Freedom Flyer 29

the official newsletter of the
Freedom Party of Ontario

March 1996

PUBLICATION OF EDITORIAL A "MISTAKE"
SAYS FREE PRESS EDITOR

(LONDON, January 2, 1996) - Fp president Robert Metz and London Free Press associate editor Helen Connell both agreed that a December 29 published editorial column submitted by Fp spokesperson Robert Smink should not have been printed, though for totally different reasons.

The editorial, a slightly edited version of Smink's column printed in the Dec. 6 St. Marys Journal-Argus (reprinted below), was submitted to the London Free Press on Freedom Party letterhead, identified as having originated from Freedom Party on the faxed transmission to the paper, and signed by Smink as "President, Perth Fp constituency Association." The introduction to the article read: "Robert Smink is a London businessman and was Freedom Party's candidate during the last provincial election in Perth. He has an honours degree in philosophy and history from the University of Waterloo."

However, on December 29 when the article was published, Smink was described only as "a London businessperson."

Smink called the Free Press on that day to inquire whether or not the editorial staff at the London Free Press was aware of his affiliation with Freedom Party, and if so, why he was not properly identified in the article. He was informed by staff writer Paul Berton that the editorial staff was indeed aware of Smink's affiliation with Freedom Party, and that it was editor Helen Connell's decision to delete Freedom Party's identity from the article. Unfortunately, Connell had just departed for holidays and could not be immediately contacted to follow up on her decision.

CONNELL DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF Fp AFFILIATION

In a follow-up conversation with Connell on January 31, Fp president Robert Metz questioned her decision to delete Freedom Party's identity from Smink's article. Connell repeatedly noted that she "didn't realize it was a Freedom Party piece," and told him that she did not "have enough space to start giving it over to political parties."

"Well, you're still giving the SPACE," replied Metz. "You're just withholding the proper identification of the author."

Connell reiterated that she did not realize it was a Freedom Party piece, and in defending the paper's "reluctance" to print political editorials, mentioned that she had placed the last six pieces submitted by Liberal party leader Lyn McLeod on hold.

This prompted Metz to pursue the issue of misrepresentation: "I would think that it would be very important to both yourselves and your readers to identify the perspective someone's coming from."

"Well, HIS perspective is SO CLEAR!" replied Connell. "I mean, HIS perspective is SO CLEAR."

Connell reiterated that she didn't realize that Smink's writing was "fronting Freedom Party pieces." She concluded that "Smink's article shouldn't have gone in. That's the mistake we made."

Metz agreed.

FREE PRESS TO TIGHTEN UP ON POLITICAL PARTIES?

Connell suggested that the London Free Press would have to tighten up "on the stuff coming in from political parties" and that she planned to discuss the matter with other editors at the paper to come up with a consistent policy.

As a follow-up to Connell's comments, Fp vice-president Lloyd Walker wrote Liberal party leader Lyn McLeod to inform her of the paper's policy towards political editorials, and about the number of McLeod's submitted editorials that were not published as a consequence of that policy.

"I am saddened to think that the Free Press is taking this action," wrote Walker. "I look forward to your articles, and those from other political parties, and the open discussion that they promote."

Walker requested that Freedom Party be placed on the Liberal party's mailing list for media releases.