Single Alien Source Analysis
RESPONSE PAPER 7
Historically, has there been a Canadian statute specifically designed to regulate the press as an industry?
By the press, we mean news media and news agencies, particularly newspapers. This is not exactly the same as the broadcast industry, which basically covers radio and television. Historically, there has not been any written law specifically meant to control the press as an industry. Some general laws concerning contempt of court, obscenity, criminal libel, civil defamation, public incitement of hatred, etc. make specific acts or expressions by journalists illegal, but there has never been a statute explicitly intended to regulate the press in Canada (Osler, 2001, p. 234)..
What led to the setting up of the Kent Commission? …show more content…
In the 1970s and early 1980s, the ownership structure of the Canadian press industry was changing fast. A few powerful firms were acquiring many newspapers and beginning to dominate the market. These firms were also colluding with one another more and more. An oligopoly was emerging (p. 234).
On August 27, 1980 ("Black Wednesday"), two of Canada's largest news agencies, Thompson Corporation and Southam Inc., shut down two major newspapers almost simultaneously, and Thompson sold its stakes in three more major papers to Southam. This was strong evidence that the two corporations were conspiring together to increase their control of Canadian printed media, and their positions in the market became extremely powerful. In particular, Southam now owned "the only English-language daily newspaper in each of Montreal and Ottawa" and Thompson owned "the only daily newspaper" in Winnipeg (p. 234).
Meanwhile, independent newspapers were struggling because competitive conditions in the industry were becoming too much. The Toronto Telegram, Montreal Star, Montréal-Matin, and l'Action all closed during this time (p. 234). At the same time, the corporations were growing bigger and bigger. In January 1980, Thompson bought the FP Publications group and got its hands on eight more newspapers. Together, these two companies (Thompson and Southam) now had control of 58.7 percent of the market (p. 234).
These events caused a great deal of panic in the industry and something had to be done. The government responded with the Royal Commission on Newspapers (i.e. the Kent Commission).
What answer does the author give to the question "Why should newspapers be singled out for special legislative consideration"?
The author accepts that economic factors in many industries lead to the emergence of corporations that control a disproportionate share of the market, and the press industry is no different. However, the author argues that newspapers are not just a product like any other product, and this is for three reasons.
First, newspapers have the job of supplying the general public with information about everything that has been happening in the world. This job is very important in a democracy. We must make sure that the news is being written by many people with different backgrounds and different agendas. If citizens have no choice but to get their information from just a few news agencies, the function and purpose of the news would be put in danger (Osler, 2001, p. 238).
Second, while small newspapers are run by professional journalists who are trying to do their job, huge newspapers tend to be run by tycoons and magnates as a business. To a corporation, maximizing profit from a newspaper is more important than the journalistic quality of the newspaper (p. 238).
Third, newspapers are not just any product; a newspaper represents power and influence over readers and their information and beliefs. If one firm has too large of a market share in the press industry, it also has too much power, and this power could be easily abused (p. 238).
What reason did the O’Leary Commission give to justify Federal intervention in the print industry to in terms of journalistic quality and cultural influence?
In 1960, the Royal Commission on Publications (i.e. the O'Leary Commission) stated that "Only a truly Canadian printing press, one with the 'feel' of Canada and directly responsible to Canada, can give us the critical analysis, informed discourse and dialogue which are indispensable to a sovereign society" (Osler, 2001, p. 241).
In other words, the press is the main method for citizens to learn about what is happening in their country and in the world.
Thus, the press is a public interest, even if news agencies are privately owned companies. The press must be analytical, knowledgeable, independent, and high-quality. If it fails to have these qualities, then the government has the right to intervene in the name of the people (p. 241).
What is the "Single Alien Source" mentioned in the text? Are there parallels between concerns about this single alien source in the context of Canadian broadcasting policy?
The "Single Alien Source" was a phrase mentioned by the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts Letters and Sciences in Canada in 1951. The "Single Alien Source" refers to news media and newspapers owned by American companies and published in Canada. Canadians have always been heavy consumers of American media, and this has the potential to weaken the Canadian press.
There are parallels between concerns about this single alien source in the context of Canadian broadcasting policy. The Broadcasting Act declares that broadcasting in Canada must be Canadian – by Canadians, for Canadians. The power of American media in Canada has always been a matter of concern to Canadian broadcasting
regulators.
Which three elements form the foundation for the development of law and policy applicable to the book publishing sector?
Three elements form the foundation for the development of law and policy applicable to the book publishing sector. They are as follows:
First, the book publishing industry plays a strong role in cultural development in Canada.
Second, a Canadian publisher who publishes books about Canadian topics by Canadian writers for Canadian readers will find it very hard to make ends meet (Lorimer, Gasher, & Skinner, 2008, p. 179). This is because of Canada's small population and because of competition from foreign publishers. A publisher in a country with a large population, like Britain or the US, has better economies of scale and can publish and export books to Canada at a lower cost than a
Canadian publisher (p. 179). Thus, the Canadian book publishing industry needs government support.
Third, Canada is a mixed economy and a welfare state where the government is responsible for improving many aspects of a citizen's life (e.g. subsidized access to education and healthcare). Books should be the same. A Canadian citizen should have the right to access Canadian books without significant financial barriers (Lorimer, Gasher, & Skinner, p. 179-180).
Historically, has there been a Canadian statute specifically designed to regulate the press as an industry?
By the press, we mean news media and news agencies, particularly newspapers. This is not exactly the same as the broadcast industry, which basically covers radio and television. Historically, there has not been any written law specifically meant to control the press as an industry. Some general laws concerning contempt of court, obscenity, criminal libel, civil defamation, public incitement of hatred, etc. make specific acts or expressions by journalists illegal, but there has never been a statute explicitly intended to regulate the press in Canada (Osler, 2001, p. 234)..
What led to the setting up of the Kent Commission? …show more content…
In the 1970s and early 1980s, the ownership structure of the Canadian press industry was changing fast. A few powerful firms were acquiring many newspapers and beginning to dominate the market. These firms were also colluding with one another more and more. An oligopoly was emerging (p. 234).
On August 27, 1980 ("Black Wednesday"), two of Canada's largest news agencies, Thompson Corporation and Southam Inc., shut down two major newspapers almost simultaneously, and Thompson sold its stakes in three more major papers to Southam. This was strong evidence that the two corporations were conspiring together to increase their control of Canadian printed media, and their positions in the market became extremely powerful. In particular, Southam now owned "the only English-language daily newspaper in each of Montreal and Ottawa" and Thompson owned "the only daily newspaper" in Winnipeg (p. 234).
Meanwhile, independent newspapers were struggling because competitive conditions in the industry were becoming too much. The Toronto Telegram, Montreal Star, Montréal-Matin, and l'Action all closed during this time (p. 234). At the same time, the corporations were growing bigger and bigger. In January 1980, Thompson bought the FP Publications group and got its hands on eight more newspapers. Together, these two companies (Thompson and Southam) now had control of 58.7 percent of the market (p. 234).
These events caused a great deal of panic in the industry and something had to be done. The government responded with the Royal Commission on Newspapers (i.e. the Kent Commission).
What answer does the author give to the question "Why should newspapers be singled out for special legislative consideration"?
The author accepts that economic factors in many industries lead to the emergence of corporations that control a disproportionate share of the market, and the press industry is no different. However, the author argues that newspapers are not just a product like any other product, and this is for three reasons.
First, newspapers have the job of supplying the general public with information about everything that has been happening in the world. This job is very important in a democracy. We must make sure that the news is being written by many people with different backgrounds and different agendas. If citizens have no choice but to get their information from just a few news agencies, the function and purpose of the news would be put in danger (Osler, 2001, p. 238).
Second, while small newspapers are run by professional journalists who are trying to do their job, huge newspapers tend to be run by tycoons and magnates as a business. To a corporation, maximizing profit from a newspaper is more important than the journalistic quality of the newspaper (p. 238).
Third, newspapers are not just any product; a newspaper represents power and influence over readers and their information and beliefs. If one firm has too large of a market share in the press industry, it also has too much power, and this power could be easily abused (p. 238).
What reason did the O’Leary Commission give to justify Federal intervention in the print industry to in terms of journalistic quality and cultural influence?
In 1960, the Royal Commission on Publications (i.e. the O'Leary Commission) stated that "Only a truly Canadian printing press, one with the 'feel' of Canada and directly responsible to Canada, can give us the critical analysis, informed discourse and dialogue which are indispensable to a sovereign society" (Osler, 2001, p. 241).
In other words, the press is the main method for citizens to learn about what is happening in their country and in the world.
Thus, the press is a public interest, even if news agencies are privately owned companies. The press must be analytical, knowledgeable, independent, and high-quality. If it fails to have these qualities, then the government has the right to intervene in the name of the people (p. 241).
What is the "Single Alien Source" mentioned in the text? Are there parallels between concerns about this single alien source in the context of Canadian broadcasting policy?
The "Single Alien Source" was a phrase mentioned by the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts Letters and Sciences in Canada in 1951. The "Single Alien Source" refers to news media and newspapers owned by American companies and published in Canada. Canadians have always been heavy consumers of American media, and this has the potential to weaken the Canadian press.
There are parallels between concerns about this single alien source in the context of Canadian broadcasting policy. The Broadcasting Act declares that broadcasting in Canada must be Canadian – by Canadians, for Canadians. The power of American media in Canada has always been a matter of concern to Canadian broadcasting
regulators.
Which three elements form the foundation for the development of law and policy applicable to the book publishing sector?
Three elements form the foundation for the development of law and policy applicable to the book publishing sector. They are as follows:
First, the book publishing industry plays a strong role in cultural development in Canada.
Second, a Canadian publisher who publishes books about Canadian topics by Canadian writers for Canadian readers will find it very hard to make ends meet (Lorimer, Gasher, & Skinner, 2008, p. 179). This is because of Canada's small population and because of competition from foreign publishers. A publisher in a country with a large population, like Britain or the US, has better economies of scale and can publish and export books to Canada at a lower cost than a
Canadian publisher (p. 179). Thus, the Canadian book publishing industry needs government support.
Third, Canada is a mixed economy and a welfare state where the government is responsible for improving many aspects of a citizen's life (e.g. subsidized access to education and healthcare). Books should be the same. A Canadian citizen should have the right to access Canadian books without significant financial barriers (Lorimer, Gasher, & Skinner, p. 179-180).