Home Title Index Topic Index Sources Directory News Releases Sources Calendar

'Unprecedented': Staffers drown out reporters by clapping at Doug Ford news conference

Vermes, Jason
http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/unprecedented-staffers-drown-out-reporters-by-clapping-at-doug-ford-news-conference-1.4779157

Publisher:  CBC News
Date Written:  09/08/2018
Year Published:  2018  
Resource Type:  Article

When reporters tried to ask Ontario Premier Doug Ford questions at a Tuesday news conference about new funding to prevent gun violence, they were once again intentionally drowned out by applause.

Abstract: 
-

Excerpt:

The premier's government was criticized last week when staffers applauded Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod's announcement to scrap Ontario's basic income pilot program.

Cynthia Mulligan, a reporter for CityNews, attempted to ask the government employees whether they were instructed to clap. She spoke to As It Happens guest host Matt Galloway about what she learned.

Describe what's going on there. Why are those staffers applauding?

Essentially, what they're doing is drowning out reporter questions.

We are being kept under a very strict protocol, and even today I noticed it more so than usual.

A Doug Ford spokesperson telling us over and over again, "You are only getting five questions in," and there are way more reporters than just five questions.

At the end of the five questions -- and this started during the campaign, actually -- but at the end, when they say last question, staff at the back of the room start clapping.

Reporters are still trying very hard to get more questions in ... but the clapping drowns it out for any live news feed, so it's not heard in the background.

And again it happened today, but with way more staff in the back than I've seen before. I counted about 50. All young staffers and I'm told that they work in the different ministers' offices.

Topics
Sources-journalists use the sources website to find you


AlterLinks
c/o Sources


© 2023.