Ranking as one of the CAJ's most interesting and useful projects ever undertaken, the committee that drafted the statement included a prestigious line-up of members from across the country. They were: Erica Johnson (CBC-TV), Kirk LaPointe (CTV), Fred Vallance-Jones (Hamilton Spectator), SharonBurnside (Toronto Star), Elaine Shein (Western Producer), Stephen Ward(University of British Columbia), Nick Russell (Media magazine publisher) and John Dickens (CAJ executive director). Our sincere thanks go out to every one of them for their time, effort and insights. We're grateful for their work.

(To see an example of the latest CAJ poster, displayed as a 56K PDF file, click here. The file requires Adobe Acrobat to open)

There have been many other accomplishments this past year - a new Hong Kong fellowship for journalism students that will send three winners to Asia this year, a new fellowship with CIDA that will send five professional journalists overseas each year (this year to Africa), and a 20 per cent discount for members purchasing books published by Trifolium Publishing.

At the same time, this has been perhaps the most active year ever in terms of our advocacy work. We issued 13 press releases, from police seizure of notes to government secrecy to protection of sources. They accounted for dozens of media interviews in print and on the air.

Our most high-profile and time-consuming advocacy work was centered on the CanWest national editorial issue. We spoke out in strong support of the Montreal Gazette reporters protesting against the policy, then joined with the FPS (Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec) in calling for a parliamentary review of media concentration. That led to a vigorous debate in the press and dozens of media interviews.

The CAJ was a central voice in the debate over editorial independence and media concentration. We continue to be a strong national voice for journalists and the public interest. If you are interesting in joining the effort, we welcome your call.

- Robert Cribb, CAJ National President

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CHAPTER NEWS

CAJ Manitoba held a successful writing/reporting seminar May 11 in Winnipeg featuring Steve Hartman of CBS News. Based in Los Angeles, Hartman hosts a human interest TV show titled 'Everybody Has A Story.' Fifty-four journalists and communicators from Manitoba and Saskatchewan heard Hartman describe how to elicit extraordinary stories from ordinary people. Although aimed primarily at television reporting, Hartman's presentation was highly relevant to radio and print journalists as well. A lively discussion on reporting techniques highlighted the day-long seminar.

CAJ Manitoba is planning an executive meeting in early June to follow up on this successful event.

- Ron Friesen, Manitoba Chapter President

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Fighting the provincial government's massive increase in Freedom of Information fees has occupied much of the Nova Scotia Chapter's time and energy over the last few months. The province increased the basic application fee to $25 from $5. It also introduced other fees associated with the Act. The net effect will mean FOI requests will be out of the reach of most journalists and ordinary citizens. When the changes were before the legislature, national CAJ president Rob Cribb spoke in opposition to the measures.

On a local level, the Chapter put in an FOI request, looking for the government's justification for the fee increase. The response we received was the subject of a news release and helped form part of the basis for Rob's presentation. We will continue the fight over the next few months. The chapter is exploring the idea of a court challenge, using the pro bono services of a journalist-turned-lawyer. It also intends to write the major newsrooms in the province, asking them to be vigilant in reporting stories where ordinary citizens or the media are denied information.

- Murray Brewster, NS Chapter President

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An enthusiastic group of people reactivated the local chapter in Edmonton in late May. An interim board has been chosen, but formal elections will take place on June 18. There are also three committees aching for bodies. They include social, professional development, and advocacy. This is your chance to get involved. The more, the merrier! For more details, contact Florence Loyie,acting secretary, at floyie@thejournal.southam.ca.

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CAJ Toronto is gearing up for a new year of events, starting with our AGM this summer and ending with the CAJ's national conference in May 2003. Chapter events we're already working on include computer-assisted reporting training,a practical session on "owning" a story you've been parachuted in to cover and a perennially popular investigative techniques seminar. And we'll continue to hold our sort-of-monthly pub nights, of course! We're also try into serve members in outlying areas - particularly those more than an hour's drive from Toronto. We're looking for CAJ members to serve as newsroom and regional contacts so we can bring events and training to your city. Let usknow if you can help.

The CAJ is what you make it. Please contact me or any of our chapter executive to volunteer. Contact information and local event news are listed on the chapter Web page at www.snappingturtle.net/torontocaj.

- Saleem Khan, Toronto Chapter President

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CAPITAL CONNECTIONS CONNECTS

This year's annual national conference in Ottawa was a terrific success,building on regular features from the past and a growing interest in some of our new areas of expertise. The event attracted more than 350 people from across the country.

The Computer Assisted Reporting Seminars were easily one of the biggest highlights. An extra course was full-to-capacity. We were forced, in fact, to turn people away. Many of the CAR sessions that took place over the weekend were standing-room only.

Our CAR award nominees show us just how sophisticated journalists are becoming in this area. Panels that attracted the most warm bodies to chairs were topical subjects, like the Convergence panel, which featured a CanWest representative. CBC-TV reporter Neil MacDonald was a huge draw at the Saturday luncheon. He was blunt and unapologetic in his description of the events taking place in the Middle East.

The CAJ has cornered the market in Canada on CAR training for journalists. Building on the success of the Ottawa conference, Toronto next year is sure to be a huge success.

- Amanda Pfeffer, Co-Chair, Capital Connections 2002

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BE INSPIRED IN MONTREAL!

Plan now to attend the National Writers Symposium in Montreal, coming up Nov.16-17 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. One of the confirmed keynote speakers is Robert Fisk, the Middle East correspondent for The Independent. Confirmed workshop leaders include James B. Stewart (New-York based writer and columnist with Smart Money); Linda Kay, (freelancer and head of the Concordia Journalism Graduate Program); Julian Sher (TV documentary producer, author,Internet consultant); John Sawatsky (author, interviewing consultant); Brian McKenna (TV documentary writer and producer); and Bernard St-Laurent(national reporter and host of CBC Radio's C'est La Vie).

We also want to include a selection of authors, historians, and screenwriters who will bring fresh perspective about narrative and other overlapping writing constructs. It's going to be a great weekend of inspiration and culture. Don't miss it!

- Michelle MacAfee, NWS chairperson

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25th ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE

Plans are already underway for the CAJ's 25th anniversary national conference at the Toronto Hilton, May 23-25. The conference will be a return to the investigative roots of the organization and will include day-long topic tracks. Our members tell us they want sessions for experienced journalists, so advanced Computer-Assisted Reporting sessions will be a focal point of the event. The 25th anniversary celebrations will include a gala awards night Celebration and black-tie dinner.

The organizing committee already has a rough list of panels and workshops, but if you have any suggestions or if you want to get involved in planning the conference please contact the conference co-chairs: Mike Gordon at mike_gordon@cbc.ca or Erin Paul at paule@toronto.cbc.ca.

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RIFF-RAFF AND PROUD OF IT!The CAJ would like to thank its friends at the Montreal Gazette for not only putting on a great party on May 3rd, but for generously donating half of the proceeds of their Riff- Raff Ball to the CAJ. The event - subtitled A Dance Party for a Free Press - was organized by a group of staffers eager to help boost morale among the rank-and-file and at the same time say Thank You to the CAJ and the Fédération professionnelle des journalistes du Québec for their support during the contentious debate between journalists and CanWest over the company's national editorial policy and incidents of censorship.

The title Riff-Raff harkened back to comments made by David Asper, a member of CanWest's executive committee, during a speech earlier this year in Oakville,Ont. Asper said those who disagreed with the CanWest national editorial policy included the bleeding hearts of the journalist community, feeble turf-protecting editors living in ivory towers, rabble-rousing union bosses,and riff-raff.

So all riff-raff were cordially invited to attend the party and grand time was had by the 200 or so staffers, CAJ members and friends who attended. Many also sported lovely designer T-shirts featuring the logo Riff Raff on the front,and the dictionary definition on the back, including an additional meaning: ACanadian journalist who stands up for freedom of expression. All in all, the CAJ comes away with $750, to be split between the national office and the Montreal chapter. This is the kind of the advocacy the CAJ firmly believes in, stands behind, and will do again if need be. Merci Beaucoup!

- Michelle MacAfee, Past-president, CAJ Montreal

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NEW SOURCES FOR COVERING RELIGION

Journalists attending the Relevance of Religion panel discussion at the annual national conference in Ottawa this spring were introduced to two new resources that will help make their jobs easier.

The American Academy of Religion offers journalists free referrals to sources on virtually any religion topic, including world religions, religion and politics, ethics, and much more. The Religion source referral service provides quick access to more than 5,000 scholars, including contact information,titles of their relevant publications, institutional affiliations and academic rank. While many of the contacts are American, AAR spokesperson Kyle Cole says the database includes about 200 Canadian sources and more are being added. The service will be on-line soon. Until then, e-mail source@aarweb.org or call 404-727-4725 weekdays during regular working hours (Eastern).

The Centre for Faith and the Media is a new organization in Calgary with the goals of fostering a high standard of religion coverage by the news media, and helping faith communities communicate more effectively with the media. Its director, Gordon Legge, began his career in 1970 and has worked for the Ottawa Citizen, Canadian Press, Toronto Star and Maclean's magazine. He was Religion Editor at the Calgary Herald from 1987 to 1999.

The Centre is establishing an on-line database, along with some training modules. Until then, journalists can contact Legge by e-mail at leggeg@telus.net, by phone at 403-284-2233 or by fax at 403-284-1177.

You can also check out the web site at www.faithandmedia.org. I recently contacted him for some information and sources on a story and he replied within the hour with background, names and numbers. You'll want to keep these sources in your in your PalmPilot for the next time you're covering a story in which religion is relevant.

- Karen Pauls, National Vice-President

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NEW CAR CAUCUS E-MAIL LISTSERV ESTABLISHED

The CAJ's Computer-Assisted Reporting Caucus has established its own e-mail listserv to foster discussion about CAR topics in Canada. The list is free and open to all, caucus members or not. Information about the list, with instructions for joining, is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cancar/. The group is also updating its Web site at http://www.caj.ca/car.

The CAR caucus also has a new chair. After several years of outstanding leadership, Fred Vallance-Jones has given way to David Akin. Vallance- Jones, who led his Hamilton Spectator colleagues to success with the 2002 CAR award at the CAJ national conference, will continue to be an active member of the caucus. Akin is national business and technology correspondent for CTV News and a contributing writer for The Globe and Mail.

The caucus plans to continue its focus on providing training opportunities for journalists interested in learning how to use spreadsheet and database software in their work. But, in recognition that many reporters are eager to advance their skills, the caucus will also be exploring some new resources,such as a database library; increased ties with Statistics Canada; and increased ties with Canada's journalism schools. The caucus is also interested in hearing from journalists using CAR techniques in their own newsroom in order to let people know about the kind of work that can be done in Canada in this area.

- David Akin, CAR Caucus Chairperson

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