A new round of decisions from the Quebec Press Council has been posted to its website. In addition to the Gazette case I mentioned earlier, and other dismissals, were some slaps on the wrist:
- CFCF found to be non-cooperative with the council in a case brought by Marie-Claude Montpetit over the fact that CTV News Montreal reported on her being charged with a crime but did not follow up that she was acquitted.
- Richard Desmarais of TQS got slapped for saying a lockout at Petro Canada was all about the union boss not wanting to work – a statement he made without any supporting evidence. Desmarais and TQS did not present a defence to the council.
- Lamine Foura of CINQ FM was blamed for allowing a caller to make defamatory statements without intervening, as well as for a political conflict of interest.
- Nicolas Asselin of the Nord-Côtier newspaper was found to be in a conflict of interest serving as an advertising salesperson and journalist for the same paper, after a complaint from a competitor. A related complaint concerning the content of his editorials was dismissed.
- Serge Gagnon of L’Horizon was found to be in a conflict of interest after he refused to publish an article about a local artist who was critical of the city of Trois-Pistoles. Gagnon also works as a graphic artist for the city.
- Robin Philpot, a controversial PQ and Saint-Jean-Baptiste activist, got a partial victory in a case against André Noël of La Presse for a column he wrote. The council ruled that the piece lacked balance and that it attacked his dignity unnecessarily, but it didn’t go so far as to say it was wrong or that Noël or La Presse were biased against him.
- Three hosts at CKRB radio in St. Georges saw a complaint against them upheld after they complained on air about a regular caller. Other complaints that they had hurt his reputation or uttered falsehoods were dismissed.
UPDATE (April 3): Le Devoir reports on these decisions a week later, saying the decisions were released “yesterday” which I guess means I’m psychic.