Herald coverage lacked integrity

Dear Editor:

Re: “Canadians trust doctors, distrust media, teachers,” by The Canadian Press, Herald, May 7).

There is enough fake news circulating in social media lacking in integrity that readers depend on quality journalism without bias or agenda hoped to be found in newspapers.

Your article clearly misrepresents information with the dangerous consequence of manipulating a public view towards members of our society.

You state that more than eight Canadians in 10 trust doctors. but fewer Canadians express trust in teachers. I’m wondering if you actually check your facts and sources before you publish your information because looking at Proof Strategies Annual Trust Survey for 2020 in BC alone, 78% of people put their faith in doctors, 71% in scientists and 70% in “educators”. Actually, on that survey there is no “Teacher” category, however, there is an “Educator” category, which is kind of broad. Does it mean organizations such as private schools, school boards or individuals such as teachers, EAs, principals, directors of learning, etc.?

Whatever “Educator” is defined as according to the survey there is a 70% trust in “Educators” with similar numbers in provinces across the country. Your article makes it out that trust in teachers is miles away from the trust of scientists when they are only a percentage apart if we are assuming teachers are educators.

I’m also wondering why you omitted the information that politicians are at the bottom of the barrel with only a 12% trust factor?

The point is your paper is publishing misinformation with a clear agenda and bias and that is not okay. I am requesting that your paper and all associate papers print a retraction or at the very least provide more detailed information on the survey. (Not sure why that survey is relevant anyways? Is your goal by publishing this article to create cynicism and mistrust in our society?

The survey is unproductive in my mind. Dustin Stolen

Penticton