Category Archives: Media News

The real story of who is behind the Gordon Lightfoot is sort of like an unfinished jigsaw puzzle. Each media outlet has a little bit of the puzzle, but there is still a bit of a mystery. First, Facebook played an unseen role in this drama. The social networking site has become the go-to place…
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As Jack Layton battles prostate cancer he will continue to have his strong hand on the rudder of the New Democratic Party of Canada. I’ve traveled the country with Layton, his stamina and personal endurance lives up to the legend and far outpaced my own. His daily workout regiment is not a product of spin…
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The True North Media House is an Olympic project worth watching. As you learn in this short clip the group is neither pro or anti Olympic – but acts as resource, collaboration vehicle and social space for “self accredited” reporters. This webisode is one part of a larger storyline a Vancouver documentary film maker is…
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A vibrant and energetic crowd filled Parliament Hill today where Shawn caught up with the CBC’s Kady O’Malley to get her take on the protest and what it’s like live-blogging these types of events. O’Malley on the prorogation protest from Shawn Dearn on Vimeo. It’s been a busy day. When I wasn’t freezing and tweeting…
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Joanna Smith was one of the first Canadian reporters to travel to Haiti after the devastation. Her compelling, graphic and raw accounts of the aftermath of the devastation of the earthquake are regularly featured on the Toronto Star’s front page. I’m very grateful she she took a few minutes to answer a few questions about…
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The byline Jan Wong makes some wince a little. And likely, an equal number dive eagerly into everything she writes. And, for better or worse she inspired a whole new generation of journalists this past weekend. Very few others practice her “How far do you go to get a story? As far as it takes”…
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The National Post has welcomed with open arms a public broadcaster and former marquee Globe & Mail columnist apparently smarting from being pushed out of his coveted Saturday spot. Rex Murphy’s official debut in the Post was today. It looks like it was a foray into the right-leaning opinion pages that finally landed him in…
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It all started innocently enough. Your friend has joined a group “Canadians Against the Prorogation of Parliament.” One-by-one my friends on Facebook were joining the group. Soon enough an avalanche of media attention (the CBC National and the Toronto Star front page specifically) had contributed to over 60,000 Canadians signing up by this morning. Yesterday…
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Many people have been asking for us to put on a group session at a price most non-profits can afford – I aim to please so, I’m really excited to announce this session Media Skills Training for Progressive Canadians. This workshop is the most hands-on, interactive and cost-effective way to ensure your team understands the fundamentals…
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Two incidents have official Ottawa buzzing about “social media” and the far reaching implications of these new communications tools: First, the Yes Men pulled off a complex stunt aimed at confusing the Canadian delegation – it worked by leveraging common internet behavior and trust of major media; much of the media focus has been on…
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