Media

Irony abounds

The Tyee’s threats to sue The Republic over an investigative journalism piece about an investigative journalism contest reminds us why investigative journalism has died

By Kevin Potvin

A common feature of investigative journalism is speculation, and a common technique used by investigative journalists is to pose in disguises. By far the biggest hazard to investigative journalism—indeed, the chief reason why investigative journalism is dying—is the threat of lawsuits leveled by subjects of investigative journalists who aren’t pleased with how they’re portrayed.

So it was greeted with a big “Huh?” when David Beers, editor of The Tyee online political journal, began repeatedly threatening The Republic with lawsuits through phone calls and emails as a result of being displeased with how he and The Tyee were portrayed in an investigative journalism piece about The Tyee’s investigative journalism contest (which appeared in issue 134 of The Republic). In particular, Beers told The Republic he disapproved of the speculative tone of some of the elements of the story and was alarmed at how the author, Dan Crawford, posed in disguise as a potential contestant with questions for Tyee staff. But when asked to indicate which parts of the story were inaccurate, Beers was unable to do so. Instead he made references to “advice from legal,” “notes” he was making of all discussions, and “lawsuits” he would have no choice but to pursue.

Tyee columnist Rafe Mair then stepped into it after issuing a stinging letter to the editor regarding the allegations and the integrity of this newspaper (see Letters, this issue). After being informed that Beers was threatening to sue, a threat The Republic shrugged at, he added, in a subsequent note dripping with sarcasm, “That's the best part of running a rag . . . no assets so no law suits.” And no connections, financial or otherwise, to behind-the-scenes organizations, either, he might have added, but didn’t.

Mair does make a good point though: truly independent media never has any assets or relationships to protect because no large establishment organizations like corporations, unions, or parties are ultimately interested in seeing truly independent media succeed. All of The Republic’s financial backing comes from readers’ subscriptions fees and advertisers’ invoices, all of whom are readily known by looking through the paper. Some may see that as a bad thing, some as a good thing. Still others would call it “a rag.”