As a loyal citizen of the Cornwall community I try to follow the daily local media and the progress of the city’s institutions.
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While I have warmed to the all new radio programming for CJSS FM, I find their political sentiment close to all Conservative. Of the dj staff, I find “the new guy in town” Matt Weaver notably a crusader for the CPC.
While I have warmed to the all new radio programming for CJSS FM, I find their political sentiment close to all Conservative. Of the dj staff, I find “the new guy in town” Matt Weaver notably a crusader for the CPC.
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During an afternoon broadcast this week Weaver spoke of the CBC’s Vote Compass test, aimed at suggesting to potential voters which party they share the most views with.
Weaver stated the CBC online party matchup scored everyone as Liberal, no matter how you answered the questions.
Weaver stated the CBC online party matchup scored everyone as Liberal, no matter how you answered the questions.
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So I took the test myself, answering from a Conservative point of view. Lo and behold I rated as a right wing Conservative, both in Social conservatism and the Economic right.
I singularly gave Stephen Harper 10 out of 10 on topics of, hmm, trustworthiness and competence. I also checked off Conservative values such as restrictions on abortion, reversal of gay rights and indifference to the environment.
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It is hard to comprehend how a community radio broadcaster entrusted with providing our Cornwall and area community with factual information, can air this kind of manipulation of the truth.
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I’m a long time subscriber to the Cornwall Standard-Freeholder. Part of the Sun Media chain now, its national political content is obviously Conservative slanted.
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Veteran Standard-Freeholder reporter Claude McIntosh wrote for print the day before the election opened that Super Guy would renew his MP leadership while Liberal candidate Bernadette Clement would be “Tomorrow’s Gal”.
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These declared media favouritisms are not balanced reporting. They represent only one party following in the community and therefore misrepresent the community as a whole.
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As an institution of the community, the Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce has publicly asked citizens to vote for corporate tax cuts which is clearly a vote for the Conservative platform. When the Conservatives have already given away $54 billion to corporates.
Ken Smith – Cornwall Ontario – St. Lawrence College Journalism Graduate
(Comments and opinions of Editorials, Letters to the Editor, and comments from readers are purely their own and don’t necessarily reflect those of the owners of the Cornwall Free News, their staff, or sponsors.)
Good letter, Ken Smith.
First “The Harper Government.” Next “The Harper Media”?
Good article Ken!! and Yay Sharks St Lawrence College rules!
I think the drive behind media, in most, cases is job security. They Conservatiive slant we see now is no different then the last slant towards the last governeing body and party in the area.
It is an unfortunate truth and something we all need to deal with. It is also what happens when your media is controlled by a crown corporation.
As for Claude, I share his belief that Bernadette is “tomorrows gal” That is based on past elections. Bernie may be the next liberal MP in the area in the next round of elections. She needs a little more exposure.
It would also help her venture to distance herself from past MP’s in the area as they lack the respect from their peers needed to gain favourtism and support.
I wish Bernadette well but I just think locals will remain creatures of habit and stick to what they know no matter how bad the option is.
CBC’s Vote Compass test accomplishes one thing in my mind – it shows you how your ideals and opinions are best represented by the political parties. The interesting and challenging part for some concerning Vote Compass is that it challenges people’s perceptions of their own political positions, leading to cognitive dissonance. Matt Weave sounds like an ideologue through his inability to recognize the incongruence between his ideals and his preferred political party. I laugh a little here because a similar type of cognitive dissonance happens when your favourite sports team has let you down year after year. Do you consider it’s time for a change?
Been a while, but speaking of those sports teams, you must be speaking about the Sens or the Leafs.. lol..
@Grimalot Funny you mention it, because the tides seem have turned between the Sens and the Leafs. And what of those Leafs fans, before the Sens came back, who switched because Ottawa was closest to their home town (like in the case of Cornwall), do you think it’s time for them to change? I hope people will take the time and try out Vote Compass for themselves. Pass the word around even, know why you are voting, don’t just support your favourite team, just because; this is politics, not sports!
{typo}: Of course I meant, “what of those Sens’ fans” and not “the Leafs”… Ooops pardon my grammar… coincidence though that the Sens are playing the Leafs tonight.
May they both lose together.. 😉
I guess the Freeholder is doing gangbusters financially and doesn’t need the support of centre and left leaning people in the community.Good for them.I have been waiting patiently for Todd Hambledon to announce the whereabouts of the weapons of mass destruction.He promised that a couple of years ago.He said it would be soon but I still sit and wait.As for Claude MacIdiot ,I say that because he only calls others names ,so I try to reach him on his own level.He has no journalistic back ground and writes for a tabloid .Basically he believes that gives him the leeway to not be fair and balanced.
Is it any wonder why we are represented by someone like Guy Lauzon ,this community accepts mediocrity and supports media outlets that spout garbage.