Will we get a more balanced Globe starting Monday? The rapid, unexpected switch of Chief Editors at The Globe and Mail this coming week may mean the paper will not cozy up to Stephen Harper quite as much and begin providing more balanced journalism than it has in recent years. Sources say that new Chief Editor David Walmsley will not be as pro-Harper as was outgoing Chief John Stackhouse, who was on the in with the billion-dollar owners, the Thomson familys Woodbridge Company. Picture: Stackhouse leaving the Globe. Both in its news coverage and editorial page material, The Globe has been outrageously ideologically aligned with the neo-liberal Harperites. When the Cons. were anti-democratic and even approaching fascist behaviour, the Globe could easily cover the story in a nice, calm way. While Harper will no doubt still be their boy, coverage may be more fair under Walmsley. Obviously, it really can matter who holds the most important position in the Canadian news business. A former employee of the Globe told the National Post that Stackhouse took a heavily top-down approach, preferring to tell readers what to think of the day’s events, and expects Walmsley will let the news itself dictate the Globe’s coverage. When Walmsley was the Globes managing editor under Stackhouse for three years earlier, the two had different views on how to run the paper. This may have been why Walmsley deserted ship to go to the CBC 20 months ago. His new appointment was announced on Wednesday and he takes over on Monday. “They’re just two different beasts, those two,” a source said. “I wouldn’t say they ever really understood each other or had similar visions.” The difference in the two men was clearly indicated in the announcement issued by Publisher Philip Crawley: “David is known for his passion for journalism, his open style of leadership, and his ability to adapt to a fast-changing news environment. He will provide a new perspective as we evolve our business.” According to National Post sources, Walmsley is known to be charming and funny, with a bit of the old British, Fleet Street, go-for-the-jugular kind of instinct when it comes to news. Stackhouse has been in the editor’s chair since May 2009. Walmsley left in 2012 to become director of news content at CBC News. The surprising announcement apparently marks the end of Stackhouse’s career with the publication after 22 years. Stackhouse had a long career as a reporter at the Globe and picked up five National Newspaper Awards before moving into the management side of the business. He has high expectations for himself and holds those he works with to the same high standards. This week’s shakeup is the latest in a series of major changes for the Globe. Elena Cherney left as managing editor to take over as the Canadian bureau chief for the Wall Street Journal, and business section editor Derek DeCloet revealed just last week he was leaving to join Rogers Publishing, the telecommunications company’s magazine division. The Globe, like most papers, has not been reaching its financial expectations. It has had problems generating on-line revenue, and has gone through numerous rounds of staff buyouts. In terms of content, the paper is a mere shadow of its former self, relying heavily on wire service and syndicated content. Even so, the paper is owned by the Thomsons, the countrys most wealthy family with assets of $22-billion. This has increased from $16-billion in recent years. It seems to me that the family could continue to reap profits from its many other businesses and subsidize the Globe as a gift to the country. Of course we dont know its real financial situation because the paper is privately owned.
Posted on: Fri, 21 Mar 2014 20:42:26 +0000
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