An unbelievable story is unfolding here in Woodstock-Ken Langdon has resigned from the Bugle to start a competing paper. To put this in perspective, only 2 English language papers in the entire province are not part of the Irving media empire (and one in French, I believe).
In the words of Senator Joan Fraser "we didn't find anywhere else in the developed world a situation like the situation in New Brunswick."
You can read the background info from CBC here and here. Robert Jones' audio report on the rare legal order used to search Langdon's home at is posted cbc.ca/nb (down on the right).
To me, the most telling aspect of the case is that J.K Irving's rep, Victor Mlodecki, has basically refused to comment, only reiterating the arguments made in court documents. The Irving companies are normally agressive and spin everything as positively as possible. The fact that they are silent on this one probably means they want it to blow over quickly, with a minimum of controversy over the rare use of a private (ie. non-criminal) search warrant.
Regardless of all the mud-slinging, the fact remains that New Brunswick faces a very serious problem with media concentration (not to mention the concentration of political power). It is not healthy to have all the media in one province towing the same line. We need a diversity of viewpoints. Debate is at the heart of democracy, and good debate depends on freedom of information.
Last week mayors in Northern NB complained that the Irving papers no longer maintain offices to cover their communities. They are left without a voice, like many communities whose coverage comes 'from away'. Why shouldn't people have access to good quality local news? Because it's not good for the corporate bottom line?
The right to speak freely and be heard is essential. I sincerely hope the Carleton Free Press is successful, and at very least encourages people to think, discuss and take action to ensure we have access to all viewpoints.
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