Freedom of the Press

In Canada, female journalists, especially female journalists who belong to minorities, regularly find hateful abuse directed at them on social media and elsewhere. The abuse has provoked concern and alarm in the Canadian news media and Parliament.

Julian Sher, an award-winning TV documentary writer and director, journalist, newsroom trainer, and author, has joined the Centre for Free Expression (CFE) as a Senior Fellow. “Julian Sher is a remarkable journalist, author, and newsroom trainer,” said James L. Turk, the Centre’s director. “The scope of Julian’s work and his achievements are exceptional.”

Ivor Shapiro has been appointed inaugural Scholar-in-Residence at the Centre for Free Expression (CFE) at Toronto Metropolitan University for 2022-23. The former chair of the School of Journalism at TMU, Shapiro will help lead the Centre’s expanding work on press freedom. “We are delighted to announce that Ivor Shapiro will be the CFE’s first Scholar in Residence,” said James L. Turk, CFE Director. “During the initial period as Scholar-In-Residence, he will be completing his new book on press freedom.” 

In Vancouver, students at Eric Hamber Secondary School have prepared a bill to protect the interests of student journalists in British Columbia. Spencer Izen and Jessica Kim, who produce the school’s newspaper, The Griffin’s Nest, sent the Student Press Freedom Act to David Eby, B.C.’s attorney general. They hope the legislature will enact the bill into law.