Scrum Wars: The Prime Ministers and the MediaThe image of the scrum -- a beleaguered politican surrounded by jockeying reporters -- is central to our perception of Ottawa. The modern scrum began with the arrival of television, but even in Sir John A. Macdonald's day, a century earlier, reporters in the parliamentary press gallery had waited outside the prime minister's office, pen in hand, hoping for a quote for the next edition. The scrum represents the test of wills, the contest of wits, and the battle for control that have characterized the relationship between Canadian prime ministers and journalists for more than 125 years. Scrum Wars chronicles this relationship. It is an anecdotal as well as analytical account, showing how earlier prime ministers like Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier were able to exercise control over what was written about their administrators, while more recent leaders like John Diefenbaker, Joe Clark, John Turner, and Brian Mulroney often found themselves at the mercy of intense media scrutiny and comment. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 63
... attacked the Telegraph, a Conservative booster. Apparently Hincks had taken exception to comments made by one of the newspaper's reporters. Macdonald conceded that it was a misunderstanding and then proceeded to tell Morrison — in a way ...
... attack him as a traitor. Controlling information about his position on the treaty therefore became essential. He instructed Morris “to make arrangements with the friendly newspapers to hold back, if possible, any expression of opinion ...
... attack late into Friday night, retired from the House, had a few glasses of sherry with some oysters, and went to sleep on a couch in a committee room. The Globe and Alexander Mackenzie saw it differently. “John A. got very drunk,” the ...
... attacking the government, Robertson was moving into the Globe's territory, but there was not enough roo1n for both in partisan Toronto. That May the Telegraph's debt reached roughly $50,000.30 Robertson wasn't finished yet. He bought ...
... attack on May 6 labelling the prime minister and his Toronto friends a “perfidious ring” for trying to drive the Telegraph out of business. “Every vile perversion that the narrow intellects of the scurvy informers employed and directed ...
Contents
No League of Gentlemen 19141956 | 83 |
Illustrations | 104 |
The Unofficial Opposition 19571992 | 207 |
Notes | 365 |
Bibliography | 380 |
Index | 383 |