A St. Albert-based political blogger isn’t impressed with the recommendation that the Alberta Legislature’s press gallery take charge of media accreditation.
David Climenhaga, a former journalist and the author of the widely-read political commentary blog Alberta Politics, was one of the several people consulted by Heather Boyd as she compiled a report for the provincial government on media accreditation and access to the legislature.
The report was ordered by the provincial government in the wake of controversy over access by The Rebel Media, a website fronted by right-wing commentator Ezra Levant. According to the Rebel, one of the site’s reporters was ejected from a media lockup she had been admitted to, while another reporter tried to get access to a stakeholder lockup and was denied. There are other complaints of being denied to meetings as well by the Rebel reporters.
Premier Rachel Notley asked veteran journalist and former Canadian Press bureau chief Boyd to write a report about media accreditation. One of Boyd’s recommendations was that the Alberta government “would be wise to follow the lead of other Canadian jurisdictions and let journalists decide questions of accreditation” to avoid any perception of bias. She suggests this could be done with aid from the Speaker’s Office.
“I was surprised how much she quoted me,” said Climenhaga after the release of the report.
He knows Boyd personally and thinks highly of her. She had a tough job ahead of her in creating the report, he said, but he doesn’t agree with putting access in the hands of mainstream journalists.
“I feel the press gallery is an anachronistic institution,” Climenhaga said.
Media and technology are evolving, Climenhaga said. There are online news and commentary sites that are emerging that should get access.
“We’re in a period of change,” he said.
He suggests a more level playing field at the legislature such as security checks for everyone, or everyone being able to bring their phones in.
He takes issue with letting the mainstream traditional media pick who can have access.
“How is that not picking and choosing who the media is?” he asked.
Boyd’s recommendations said “whoever decides on issues of accreditation must also take the evolving realities of new media into account.”
But the question sparked by the outcry over the Rebel’s ejection isn’t really one of freedom of speech, like many say, Climenhaga said. He sees it as one of access.
Climenhaga thinks that the Rebel is more of an advocacy organization than a media one, pointing to the petitions and fundraising drives often present on the site.
For instance, he’s tried to get access to some media events before and been denied access. The difference is he called ahead and was turned down, Climenhaga said. In addition to blogging he’s also a communications professional who works for the United Nurses of Alberta.
“I didn’t go because I didn’t wish to create a scene,” Climenhaga said.
In Boyd’s report, it was noted that when Climenhaga and another popular political blogger, Dave Cournoyer, attend events, they don’t ask questions, “largely for fear that might give the gallery grounds to expel them.”
The report did not address who decided to eject the Rebel reporter who had already been given access to the media lockup that day, he said. He thinks that question should have been addressed in Boyd’s report.
“Why did that happen? And who did it?” he asked.
There are important security considerations in access to the legislature, he said.
Other recommendations in the report noted the security concerns, suggested the government avoid a specific government media policy, have an annual meeting between the Speaker and press gallery executive and continue to livestream legislative proceedings and news conferences.
A news release that accompanied Boyd’s report said the recommendations were accepted and the government will work with the press gallery, Speaker’s Office and legislature security to implement them.
