By popular demand, the most left-wing journalists, writers, and broadcasters in the province
It's the silly season in the news business. For proof, all you have to do is turn on CBC News and see an interview with a NORAD lieutenant-general discussing Santa Claus's travels around the world.
Yesterday, I posted a list of the 10 most right-wing journalists and broadcasters in the province. I accept the advice of commenters that broadcaster Jim Harrison should have been included. We don't get a chance to hear his rantings in the Lower Mainland.
Other commenters wanted a list of the most left-wing journalists. That's more challenging because there's a real shortage of them in the mainstream media because for the most part, they're persona non grata.
Right-wing blogger Dean Skoreyko commented on this phenomenon earlier this year on his site.
But to satisfy the commenters wanting me to name names of left wingers (What is this? The House Un-American Activities Committee?), I've cobbled together a list.
1. Donna Peterson, contributor, Wake Up With Co-op, Co-op Radio
2. Charles Boylan, host, Wake Up With Co-op, Co-op Radio
3. Kimball Cariou, editor, People's Voice
4. Dawn Paley, Vancouver Media Co-op
5. Mordecai Briemberg, Redeye contributor, Co-op Radio
6. Harsha Walia, contributor to various publications
7. Murray Dobbin, contributor to various publications
8. Tom Sandborn, contributor to various publications
9. Kim Elliott, publisher, Rabble
10. Gurpreet Singh, Radio India host and contributor to the Georgia Straight
The comment form is available below for anyone who takes exception to these choices.
Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.
Comments
39 Comments
Joseph Planta
Dec 24, 2010 at 1:16pm
The next list should be journalists who are pretty much down the middle, reliable and trustworthy. Could we come up with ten?
AW
Dec 24, 2010 at 1:23pm
How about Charlie Smith , Georgia Straight.
Now Charlie talk to any "right wing' medai type and he/she will bury you in names.
merry Christmas and happy new year
BC Blue
Dec 24, 2010 at 1:24pm
Pssst....prefer the moniker "conservative blogger" ~wink~
NDB
Dec 24, 2010 at 1:53pm
"there's a real shortage of them in the mainstream media".
After reading the heading and before reading the article I already expected comments about who tough it would be, or how there arnt as many.
Again, as posted in the other list. Its easy to see which side the Georgia Straight is on. Posting the "right-wing" list without posting the left wing list right away reveals it on its own. Not that I really care, all media is bias. Still, for some reason its fun to point out. At least its not as bad (yet?) as something like Fox News in the states.
petra Hartt
Dec 24, 2010 at 7:46pm
the more leftover of us lefties the better. united we stand. come on democrats, come on ndp
right wing nut
Dec 24, 2010 at 7:57pm
The world is a big bus going down hill on a winding mountain road. The bus driver has lost consciousness. The left wingers are attempting to pull the driver from the seat and bring the bus under control. Some of the right wingers are gambling in the back of the bus. Some other right wingers have hired or duped some other right wingers to prevent the left wingers from bringing the bus under control.
Will
Dec 24, 2010 at 8:07pm
Funny, all these names seem like middle of the roaders to me. Has the media gone so far right the center looks like a wing?
And then there's the whiners accusing the Straight of being "left". That slays me! Flip though the rag sometime, its a center Liberal as they come. When was the last time you heard the Straight calling for industry nationalization, socialized dental care, guaranteed annual income, returning public services to the public?
Bottom line tho', if a journalist is worth they salt, you should be able to tell whose side they're on, of if you can, you ought be amazed once in a while when they eat up and spit out one of their own.
Oh how I miss Uncle Jack Webster! He was a Bennett boy but no Bennett would mess with him!
Bruno15
Dec 24, 2010 at 8:33pm
"... there's a real shortage of <left-wing journalists> in the mainstream media ...".
So the mainstream press in Canada is way right of center but in the US the mainstream press is way left of center? Really? Is it possible that the mainstream press in both places is actually in the center?
Taxpayers R Us
Dec 25, 2010 at 12:11am
Curious as to who defines "center"? Harper, for instance, is practically a leftist in the US. BC, particularly the lower mainland, is very leftist as compared with the rest of Canada. Vancouver is also very leftist as compared to the rest of BC.
Also wondering whether we can make a list based on the authoritarian vs. Libertarian scale. On many topics this is far more important than left vs. right.
http://www.politicalcompass.org/
RonS
Dec 25, 2010 at 8:17am
As far as I'm concerned, right wingers aren't worth the time of day. We need a true left wing press in BC/Canada with a balanced perspective. Until then I will remain a blogger who will pick and choose whom to read. There is much more freedom of expression here (internet) than in any current paper rag.