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. |
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... months you were doing well (one paper actually lasted for fifteen days before being absorbed by a competitor). Explaining such commercial instability is easy. There were the initial expenses for presses and machinery, not to mention a ...
... month into the Fifth Session of Canada's Third Parliament, another three weeks were to follow. As noted, the House was in the midst of a serious debate on the economy. The Liberals were defending their proposed budget, which reflected ...
... months. He was all too aware that he was regarded by the other members of the British negotiating team as a colonial inferior. He realized as well that the imperial government, desperate to establish friendly relations with the United ...
... months he refused to comment; nor did he accept any invitations to speak at political gatherings, fearing that he would have to explain his treaty position.10 But the Tory press adhered to its leader's wishes. Despite the Globe's daily ...
... months of operation, the Mail 's advertising revenue was insufficient (only $2,200) and several reporters had difficulty working with Patteson, who himself was learning what it was like to answer to party chiefs for each and every ...
Contents
No League of Gentlemen 19141956 | 83 |
Illustrations | 104 |
The Unofficial Opposition 19571992 | 207 |
Notes | 365 |
Bibliography | 380 |
Index | 383 |