Fords offered chances to respond to drug allegations, papers say
Toronto Star, Globe and Mail go before Ontario Press Council to defend reports
TORONTO Canada’s two largest newspapers defended their reporting of drug allegations against Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his councillor brother Monday, saying they took every step possible to ensure the stories were accurate and fair.
The Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail were called before the Ontario Press Council after dozens of readers complained about their coverage of the Fords in two specific stories published in May.
The council is looking into a Star story on an alleged video of the mayor smoking what appears to be crack cocaine, as well as a Globe story on his brother Doug’s alleged drug dealings. It is weighing whether the two newspapers “engaged in irresponsible, unethical investigative reporting.”
In two separate hearings Monday, each outlet argued it went to extraordinary lengths to verify the information obtained through anonymous sources, and repeatedly sought out the Fords to hear their side of the story.
Star reporters made at least 14 attempts to reach the mayor the night before the story was published, the Star’s editor-in-chief told the threemember panel.
Darylle Donley, whose complaint against the Star was chosen to represent several similar ones, attended the hearing but did not speak.
In an email to the council released to the media, she accused the paper of letting its distaste for the mayor’s policies taint its coverage.
The complaint against the Globe focused on an article published on May 25 that alleged that Doug Ford had, in his youth, been a drug dealer in west-end Toronto. He has been dismissive of the allegations.
The main complainant, Connie Harrison, particularly took issue with the paper’s use of anonymous sources, which she said undermines the public’s trust.
“We don’t know who to believe at this point,” she told the panel.
Editor-in-chief John Stackhouse said the Globe had no choice but to rely on unnamed sources, since they were the only ones who could confirm the information.
The council panel will deliberate in private. Its findings and recommendations will be presented to the full council later this month and its decision will be made public.