Toronto Star to have external review of its newsroom culture

TORONTO — Canada’s largest newspaper has agreed to an independent review of its newsroom culture in the aftermath of the suicide of a prominent reporter, its chair and editor said Wednesday, but its union said the proposed scope, while a useful step, was too narrow.

The newspaper had earlier rejected a union call for an outside probe of the circumstances around the suicide of Raveena Aulakh, saying it would have been too bureaucratic.

In a memo to newsroom staff, the senior executives say a seasoned professional will facilitate the review and come up with recommendations.

“The union has publicly called for an ‘independent investigation’ of the newsroom’s ‘poisonous workplace’ where ‘harassment’ and ‘bullying’ are rife,” Torstar Chair John Honderich and Star Editor Michael Cooke say in their memo.

“The union’s assessment is not our view.”

Honderich and Cooke acknowledged the strong language in the union’s statements, saying if they were true, such a workplace environment would not allow a “great metropolitan newspaper” to publish. Nevertheless, newsroom staff have raised “legitimate concerns” in recent weeks that merit investigation, the memo states.

Paul Morse, president of Unifor Local 87-M which speaks for Star journalists, repeated the union’s demands for a full-fledged, external investigation, saying the proposed review doesn’t go far enough because the circumstances surrounding Aulakh’s death will be outside its scope.

Shortly after the Star’s announcement of the review, news broke that Star columnist Rosie DiManno had been charged with assault.

Ontario Provincial Police say an assault happened on Tuesday evening in Wollaston Township, Ont., about 230 kilometres east of Toronto.

They say DiManno, 60, and the alleged victim were visiting Wollaston when an assault occurred. They have released no details about the alleged victim.

DiManno is scheduled to appear in court on July 26.