Media centre under PM's control would take a page from the Republican handbook

Reporters appalled by attempts to subvert freedom of expression - Press Gallery president.

OTTAWA, October 16, 2007: News that Stephen Harper's staff is secretly working on a new $2 million government-controlled media centre is being seen by journalists as further evidence of the prime minister's obsession with control and his dislike of questioning that is not carefully stage-managed.

For a sense of how journalists see this move, HarperIndex.ca contacted National Press Gallery President Richard Brennan by email. Here are his comments:

HarperIndex.ca: What do you think of today's story in the [Toronto] Star that the PM is planning his own media centre and why?

Richard Brennan: It comes as no surprise that PM Stephen Harper would take a page from the Republican handbook and want set up his own media studio where he could produce unfiltered messages disguised as news.

HarperIndex.ca: Is there any particular aspect of this proposal you find particularly offensive? Do you find it threatening?

Richard Brennan: Nothing Mr Harper does surprises me. He is all about control -- controlling the message and his own caucus. Do I find it threatening? I most certainly do. Any time a politician attempts to subvert freedom of expression it is a matter that should be of concern to every Canadian.

HarperIndex.ca: What are reporters saying to you about it?

Richard Brennan: Reporters are appalled, but again not surprised. The reporters on the Hill are used to the PM's bully tactics by now.

HarperIndex.ca: How do you feel that various media organizations will respond to a prime ministerial media centre?

Richard Brennan: We respond the best we can... by writing about it.

HarperIndex.ca: What does the National Press Theatre mean to you? What does it signify in terms of democratic process? Who owns it and what would happen to it if the PM sets up his own media centre?

Richard Brennan: I found the secret plan curious given that the NPT is being renovated at great expense to the taxpayers to make it more user-friendly for parties of all stripes.

The government is now saying they never planned to go ahead with the secret plan to build a PMO controlled press theatre. But the documents obtained by the Toronto Star don't suggest it was a dead proposal. But the bigger question is why the Harperites were even looking into it. We all know why, but it would be interesting to hear their reasoning.

Harper Conservative vs. Public Values Frame
  Secrecy / Openness
  Control / Free expression

Posted: October 16, 2007

Harper Index (HarperIndex.ca) is a project of the Golden Lake Institute and the online publication StraightGoods.ca