About those rumours

Okay. Now that Norman Spector and Andrew Cohen have decided to write about the rumours, maybe it's time to have a frank chat about this whole  issue. (Update: The Globe has pulled Spector's blog post, but it is reprinted here if you want to know what I'm nattering on about.) 

First, it's maybe worth drawing attention to a blog I wrote in September, about some things we can do without here on Parliament Hill. See point #9. 

Reporting a rumour is not journalism. It's called gossip, and in this case, a malicious strain of it. It's what people used to bring home from the beauty salon, circa the 1950s, when messages got mangled in the din of the hairdryers.

Journalism involves investigating tips or questions, determining their accuracy, and telling the public the facts.  The difference between Misters Spector and Cohen is that they seem to have taken a little shortcut there, or worse, done it backwards. They've reported the rumour and asked other people  to investigate. I would hope that Mr. Cohen is not teaching young would-be journalists to do the same. Apart from being supremely unfair, it's also just plain lazy. 

I'm going to put down in writing here what we say to everyone who's been offering us advice for the last THREE YEARS about this rumour. 

* Every media organization has looked into this story. Every one of our bosses wants us to be first with this story if it's true.  Some organizations have gone to some lengths with their reporting resources. Problem: not a shred of evidence. Not one. 

* Media folks don't conspire together. We compete. We certainly don't conspire to help the PMO and most of us aren't particularly afraid of the PMO either. The idea that we'd all meet, negotiate to keep something secret is beyond ridiculous. 

* This story seems to be more in circulation in Toronto than it is in Ottawa.  During some weeks over the last THREE YEARS (have I mentioned that?), usually after the Harpers have been seen together in public, we got dozens of "tips"   from people who heard from someone else who heard it from someone else who absolutely knows it's true because it came from the RCMP. (Yes, it usually ends with the RCMP or a policeman.)  I estimate, collectively, that the Star has been notified about this rumour at least several  hundred times in the past, yes, three years.  I know other media outlets in Ottawa who would make the same estimate. It is not our practice to throw tips like this in the garbage, though after the first couple of hundred, I think we're tempted. 

* At one point in 2009, I'm told that the entire Liberal caucus was informed that the announcement of a separation was coming that very day, and MPs were ordered to say nothing. Of course, it was just another bit of gossip gone wild. We, uh, didn't report that either. Because *it wasn't true.* We're old-fashioned that way. If we reported every rumour that wasn't true or couldn't be proved, we wouldn't have enough room for real news. Which apparently folks out there want. 

* Interestingly, there are elements of this rumour that have morphed into rehashed versions of the Trudeau marriage breakup. Some of the details are the same, which is probably evidence that people are pretty much prepared to turn this story into whatever they want it to be.  The virulence of this rumour is also similar to the ones about the Mulroney marriage (also not true) and allegations that Mulroney had started drinking again in the early 1990s (also not true.)  We get this stuff all the time here in Ottawa. 

* I'm intrigued by how many people want to believe this story. Go to Google and tap in the name of the Prime Minister's wife. Look at the suggested searches, and how many people have done them. Staggering.  You'd think that with that much interest, someone over the last few years would have been able to prove something. Nada. Nothing.  One has to ask oneself why people are so hungry to believe it. I don't know the answer to that. But I do find it interesting. 

We in the media should be always up for criticism and suggestions. But this particular tip has run its course.  I'll say it again, as I said in September -- unless you have evidence or made the effort to find it, you should probably keep your gossip to yourself or under an old-fashioned hairdryer, where it belongs.   

Comments

[Jennifer Peccaro]

I must say, this petulant column sounds like a journalist justifying to her boss why she isn't writing about the same story others are writing about. Please keep your office gossip in the office and write about news, don't bore us with stories about what's not news and why that is so.

[Greg Fergus]

Bravo (again) Susan. Verifiable stories are the only ones that should make it to print (or online). Some of your colleagues should keep that in mind.
Merry Christmas.
Greg Fergus

[jad]

"Every media organization has looked into this story. Every one of our bosses wants us to be first with this story if it's true. Some organizations have gone to some lengths with their reporting resources. Problem: not a shred of evidence. Not one."

Thanks for being unequivocal about this, Susan. I rarely agree with you, but kudos on this piece.

[GB]

Thank goodness someone has finally taken on these vicious rumours. I can only think about how hurtful it is to their children to see and hear such things.

Merry Christmas to Susan Delacourt, and Spector and Cohen get a lump of coal!

[karen]

couldn't you have found something other than the hair salon to hang your writing on? there's plenty of gossip that flies in the barber shops today as in the past. you are no friend of equity today and you mock feminism too.

[Gabby in QC]

Thank you for this.
Merry Christmas

[JR Jake]

It is nice to know the rules of the road Susan.

For THREE YEARS apparently something has been mentioned about someone and yet I don't have a clue as to what you are speaking.

I started following your (Canadian) news channels about 1.5 years ago and that was because of the Winter Olympics. But since than I have found your brand of journalism and reporting very refreshing and insightful. Believe it or not it is different that what I read in US papers which is nice.

The point being NOTHING should be reported by a journalist unless it has been fact checked, checked again, and re-checked before publishing. I wish I knew what this scandalous gossip was than maybe I could actually make a cogent argument in favor or not.

Happy Holidays Susan.

[hollinm]

Thank you Susan. You and I don't agree on much but on this we have unanimity. This is hurtful gossip and should not be reported. Think of the Harper children. They do read and to hear this stuff about their parents particularly if it is not true is a sad indictment of where our society has reached. Whether true or untrue the Harpers are under no obligation to discuss there personal lives with anybody.
Spector was beyond the pale suggesting that Harper if he is having marriage trouble that could be why he eliminated the mandatory long form census. I know its tough to find things to write about but this is plain stupid.

[bettie]

Thank you Susan. I'm not usually a fan of yours, but certainly admire your unequivocal denial of these rumors that you looked into. You say that you don't understand why some would start these rumors. Would the reason not be because there are people who want to destroy the Prime Minister in whatever manner possible? The Globe and Mail comments are the worst. Today in the comments, some were suggesting the wildest accusations. Isn't there something about a lie (or rumor) flying around the world before the truth gets its boots on? Shame on Cohen and Spector.

[john g]

Susan I rarely agree with you but appreciate this post. There should be no place in journalism for articles like the one that was published today and I congratulate you for calling it out. Thank you.

[Brent Fullard]

Re: "Journalism involves investigating tips or questions, determining their accuracy, and telling the public the facts."

Ha ha ha! On that point, when is the Toronto Star going to inform Canadians that Stephen Harper's income trust policy that destroyed many Canadians retirement savinngs was based on a patent falsehood known as tax leakage?

When?

Instead the Toronto Star has done the EXACT OPPOSITE of "investigating tips or questions, determining their accuracy, and telling the public the facts" by printing the patent falsehoods advanced by the Harper government without lifting a finger to prove or disprove the veracity of those claims.

Its time for the Canadian media to climb down from their high horses and start doing their job in the manner that's required.

[Maps Onburt]

Thank you Susan. I almost never agree with anything you have to write but I must admit if you've sat on this for the past three years because of a lack of evidence, my respect for you has jumped 10 times. Its unbelievable to me some of the garbage people throw out in the name of politics. It seems because someone wants to help society and join this bloodsport, they have to subject themselves and their families to all kinds of vicious rumours and innuendos. Although I generally agree with Spector's columns, today he's just gone off the deep end. He's lost my respect - as has the Globe for publishing that garbage that heretofore only showed up in the comments sections from known Liberal hacks. I'm glad you went out of your way to throw water on these rumours. What ever PM Harper has done to annoy leftists, he and his family don't deserve this.

[DR]

"Media folks don't conspire together. We compete. We certainly don't conspire to help the PMO and most of us aren't particularly afraid of the PMO either. The idea that we'd all meet, negotiate to keep something secret is beyond ridiculous."

Then how do you explain the John Baird situation?

[Observant]

I have seen this vicious gossip started 3 years ago on an unmoderated political forum and it also included the suggestion that Harper himself was bisexual. I believe this Harper-hating gossip was started and promulgated by angry gay men not surprisingly. They hate Harper, his family, his religion, and their own self-hatred drags them down further into their cesspool of abomination. Such hate-filled twisted minds have successfully planted their meme and so-called legitimate journalists have bitten because they too are scumbags.

Meanwhile, the diligent and distinguished Canadian media mavens are ignoring the outrageous academic musings over "lesser evils" by then Harvard history professor Ignatieff. Seems as if the media journalists don't think such political positions are significant to Canadians.

[baeto]

I have always been told that is best that unsubstantiated rumours should not spoken of or acknowledged. Delacourt's attempts to show her ethical side, is laughable. She obviously was waiting with baited breath to help the Liberals pounce, should the rumours be factual. The MSM media should focus on real substantial news and not the "gotcha" gossip that is so prevalent.

[Canauck in WA]

Now that Norm Spector has been censored by the Globe I fear these rumors will only grow. The problem is not that Harper has a people problem - it is the constant lies, secrets, and manipulation. I think this story has more legs than folks are letting on. Canadians are too nice sometimes.

Consider: If it is not true it would be a book to the PM, as it would appear folks are trying to engage in a personal smear. The fact that he runs from this makes me wonder...

[Mike Stokes]

WOW how pathetic is the left wing media in this country.

Gee if we keep flogging a lie it might become true or at least the lefties will think it's true.

[fmpspoertsguy]

Perhaps, if the so called Journalists today were in fact Journalists, the public wouldn't be subjected to the "news" being a rehashed press release. Journalists today are too lazy to get a real story, newspapers are so financially restrained that they will print whatever garbage the PMO releases, so you guys are to blame. To actually print anything about Steven Harper and his government, according to you should be stopped then. When was the last time the government released info in a timely manner, when was the last time Harper responded to all journalists questions and not just (pre) hand picked question. Please Susan.. answer me that!

[Kevin Michael Grace]

Thank you for confirming that Canada's media is the most craven in the English-speaking world. How much better that our journalists spend their time rewriting government press releases and penning deathless "who's up, who's down" meta pieces. Tell me, did the French media not report Francois Mitterands's second family because it was not "verifiable," or was something else at work?

[Rick]

Susan,

I disagree with most of what you say nearly all the time. However, you show some deep integrity that I did not know you possessed.

So many of today's news reports are based innuendo and non-credible sources. I am glad to see your "line in the sand".

I will give you more credit when I read you in future.

Merry Christmas to you and yours

[peter the great]

liberals and the red star ,cbc ,. ctv.all socialist and fools.tell me who in his right mind would vote liberal????????????/just losers who love to spend hard working tax payers money on useless socialist programs.o wait the bleeding hearts of toronto keep voting liberal.i wonder why????????????losers

[Dan A]

Alright, I take it back. I thought the TorStar couldn't help itself but print outrageous left-wing propaganda. But you've proven here that you have some credibility.

Well done.

Merry Christmas.

[Kelly]

Cohen planted a turd and Spector stepped in it. Since Spector isn't a trained journalist, I do not autmatically assume he and know the rules, but what is Cohen's excuse? He teaches the stuff.

[albertaclipper]

" One has to ask oneself why people are so hungry to believe it"
*******************************************************

Politics. Anything to get rid of Harper by Cohen and Spector is fair play. These two "journalists" should be fired from their positions.

[Catherine]

Marriages don't fail? If it is a rumour, quash it. But, why discuss it as if it is taboo?

The truth will always come out. And, if the PM wishes his family to be left out-of-bounds, then he should leave them out-of-bounds.

He cannot have it both ways.

[Flanstein]

I loath everything that Harper has done as a PM, and long for the day he is history, but this rumour (I live in Ottawa and have heard it repeated many times by senior bureaucrats) is outrageous. This is Canada, where your private life is none of my business.

How many gay men and lesbians are in Cabinet? Who cares? Is that news? Besides, It's none of my flipping business. Good for you in pointing out how this gossip seperates us from the uncivilized, where every personal morsel is parsed and dissected for the entertainment of the masses.

[Keith]

Good column Susan. Nasty gossip is just plain evil.

Oh, and GB, do get a life. Talk about pathetically trivial feminist criticism.

[Frib]

Well, from these comments, I have to say it's not everyone who hates Harper. Some people care if lies are printed about him and his family. Unfortunately, it's not all the lies printed that get that much denial. In any case, hope it doesn't affect the two kids. Laureen Harper has mentioned before the reason she doesn't speak to the press is that everything gets distorted and it hurts their children. She was right apparently and hopefully they don't catch on to this whopper of a lie.

[greyburr]

Unbelievable how low the media ,defenders of the public trust,supposedly objective ,gets right down there with the tidy bowl guy and happily reports sewage gossip as real news.these days.Spectors Wiki page describes him as a propogandist and in that light it is no wonder the print media is in decline..In reality I believe Spector has lazy journo mental issues and his blog /columns are reflective of that drivel.The Globe withdrew the article ,after running it, only confirms the disgust that many of us have with the lack of journalistic standards these days.

[Pat]

In answer to why so many hits on the question of the PM's marriage, It's useless lefties that feel they'll get more for nothing if there isn't a Conservative PM in place and they hope for all the bad they can think of for our PM. They're checking to see whether their Marxist prayers have been answered.

Merry Christmas all.

[Mike]

I cant help but feel the Harper haters in the Ottawa media would love this story to be true. However, I respect their determination not to spread unsubstantiated rumors until facts are known.

[geo]

Which one of the political party leaders has a one life term marriage?
Now there is a story...as to why they didn't.

[Jimmy McComber]

The lady doth protest too much, methinks! Or, how about...where there is smoke there is fire!

Jimmy McComber

[Bruce]

Susan:

I found your posting refreshing and indicative of the very best of jounalistic professionalism.

As you may be aware, Mr. Spector has a regular gig as a political pundit on the very popular Bill Good Show out here on the West Coast. He frequently appears to allow his ego and sense of self-importance get in the way of factual information, and I often wonder why they still have him on. He is frequently completely wrong, but is consistent in denying that or, alternatively, denying he ever took "position X" in the first instance.

Case in point: after the RCMP raid on the BC legislature concerning the BC Rail matter, Mr. Spector breathlessly announced on air that he had positive proof that the RCMP had tipped the media about the upcoming raid in order to garner medias coverage.

Given that I had more than casual information about the circumstances concerning the procedures and actions that resulted in searches of this nature, I braced him about that on air, accusing him of manufacturing his claim. I also pointed out that all of the media footage tended to portray the police removing boxes of documentation about two hours after the beginning of the search....gee, the police in the legislature, staffed by several hundred people...what might be the chances that one or more of these staffers could have contacted the media AFTER the search was commenced. Duh.

But Norman was resolute, and insisted, of course, that he could not reveal his mythical source.

In the same broadcast, Norman solemnly intoned that the matter would never reach court.

Two strikes Norm....want to go for a third? (I have lots more)

All I want for Christmas is to get this pompous, irrelevant ass off the airwaves.

[Will]

wow I didn't realize that Spector was a lefty.

[tednoddin]

Considering where most of the outright BS comes from ,this column is nothing more than same old same old. Even when the Star tries to be neutral it comes across as Pravda crap

[Anne Peterson]

Well I have some questions about all this disapproval. Not that long ago the gentleman in question labelled a leader of an opposition party Taliban Jack. He called his party members Taliban lovers and said they were against the Canadian military and the soldiers. Well I am an old girl and my father and my grandfather served in WW1 and two of my brothers in WW11 and the remaining one became a career military person after the war. Well when all that bad mouthing was going on and I as a member of this party was being mauled by my government not one member of the media even suggested that he and his horrible group should maybe come up with a bit of evidence that I was a Taliban lover or hated the military. Not one. So don't expect me to worry about false rumours circulating in the media about that man.

[Sue]

Hey, look, Harper knows how to litigate. He should sue Spector and Cohen, for starters, and their respective media publications.

[Catherine]

Susan, I have given this consideration, over the last day or two.

I do not agree with you. If the politican's family is to be left off limits, the politician must also leave them side-lined.

And the media should not be filtering information it deems 'appropriate.'

Politicians used to keep their health matters private as well. Now, it is appropriate, when timed by the politician, to inform the public.

I really do not care about the relationship of the Harpers. However, one journalist at the G&M has consistently written about Ms. Teskey Harper in a favourable light. Noted, this journalist did not do the same of previous wives.

So, you live by the sword, you die by the sword.

Communications should be open and not contrived to fit a narrative.

[ml johnstone]

do rumours just happen?
according to Cohen if the gossiping is about our PM and his wife, then there are bound to be leaks.
and it does matter to Canadians what is happening with our PM's family and who is living in our PM's house.

[Frank Docherty]

Lucas Maciesza's ( http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/912307--dying-man-s-access-to-life-saving-drug-soon-ends ) life is in the hands of those, who rumour has it, says that Canada can't afford to help him live??? I believe that Canada can afford to help Lucas live, and, that it is our duty and responsibility to provide Lucas with all available resources to ensure him a safe and healthy quality of life.

[Ron Cynic]

I read each of the comments and am amazed that not one person mentioned Pierre and Margaret. Funny thing, that. There certainly seems to be a double standard at play here. If it was fair ball for Pierre and Margaret, it's fair ball for the Harpers.

[chris]

Yea like Rob Ford beat up a player on his football team what a rumor

[Margaret]

I've seen the comment about the Harper's being separated & Laureen living in a hotel; but only occasionally, and it never was taken seriously by any of the "liberal" types, at least not from what I could see. It generally just sat there. There was no proof - and furthermore, since they have 2 school age kids, it made no sense.

Plus - living in the same area that L. Harper comes from, and having met 2 of her cousins, plus people who know them . . . I can tell you that there is not a whisper of a rumour in that area of Alberta. Not in the slightest. Maybe it started with the knowledge that Laureen was married once before. ?

It doesn't make any sense. Her kids aren't going to be travelling between 24 Sussex and a hotel.
However, perhaps it puts paid to those who start spreading the nastiest possible remarks about Michael Ignatieff's divorce and his wife Zsuzsanna.

[Jason Cherniak]

I think that this was a story as soon as it was announced to the Liberal caucus. Media should have told people it was both spreading and untrue at the same time. That way, it would never have spread as long or as far as it did.

That said, without knowing who I'm throwing under the bus, the person who announced it in such a noteworthy manner should have been personally held to account.