Loreena takes a keen interest in a variety of topics near and dear to her heart, including Copyright Reform, Water Safety and Privacy. Although Loreena is a well known person, she also has views and opinions which she wishes to express, with equal footing (no more or no less) as a member of the general public. From time to time, she will make submissions, deliver speeches or write letters to champion these subjects.

As some of you may be aware, there have been some major privacy breaches involving the UK media and phone hacking. On July 7, The Globe and Mail (Canada) wrote a major editorial on the subject. Loreena responded to the editor with the following letter. The Globe and Mail may or may not choose to print this letter for a variety of reasons.

Read The Globe and Mail Editorial

In order to protect our democracies, the privately owned and commercial media require greater regulation in Canada as well as the UK. Although many in the media would have society believe they are serving the public’s interest, (and often they do) their commercially vested interests are too considerable to believe they will always choose the public’s over their own. Moreover, the media’s ability to improperly influence politicians and shape our democratic process is profound.

My own experience in a successful 2005 UK landmark privacy case showed me that, not only is the UK media not to be trusted with privacy, the facts and the pursuit of truth, but some of the Canadian media as well. The Globe’s reporter Michael Posner was found to be shamefully inaccurate in his reportage of this case to the Canadian public. I would respectfully submit, more than ever, robust scrutiny be delivered to the doorstep of all media. Their hands are wrapped around the throats of all our democracies.

Loreena McKennitt

I had listened to the various talks about the phone hacking business with the UK. It was most awful to hear of individuals who were reported deceased, but the loved ones of those individuals were led to believe that they were still alive. All done by the use of phone hacking. Do you think they would ever asked themselves "how would you feel if this happened to you". I guess they wouldn't care to think.

I think that what we need is not stricter regulations, but some kind of conscience. This is what got out of hand. People (journalists) are so driven by commercial reasons that there is no chance for them to care about people's privacy. Even if some journalists wanted, they are "forced" to publish stuff against their conscience, because their newspaper/tv channel / etc. has to be better and faster than others. If society in general somehow managed to overcome this obsession with money, everything (or well, not everything, but MUCH) would be allright.

Unfortunately, for many years now the media does not write anything to the truth .. or rather the media writes what it takes to sell ... so are the news and the news is distorted and people will believe anything! unfortunate that the truth is always far from official news ... you should inquire and not believe for example that the winner is often better than the loser! Unfortunately history is written by the victors ... give an example, I also had to write the paper for the evil things that were said about the Celts!
betty

I recall an article of ms McKennitt's...
Who Watches The Watchdog

I don't personally understand the act; it will be ok, if you can slip away with it... That must have been the News of the Worlds' philosophy.

Or maybe, some forget to view a "case" from both sides.

If say the reporter makes a research and believes he/she found the truth - why on earth should he/she then continue the research?!
Just a retorical (ironic) question.


I believe we have to question the authorities/informers if things seems too good to be true!


Anxiously starting 2 wonder, when the word 'morality' will disappear from the dictionary of spelling!!!

Lory I'm agreed with you!
betty

I am wanting to help any way I can with this water safety and privacy issue. I got alot accomplished when I had privacy, droopy cartoons. We also animated the first superfriends at the Hall of Justice to explain are stand on these subjects. Animation was their first move two voyeurs on A sofa. I knew they'd lower are standards mentally first then go after are water. New York thats been cleaned up since then Portland O.R. has A front page article in the Oregonian on Sunday. Water the source I'm knowledgeable about people who would pollute on purpose thats why I am lacking privacy. I let them know I don't like them. I pray for success privacy, peace, God, and clean water.

looks like the jig's up, heads are rolling

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/s...=2011-07-17-14-38-33

quote:

Originally posted by Semaspa A:

quote:

Originally posted by dlaws99:
Bullseye. One just need to look at the 2008 election in the US. Not only the ability to influence politicians, but the more insidious ability to influence the public, the outcome being largely the result of a severely biased media. Their role is to report the facts, not shape the facts...

You're not kidding. In my family we call it "makin' pretzels", as the news "reporters" twist the truth, even almost to the point of creating a work of fiction. And personally, I think Loreena speaks for all of us, not just Canada and the UK.

Making pretzels...I like that. Over the last couple of years, in interviews, the current generation of "news reporters" all say they got into journalism so they could change the world (meaning: influence the process). This is dangerous as there will be those who will ignore the boundaries of ethics to get, or even create the story. There's "news" and then there's "opinion". Opinions are valid as long as they're on the opinion page, where Loreena hopes her's ends up, and not on the front page...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dlaws99,

quote:

Originally posted by dlaws99:
Bullseye. One just need to look at the 2008 election in the US. Not only the ability to influence politicians, but the more insidious ability to influence the public, the outcome being largely the result of a severely biased media. Their role is to report the facts, not shape the facts...

You're not kidding. In my family we call it "makin' pretzels", as the news "reporters" twist the truth, even almost to the point of creating a work of fiction. And personally, I think Loreena speaks for all of us, not just Canada and the UK.

Bullseye. One just need to look at the 2008 election in the US. Not only the ability to influence politicians, but the more insidious ability to influence the public, the outcome being largely the result of a severely biased media. Their role is to report the facts, not shape the facts...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dlaws99,