Comments on: CRUSH intrigue in Edmonton with Metronews attempted ad placement

By: jeff

jeff — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 02:55:54 +0000

@Mark Watson, While Sweden's Metro News publishes commuter dailies around the world, Canada's laws on media ownership prevent a foreign company from having a controlling interest in a media organization. So in Canada, Metro is a joint venture of Metroland/TorStar, Metro News and, last I checked (what with all their financial issues) CanWest.

By: Billy Nobels

Billy Nobels — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:38:03 +0000

@Shirley. We share with you the concern for our nation. As a C.R.U.S.H. administrator I can assure you that we will do everything to have an ad published in Edmonton. We will give a full announcement when it is to be placed. An issue like Metro’s unethical behaviour will not deter us.

By: shirley smith

shirley smith — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:49:12 +0000

I am in Edmonton and a concerned citizen. I am not a member of CRUSH or CAPP but I personally know one of the local coordinators of the ad. I want to see the ad published because I am very concerned about the state of democracy in Canada under Stephen Harper. What Metro did with the CRUSH ad (CRUSH intrigue, April 10, 2010) is very disturbing. First, Metro approves of the CRUSH ad in writing and charges CRUSH the entire amount, knowing that press releases had been made about the ad. Then it pulls the ad; next it will run the ad at double the rate. I don’t believe that a business like Metro would be viable if this is just incompetence. I think Metro is attempting to undermine and discredit CRUSH. That is interference of free speech and our right to challenge a sitting government, both of which are fundamental rights of Canadians. This is very scary indeed.

By: Jon Pertwee

Jon Pertwee — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:49:08 +0000

@Mark Watson, bait and switch could also be interpreted as a conservative bias, bad business practice or not. The fact they haven't explained themselves leaves it open. Which leaves us back where we were before uijk. It could be bad business practice, it could be conservative bias. So as far as I can see it's all up to our own personal interpretations...

By: Mark Watson

Mark Watson — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:33:25 +0000

@uijk, Of course it is one-sided. Metro has likely been given the opportunity to comment but didn’t bother. What remains is based on the consumer complaint.

As far as I can see, it isn’t necessarily a case of Conservative bias, but may be questionable business practice (‘bait and switch’ tactics)on the part of Edmonton Metro. They had offered a significant discount, accepted the ad and payment, then refused it unless full price was paid.

That would be similar to selling you a car for one price and signing the contract, then when you went to pick it up finding out that they refused to honour the contract unless you paid thousands more. This practice used to be common-place, but tougher consumer protection laws were enacted to eliminate this. That is the case in Ontario – what about Alberta’s consumer protection laws?

By: Mark Watson

Mark Watson — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:27:03 +0000

@Hunter Mars,
Please note above where the TorStar owns Metroland Media, NOT METRO News.

I also question your characterizing the ownership “by three ultra right wing organizations” – Which organizations are you referring to? Certainly NOT TorStar, which consistently reflects a more liberal point of view.

By: Mark Watson

Mark Watson — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:23:24 +0000

@The Left Hand,
You are confusing Metro News with Metroland Media.

Metro News does not share their corporate sponsorship, but Metroland admits to being owned by TorStar.

To wit: “Metroland is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation.

Torstar Corporation is a broadly based media company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TS.B). Its businesses include the Star Media Group led by the Toronto Star, Canadas largest daily newspaper, and digital properties including thestar.com, toronto.com, Workopolis and Olive Canada Network; Metroland Media Group, publishers of community and daily newspapers in Ontario; and Harlequin Enterprises, a leading global publisher of womens fiction.”

This information is from http://www.metroland.com/page/About

By: Scott Tribe

Scott Tribe — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 14:58:10 +0000

@uijk,Ok, since you've clarified that.. I do see your point. Her point was obviously to get ppl to write letters to the editor.. which is why I let it go (my spam filter had marked it as suspicious initially).

By: Jon Pertwee

Jon Pertwee — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:23:43 +0000

@Barb, which buses where Barb? Proof please because the buses I take always contain pro-life ads & my city's chock full of atheists.

By: Pamela Allard

Pamela Allard — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 02:40:19 +0000

@Barb, And your point is what?