Freedom of the Press
The Issue
While freedom of the press is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, it is in serious jeopardy. The business model that has sustained the media is failing – resulting in a significant loss of professional journalists and a serious decline in the media’s capacity to do the investigative reporting that is critical for public knowledge and government and corporate accountability. The work of the media in Canada is also imperilled by weak access-to-information laws, court publication bans, vexatious defamation claims, and the chilling effects of mass surveillance.
Why It Matters
Democracy depends on an independent, uncensored, diverse, professional media to inform the public, to ask difficult questions, and to foster transparency and accountability in those who wield power.
Our Work
The Centre for Free Expression promotes public discussion of the importance of freedom of the press, challenges facing the institutional media, and the opportunities and limitations of social media as an alternative. It works in collaboration with journalists, media organizations and public interest groups to evaluate models for the sustainability of independent, adequately financed, investigative journalism, to press for better access-to-information legislation, to limit publication bans and to strengthen protections for free expression.
Resources
"Accountable? Us?" Journalists' professional standards in an era of ungated content
Ivor Shapiro in conversation with Susan Harada
Publication Bans vs. Press Freedom & Open Courts
Panelists: Ryder Gilliand, Alyshah Hasham, Paul Schabas, Alexi Wood
Moderator: Justin Safayeni
Ag-Gag Laws & the Public’s Right to Know
Panelists: Robert Cribb, Jodi Lazare, Richard Moon
Moderator: Cara Zwibel
CFE Virtual Forum Series: Platforms of Distortion – Can They Be Fixed?
Digital platforms are perfect delivery systems for gossip and entertainment. Unfortunately they now distribute most of our news.
CFE Virtual Forum Series: Can Journalism Be Saved?
Over the past two decades, we have witnessed the economic devastation of institutional journalism that creates new content through original reporting and research.
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