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
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... major dailies the following day.3 While the press may believe in the fairness of this particular story, critics of the media would argue that this incident underlines many of the problems inherent in Canadian political news coverage and ...
... major Canadian stars with expert opinions on everything. The political analysis offered on television, media critic David Hayes has observed, tends to emphasize “presentation and superficial appearances, and favours conflict rather than ...
... true and which does not altogether lack suggestive power.”10 I hope readers, in judging this book, will keep these wise words in mind. Acknowledgments conducted most of the major research and interviewing for. Preface xiii.
... major political and media stars. While a complete list of interviews may be found in the Bibliography, I would like to single out the following individuals for taking the time to speak with me: John Turner, Keith Davey, Richard O'Hagan ...
... major Montreal and Toronto papers each day, most often at bedtime, and later his secretaries prepared clippings for him to peruse. Even on his rare holidays he voraciously scanned the editorial pages. More importantly, he kept in close ...
Contents
No League of Gentlemen 19141956 | 83 |
Illustrations | 104 |
The Unofficial Opposition 19571992 | 207 |
Notes | 365 |
Bibliography | 380 |
Index | 383 |