TORONTO — Canada's largest newspaper decided against an outside investigation into the circumstances around the suicide of a prominent reporter because it would have been too bureaucratic, according to an internal memo.
Instead, the Toronto Star did its own investigation, which resulted in two senior editors leaving the newsroom and an enhanced code of conduct, the memo to staff said.
"An external legal investigator was not necessary or appropriate in the circumstances," Brian Daly, vice-president of human resources, said in the memo.
"Such third-party investigations, by their very nature, follow formalized, legalistic protocols, with minimal if any transparency of findings or conclusions."
In a column last week, Star public editor Kathy English talked of the turmoil in the newsroom after Raveena Aulakh, 42, killed herself last month. The column stated that Aulakh had been in a relationship with a senior editor, Jon Filson.
In emails Aulakh had sent, English said, a "clearly heartbroken'' Aulakh made allegations about a relationship between Filson and managing editor Jane Davenport. Filson had already left the company, while Davenport was reassigned within the company.
The Star said it would not discuss details of their departures given that it was an internal personnel matter.
mo
No external probe after reporter suicide: Toronto Star memo | Metro News
Dean Skoreyko @bcbluecon
Dean Skoreyko Retweeted The Canadian Press
Star conducts own investigation of itself, finds themselves guiltless
Instead, the Toronto Star did its own investigation, which resulted in two senior editors leaving the newsroom and an enhanced code of conduct, the memo to staff said.
"An external legal investigator was not necessary or appropriate in the circumstances," Brian Daly, vice-president of human resources, said in the memo.
"Such third-party investigations, by their very nature, follow formalized, legalistic protocols, with minimal if any transparency of findings or conclusions."
In a column last week, Star public editor Kathy English talked of the turmoil in the newsroom after Raveena Aulakh, 42, killed herself last month. The column stated that Aulakh had been in a relationship with a senior editor, Jon Filson.
In emails Aulakh had sent, English said, a "clearly heartbroken'' Aulakh made allegations about a relationship between Filson and managing editor Jane Davenport. Filson had already left the company, while Davenport was reassigned within the company.
The Star said it would not discuss details of their departures given that it was an internal personnel matter.
mo
No external probe after reporter suicide: Toronto Star memo | Metro News
Dean Skoreyko @bcbluecon Dean Skoreyko Retweeted The Canadian Press
Star conducts own investigation of itself, finds themselves guiltless
