Category: Journalism | Page 13

533 – America’s great “wreckoning” | Salim Mansur

Comments Off

Nov 302017

Added to the wreckage of celebrity personalities facing public moral outrage over past alleged sexual improprieties, NBC News announced on November 29 its termination of Matt Lauer, citing similar improprieties for its response to a single complaint.

It is therefore fitting that our discussion today includes some reflections on America’s Great Sexual “Wreckoning” – our own term derived from the wreckage of celebrities and high profile personalities who seem to have exhibited very little “self awareness” about the inappropriateness of certain sexual conduct.

That discussion with Western University Associate Professor of Political Science, Salim Mansur, begins with a greater reckoning – a “Great Reckoning” that is already underway and is being favorably influenced by the world leadership of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The significance of Trump’s recent Asian tour and of major revolutionary developments in Saudi Arabia has been clouded by media distractions concerning domestic sexual improprieties by local celebrities. This may be more than coincidence, for sexuality too plays a significant role in the wider politics of world affairs. Continue reading »

525 – Guest: Richard Raycraft – Journey into journalism

1 Response »

Oct 052017

“I’m only twenty-five years old, and I don’t know anything about anything,” wisely chides our in-studio guest, Richard Raycraft.

That’s exactly why, as CHRW Radio’s (94.9 FM in London Ontario) News and Spoken Word Director who has a personal passion for the integrity of journalism, Richard likes to ask questions.

Having just completed a CBC radio documentary that has earned him acclaim, its subject matter is one in which Richard shares an additional passion beyond journalism: fighting against ISIS.

What would inspire someone like Richard to want to fight ISIS by joining a foreign militia? What was it that inspired two other young Canadians to do the same – and to lose their lives in the process? The answers to both questions are what merged as the theme of Richard’s documentary. Continue reading »

521 – Racism’s white elephant—The Left

Comments Off

Sep 072017

Our show last week with Amir Farahi stirred up a bit of a storm, and the fallout from August 26th’s “anti-hate” rally in downtown London is just beginning.

Possible efforts on the part of the City of London to backtrack on its ill-considered motion (to ban political protest on city property based on disagreement with the ideology of the protestors) will do little to untarnish the City’s undemocratic intentions. While eliminating the motion would certainly be welcomed, it is a mistake to view such action as a sign of repentance.

The city’s outrageous motion was but the tip of a now-exposed racist iceberg floating deep beneath the surface at London City Hall. Not only was the motion specifically tied to the PEGIDA event held in downtown London on August 26, its significance was further magnified by London Mayor Matt Brown’s endorsement of the ironically named “anti-hate” rallies that were being organized to prevent PEGIDA from being heard (whether figuratively or literally).

Even worse, in their collective display of “virtue signaling,” the Leftists of every stripe who showed up to demonstrate virtue, instead demonstrated their common vice: their mutual quest for the unearned (a philosophical and moral concept that would utterly elude them). Continue reading »

512 – Tweeting above the media storm trumpers

Comments Off

Jul 062017

He’s the master of insults,” says our in-studio guest Salim Mansur, “and that is a good thing.” U.S. President Donald Trump has pioneered the social media of Twitter in a way that resembles “the Haiku of American politics,” notes Salim. He predicts that in the future we should not be surprised at the emergence of “a serous and academic discussion on tweeting.”

No doubt, Donald Trump would have to be the primary subject of that serious and academic discussion. Trump has successfully taken control of the “news reports” surrounding his presidency by mastering the art of tweeting, and in so doing, has amassed a following on Twitter that dwarfs that of the “established” media news outlets.

What have been called “outbursts” and “undignified comments” etc., penned by Trump’s tweets, are, upon closer examination, very calculated and effective methods of communicating with the public at large. Once again, Trump towers above his media opponents in every respect – from being effective at getting his message across, to the size of the audience following him on Twitter. It is an unprecedented revolution.

But that’s only half the story. As repeated experience has been demonstrating, it turns out that it is Trump, and not the media, who appears to be the guy who’s telling it like it is to the American public. Continue reading »

505 – Life on the fringe of art and politics | John Palmer & Paul Merrifield

Comments Off

May 182017

Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?

It’s called “Noam Chomsky vs Rush Limbaugh” and is one of London Ontario’s “Fringe Festival” entries to be featured at the Palace Theatre in June.

As the only play in the fringe line-up to feature a “political” theme, it asks a question that is often entertained on Just Right: “Is there more to this political bird than just the left and the right wings?”

To help us entertain that question, we are joined by Western University economics professor John Palmer, who plays the role of Noam Chomsky, and by playwright Paul Merrifield, whose humourous script provided the inspiration for the very unlikely meeting of two highly polarized political figures.

Says AM980 radio’s Andrew Lawton: “An amusing romp that squarely takes aim at political correctness in a way that I wish more art would.” Adds London City Councillor Michael Van Holst “These are dialogues you wish would happen!” Continue reading »

499 – Russian to conclusions—Donald Trump and the Russian affront

Comments Off

Apr 062017

Those falsely attempting to connect Donald Trump‘s electoral victory to Russian influences in the 2016 American election may well find themselves hoisted on their own petard.

Predicting that it will become bigger than the Watergate scandal, today’s in-studio guest Salim Mansur calls the upcoming major American political scandal “Obamagate“. Whatever the public may eventually come to know it as, there is certainly a clear “Obamagateway” straight to Russia – one whose path Salim traces in the wake of now-known facts and events that have come to light.

To deflect from their own Russian connections, the Democrats have launched a Russian affront against president Donald Trump, who has had no such history. The affront consists of the hypocrisy inherent in creating fake news to hide a truth, while simultaneously insulting American voters in the process. Continue reading »

495 – Fake news—The Left vs the truth

Comments Off

Mar 092017

It’s never been news that “fake news” exists. We used to call it “false news.” It has existed since the very concept of “news” itself first emerged. So why is “fake news” news now so newsworthy?

There is a REAL news story here, and it’s not one you will hear from the establishment media – because the real story is about them. Their “fake” story lines start with Donald Trump. They continue with Donald Trump. And they end with Donald Trump. See the pattern?

A team of “researchers” at Western University in London Ontario is about to launch a web site called “Culling Out The Crud.” They claim to have created a piece of software that can filter out “fake news” with an 85% accuracy rate. All very “scientific,” you see.

And if you believe that one, our understanding is that the bridge in Brooklyn is still for sale; care to make us an offer?

Says political scientist/professor Matt Farrell: “Fake news has reinforced the narrative in the Trump ideology…” Continue reading »