Sun shines on CBC’s ‘flawed’ reporting

Bosses at CBC’s Calgary newsroom issued a mea culpa over a problematic article filed by one of their reporters.

According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the report — based on Conservative Lethbridge MP Rachael Harder’s sharing of a Toronto Sun column on Facebook — was “flawed” and didn’t live up to the CBC’s standards of good journalism, according to Calgary’s news director and the corporation’s ombudsman.

“There were violations of policy and I hope fervently that programmers will learn from their mistakes here,” said ombudsman Jack Nagler, who said the story appeared to be manufactured out of social-media rage triggered by Harder’s post.

“This piece fell short of what we deem acceptable,” said CBC Calgary news director Helen Henderson.

The snark-filled article, published on Nov. 25, 2020, was based on angry social-media comments aimed at Harder after she shared a Nov. 17, 2020, Toronto Sun column by Anthony Furey, which stated most COVID deaths occurred in those with comorbidities such as diabetes, cancer, hypertension or dementia. Furey’s article, conceded the CBC, was truthful and supported by data.