As journalists, we have thick skin.
It’s necessary in this line of work; it is our job to ask questions, sometimes tough and uncomfortable, in an effort to tell a complete, factual story.
One of the consequences of asking these tough and uncomfortable questions is angering someone who doesn’t agree with the findings of your story.
“You aren’t doing your job unless you piss someone off,” a former editor of mine once said.
So last week, when I read a tweet from People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier, it made my blood boil.
The tweet, sent out on Tuesday, Sept. 21 by Bernier’s official account, spoke of “offensive requests we’ve received yesterday and today from far-left activists masquerading as journalists.”
Screenshots of the emails sent by CTV journalist Christy Somos, Global News reporter Ahmar Khan and The Hill Times reporter Neil Moss were posted with the tweet to show the “offensive” questions.
What were those questions?
Somos asked the People’s Party of Canada to respond to comments made by several experts that drew links between the party and extremist and racist views. Khan asked if the party could provide someone to speak to him about concerns from voters about possible extremism in the party. And Moss asked if someone could respond to claims that PPC members engaged in hateful, violent and racist incidents while on the campaign trail.
Bernier then “quote tweeted” his original tweet with the following: “If you want to write to these idiots to tell them what you think of their disgusting smear jobs, here are their emails addresses. They want to play dirty, we will play dirty too.”
And, as promised, he posted their emails.
These journalists were doing their job, giving the PPC a chance to comment on these allegations.
Instead of answering the questions – fair questions, at that – Bernier decided to deflect the attention from him and the party and have his supporters target the journalists.
Which they did, by the way.
Somos shared a screenshot of one email she received. The writer expressed their desire for “all propagandists like you get brutally raped before being lynched and strung up from the nearest sturdy tree or lamp post.”
The writer then called Somos a “traitor to your nation” and that she deserves “anything and everything terrible that could possibly happen to you.”
All because she asked a fair question.
Criticism comes with the job, but what Somos experienced is uncalled for and crosses a line.
Nobody, no matter what their line of work, should have to accept threats as a part of their job.
Does Bernier have a right to voice a difference of opinion? Of course, he does. But should he have the right to incite his followers to harass a journalist for doing their job? No.
Likewise, these reporters were just doing their job in the search for a complete and factual story. By not answering these questions, the PPC have planted a seed of doubt amongst the public that they indeed share these views. By not answering the questions, it cannot be confirmed nor denied that the PPC indeed share these views, but as the saying goes, you can read between the lines.
It’s almost childish that a grown man – the leader of a national political party – would stoop to name calling because he was asked a question he didn’t like.
My opinion, the response of Bernier – and by affiliation, the PPC – shows the party’s true colours. If they don’t share the views that several political experts state they do, one would think the best course of action would be to provide comment and proof that they do not.
Instead, they had their leader send a hateful tweet to unleash their supporters on a harassment campaign.
A piece of advice, Mr. Bernier – next time, just answer the damn question.
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Mike Wilson is the editor of Midwestern Newspapers. Comment and feedback is welcome at mwilson@midwesternnewspapers.com.
