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COAST KISSES KUTCHER’S ARSE
BY NEAL OZANO
THE COAST WAS QUICK OFF THE MARK TO
OFFER HALIFAX LIBERAL CANDIDATE,
RESEARCHER AND HEADSHRINKER STAN
KUTCHER A RETRACTION AND APOLOGY.
Editor Kyle Shaw told an American
blogger the alternative freebie apologized
because “under our laws there are specific
provisions to protect political candidates
within a few days of an election.
Given the timing of our publishing in this
case, the story clearly ran afoul of the law.”
With just five days left in the campaign,
news editor Tim Bousquet’s story quoted
Allison Bass, who wrote a book in 2008
about the the 2001 study by Kutcher and
other experts about the antideppressant
drug Paxil.
But according to Kutcher’s April 29
threat of legal action, it was an accusation
of lying, not the timing of the Coast story,
that prompted the would-be MP to call for
a retraction.
The Coast almost instantaneously
apologised, saying: “We sincerely regret
having published those statements during
the campaign.”
A local lawyer says Shaw may have been
vaguely and confusedly referring to section
22(1)(e)(i) of the Nova Scotia Defamation
Act, which says, a “full and fair”
retraction and apology to a story “against
any candidate for public office” has to come
five days before an election.
HERALD, FROM PRVIOUS PAGE
“If we’d signed it, we couldn’t even be
talking to one another,” Don says.
According to information gathered directly
from writers by the CFU, the Herald
hasn’t raised its freelance pay rates in 15
years (a few have negotiated small individual
increases, while others have seen
pay cuts).
Big Kahuna Dan refutes that point, adding
that Donald Cameron is likely one of
the top-paid contributors and has no right
to complain.
“The Herald, unlike other organizations
around here, is an ethical newspaper”
says Leger (Who you talking about, Dan?
— ed.), adding a lovely sermon about being
one of the largest markets for freelancers
in the province.
“They should call Transcon, call the
Irvings, see how much they’ll pay for a
piece.”
But SilDon says his rate was cut back by
But Dan Burnett, a news lawyer and University
of British Columbia media law prof,
says: “Be it straight news or editorial,
there’s no restriction on (content),” regardless
of when it is.”
The retraction and apology doesn’t necessarily
mean The Coast is off the hook.
Kutcher didn’t respond to an email asking
if he’d be following through with his legal
threats.
Anonymous calls out Bousquet
BY JACOB BOON
A LEADER IN THE LOCAL CHAPTER OF ANTI-
SCIENTOLOGY GROUP ANONYMOUS CALLS TIM
BOUSQUET’S ACCUSATIONS OF ATTACKS
AGAINST THE COAST’S WEBSITE TO BE UTTER
“BULLSHIT.”
Chris Salsman helps coordinate the Halifax
chapter of the fiercely anti-Scientology
group of internet hack-tivists, who were
more than a little irked at some of The
Coast’s recent election coverage.
The furore erupted over News Editor
Tim’s article on Dr. Stan Kutcher and his
ties to a controversial drug study. After
Kutcher-friendly commenters accused
The Coast of Scientological backing, it
didn’t take long for Anonymous to notice.
In an April 28 posting on the Anonymous
web board Why We Fight, online crusaders
propose a “call to action,” listing The
Coast’s website and server address,
Herald typists not discussing wages
or rights (not exactly as illustrated).
30% a few years ago.
“I’ve asked a couple of times for the original
rate to be reinstated, and the paper
has flatly refused.”
Top-brass Dan is rumoured to earn $400
a pop for his own fascinating columns, on
top of his salary (Frank 581); more than
“Most provinces have a provision in their
defamation (statutes) to publish a full and
fair retraction,” says Danny from his desk
at UBC. But, he added, “It’s overstating to
say it gets them out of trouble. It can reduce
or eliminate damages.”
So if you’re going to accuse someone of
lying, Dan says, “you’d better be able to
prove he’s a liar or you’re going to be in
the glue.”
neal@atlanticfrank.ca
along with contact information for concerned
Anons to comment on the situation.
Which may be what Tim Bousquet was
talking about when on May 1 he took to his
Twitter account to write that, “Apparently,
Anonymous attacked The Coast’s website.
That’s really crazy.”
Chris, who also happens to volunteer as
Social Media Coordinator for Dr. Stan’s
campaign, says Tim’s comments show a
“complete lack of understanding” in how
his compatriots function.
“When they attack, they broadcast it,”
Chris tells me. “There’s no ‘apparently’.”
Chris also took the chance to issue a
challenge to The Coast to release its web
logs and show exactly where and how its
site came under attack.
Calls to Kyle Shaw, editor at The Coast,
weren’t returned by deadline.
jacob@atlanticfrank.ca
Don, and more than the typical payment of
$125-$150.
Danster says the old contracts were written
for the dark ages of writing, you know,
on paper, before the new-fangled, ultrahip
digital era.
He asserts the new contract was designed
to match to other news outlets
across the nation and says the Herald
needs to have its writers’ work available
online in order to keep up with the hepcats
at the other gazettes. (Previously, the copyright
on the freelancers’ work would revert
back to them after a week or so, and the
Herald would have to take it down from its
website.)
Dan says they haven’t received much
feedback on the matter of the missing freelancers,
only a trifle handful of notes.
“I got fewer than 10 letters. When a story
about backyard chickens is in the paper,
we receive 300 times the feedback.”
CONTINUED ON PAGE 29
MAY 24, 2011 FRANK MAGAZINE 25