Ethics expert defends controversial column
CALGARY An expert on journalistic ethics testified Friday that he doesn’t believe a one-time Postmedia columnist did anything wrong when he wrote a contentious article about former journalist Arthur Kent.
Dean Jobb, an associate professor of the School of Journalism at the University of Kings College in Halifax, was hired by Postmedia to write a rebuttal of an earlier report by Jeffrey Dvorkin, director of the University of Toronto’s journalism program.
Kent, 61, alleges in a lawsuit against Postmedia, the National Post and Don Martin that he was defamed during his unsuccessful campaign to win a seat for the Progressive Conservatives in the 2008 Alberta election.
Kent became known as the “Scud Stud” for his reporting on Iraqi missile strikes for NBC during the Gulf War. The column at issue said he was a “dud” on the campaign trail.
It used unnamed sources to portray Kent as a loose cannon who was difficult for the party to deal with. It also said a number of his key campaign members were threatening to quit.
Dvorkin, a former managing editor and chief journalist at CBC radio, testified earlier that the article didn’t “meet the standards of journalism at any level.” He also criticized the use of anonymous sources and suggested it was based on spurious information.
Jobb, who has written a number of commentaries and feature articles for Postmedia, said he is satisfied that Martin was following solid journalist practices.
“He’s researching a campaign. He’s talking to two key insiders. He’s able to obtain an internal email that backs up and corroborates what he’s hearing,” Jobb said.
“This is extensive research, and while columnists do comment on the news, they often do and should do their own investigation or research to follow up,” he added.
“He’s done what an experienced columnist would do in this situation. He’s followed the leads he’s been given and done more research to back up his opinion.”
Jobb said he is satisfied that Martin, who sent an email to the campaign website seeking comment from Kent and said no one answered when he called the office, made a sufficient effort to reach the candidate.
He also defended the use of anonymous sources, which he said remain recognized by leading news organizations, especially in matters of public interest.
Jobb said politics, the conduct of political parties and behaviour of politicians are “obviously a matter of public interest in a democracy.”
“This is consistent with ethical conduct of a journalist.”
Jobb was the final defence witness in proceedings that have spread over four weeks and heard from dozens of witnesses.
Closing arguments are to be held next week with a decision sometime in the new year.
He’s done what an experienced columnist would do in this situation.