians killed by Israel."

The Local Journalism Fellowship 2025 | The Local Now in its fifth year, the program provides training and mentorship to aspiring and emerging journalists from communities underrepresented in Canadian media. Applications are now open.

Reminder: Applications for The Local Journalism Fellowship are due in one week. Come work with us this summer! thelocal.to/local-jounal...

Some personal news, as they say:

Introducing Debrief Communications! A collective of journalists making our skills available for hire in the communications market.

Website: debriefcomms.ca
Full announcement ⬇️

RNAO Media Awards Hosted by RNAO, the annual Media Awards honours journalists for their outstanding reporting on nursing and health-care issues.

Submissions are open for @registerednurses.bsky.social’s annual Media Awards, recognizing journalists for their outstanding reporting on nursing and health-care issues.

Apply by Feb. 28:

The reality is, most of our audience is on the other website. But given its ownership and the fascism and such, we cannot continue to utilize it in good conscience.

I’d be grateful if you’d support @jsource.bsky.social by following us where we’ll be from now on:

J-Source

J-Source will no longer be posting at ~the other place~

Follow us here, on LinkedIn and by subscribing to our newsletter

#CdnMedia

j-source.us21.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...

No Thanks, Musk. We’ll Direct Our Readers Elsewhere | The Tyee The Tyee is no longer posting on X. Here’s why.

“The independence their support grants us demands ethical responsibility — and underscores our decision that exiting X is the right thing to do.”

@thetyee.ca on leaving Twitter:

Healing the journalism pipeline: Tips and tricks for understanding the legal state of post-secondary journalism in Canada - Canada Press Freedom Project It’s no secret that the journalism industry in Canada is in a state of crisis. From widespread distrust in media to the financial volatility brought on by digital journalism, most attention has been p...

The Canada Press Freedom Project collected testimony on student media’s biggest threats, from censorship to legal intimidation to lack of funding.

Healing the journalism pipeline: Tips and tricks for understanding the legal state of post-secondary journalism in Canada:

"It is crucial to situate climate disinformation & delay narratives within the broader context of climate obstruction, because ultimately, climate obstruction is a systemic issue & its solutions should be too."

New @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social report on climate disinformation:

Come work with me! We're looking for a newsletter writer who can help our reporting sing and our commentary, um, also sing?

This job involves developing the voice of the publication and working across beats, and has a ton of space to grow.