CBC cleared over coverage of Rob Ford 911 calls
The ombudsman for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., says the public broadcaster did not breach journalistic standards in its coverage of the 911 distress calls made by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
In his review released Thursday, Kirk LaPointe looked at the CBC's reporting on 911 calls placed by the mayor on Oct. 24 after he was approached at home by the CBC satirical news program This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
Actress Mary Walsh — dressed as the character Marg Delahunty, Princess Warrior — approached Ford on his driveway, questioning him about his falling poll numbers.
Ford, who later said he felt "ambushed," called 911 for help.
After the incident, CBC reported the mayor had been emotional and threatening to emergency dispatchers, who complained to their union that they were verbally assaulted.
CBC reported that sources had quoted Ford saying: "You . . . bitches. Don't you f--king know? I'm Rob f--king Ford, the mayor of this city."
Later that day, the mayor's brother — Toronto Coun. Doug Ford — told reporters that the report was inaccurate.
Ford later apologized for using the f-word in his call, but denied using the word bitches.
Toronto police Chief Bill Blair later said he had heard the three emergency calls, and confirmed the mayor did not use the word bitches. He also denied the 911 dispatchers had filed any union complaints about Ford.
Still, CBC maintained the accuracy of its reports and its sources.
In his review, LaPointe said it is impossible to assess the accuracy of the reports as the 911 calls have not been released. "Several requests for those records, including those from this office, have been declined," he wrote.
In Canada, 911 calls cannot be released without the consent of the caller, LaPointe said. In this case, Ford would need to agree to its release.
However "frustrating" that is, LaPointe said the privacy policy is akin to CBC's policy for not disclosing its sources.
On the standoff between CBC and Toronto's police chief over the accuracy of the coverage, LaPointe sided with CBC.
As the Toronto Police Service is reliant on a budget deliberated by the mayor, the ombudsman said CBC could not be expected to change its report based solely on the chief's statement.
"Not only were its sources adamant about their information, the chief was not a disinterested party," he wrote.
LaPointe said CBC was co-operative and candid during his review, but would not give up the sources used for the reports. Although "on the record" reporting is always preferred, "there are valid justifications for anonymity," he said.
Concealing sources in this case was acceptable and "reasonable," LaPointe said, as "the mayor was their boss and they were vulnerable."
"There remain questions about this episode that may never be answered," the ombudsman concluded. "But with whatever information was at hand, I found no violation of CBC journalistic standards and practices before and after the distress calls."
The ombudsman for the Canadian Broadcasting Corp., says the public broadcaster did not breach journalistic standards in its coverage of the 911 distress calls made by Toronto Mayor Rob Ford.
In his review released Thursday, Kirk LaPointe looked at the CBC's reporting on 911 calls placed by the mayor on Oct. 24 after he was approached at home by the CBC satirical news program This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
Actress Mary Walsh — dressed as the character Marg Delahunty, Princess Warrior — approached Ford on his driveway, questioning him about his falling poll numbers.
Ford, who later said he felt "ambushed," called 911 for help.
After the incident, CBC reported the mayor had been emotional and threatening to emergency dispatchers, who complained to their union that they were verbally assaulted.
CBC reported that sources had quoted Ford saying: "You . . . bitches. Don't you f--king know? I'm Rob f--king Ford, the mayor of this city."
Later that day, the mayor's brother — Toronto Coun. Doug Ford — told reporters that the report was inaccurate.
Ford later apologized for using the f-word in his call, but denied using the word bitches.
Toronto police Chief Bill Blair later said he had heard the three emergency calls, and confirmed the mayor did not use the word bitches. He also denied the 911 dispatchers had filed any union complaints about Ford.
Still, CBC maintained the accuracy of its reports and its sources.
In his review, LaPointe said it is impossible to assess the accuracy of the reports as the 911 calls have not been released. "Several requests for those records, including those from this office, have been declined," he wrote.
In Canada, 911 calls cannot be released without the consent of the caller, LaPointe said. In this case, Ford would need to agree to its release.
However "frustrating" that is, LaPointe said the privacy policy is akin to CBC's policy for not disclosing its sources.
On the standoff between CBC and Toronto's police chief over the accuracy of the coverage, LaPointe sided with CBC.
As the Toronto Police Service is reliant on a budget deliberated by the mayor, the ombudsman said CBC could not be expected to change its report based solely on the chief's statement.
"Not only were its sources adamant about their information, the chief was not a disinterested party," he wrote.
LaPointe said CBC was co-operative and candid during his review, but would not give up the sources used for the reports. Although "on the record" reporting is always preferred, "there are valid justifications for anonymity," he said.
Concealing sources in this case was acceptable and "reasonable," LaPointe said, as "the mayor was their boss and they were vulnerable."
"There remain questions about this episode that may never be answered," the ombudsman concluded. "But with whatever information was at hand, I found no violation of CBC journalistic standards and practices before and after the distress calls."
