by arthur Weinreb, associate Editor,
September 8, 2004
a Canadian Press article appeared in the Toronto Star earlier this week that purported to be a news story. Written by CP’s Jim Bronskill, it was entitled, I.D. proposals spark concern. The writer had received information from Citizenship and Immigration Canada through an access to information request regarding proposals to include biometric information in identity cards.
The article contained a great deal of factual information to characterize it as a hard news story. It sets out facts concerning the category of persons who would be issued with these cards including tourists, workers, students, refugee claimants and permanent residents. The article also states that within seven years, "new" citizens would be issued with these biometric cards and makes the point there will then be two classes of citizens in Canada. The proposal for these cards shows that "Canada is creeping towards a ‘surveillance society’." a statement was obtained from a spokeswoman from Canada Border Services agency who merely said that a new federal working group is studying the proposals on document security, a typical response from the federal government.
So far so good. But the writer obtains the opinion of Janet Dench, the executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees, who states her concerns as would be expected from a major player in the refugee industry. Dench asks, "Why are we targeting those born outside Canada?"
No other opinions are sought from people who may have contrary opinions about the issue of identity cards containing biometric information, especially when issued to new arrivals in Canada.
By seeking an opinion from someone like Dench, but no others, the article is transformed from a news story that reports what Canada Citizenship and Immigration and Canada Border Services agency are doing, into an opinion piece that reflects the writer’s bias on the matter.
Reporting facts and then seeking opinions on only one side of an issue is a classic way that the media shows its bias.