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Blog of Adam Daifallah -- author, journalist, law student. Lover of politics, writing, golf, curling, fitness, fashion, bacon and maple products -- not necessarily (but probably) in that order. Partisan of the Anglosphere. Contact me via email at adam@daifallah.com.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Stephen Harper on the media, unplugged
Prime Minister Stephen Harper rarely gives interviews where he lets his guard down, but he appears to have done so in a recent chat with Western Standard editor Kevin Libin, published in the magazine's next-to-last edition. (Free online registration required.)
On the topic of the recent controversy with the parliamentary press gallery, Harper lets loose. Among the choice zingers:
Harper on the new rules for the gallery: "When we first started doing this and were doing this, the majority of journalists loved it," he says. "But of course, the problem was that we were getting our message out and a small number of ideologues didn't like that. So they've now basically forbidden all of their colleagues to ask questions, which I think is a fascinating use of press freedom when a small number of journalists can tell others they can't ask questions at a press conference. But that's the position of the left-wing ideologues who are apparently running the show."
On the effect the protest has had: "I'm free to pick my interviews when and where I want to have them," he says. "The great irony is, the result is precisely the opposite of what those doing it claim to be seeking. They say if I don't do it their way, I'll somehow gain more control over my media relations. Well, I've got more control now."
Toward the end:
"The real long-term effect of this may be to break up the gallery," he says, noting that the diversity of media, including online blogs, has made it possible for Conservatives to get their message out with fewer restrictions than when he began his political career working in the Mulroney government. Besides, while he believes most journalists are "left of centre," Harper says they're also largely free thinkers. The gallery, he believes, has become too institutionalized, and too convinced that it can control the news. "I think if we can break that up in any way," he says. "That is helpful for democracy."
It is so refreshing to hear a Prime Minister call it like it is like this. It should be noted that Harper is referring specifically to the leadership of the Parliamentary Press Gallery when he uses the term "left-wing ideologues."
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 8:23 AM
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