Barred from the Conservative Convention ft. Arno Kopecky
Content creators get preference over critical coverage
This week on The North State, I spoke with Canada's National Observer reporter Arno Kopecky about him being denied access to the Conservative convention in Calgary. RSS feed here. Apple Podcasts link here
Description
Pierre Poilievre swept the leadership vote at the federal Conservative party's convention this past weekend in Calgary. While news outlets breathlessly explored the vote and what it means for the party, one journalist who applied for media accreditation was denied. The reason? "I don't know." Meanwhile, at that same convention, a new category of accreditation was made to designate "content creators." Many of these included open Poilievre and Conservative partisans. Arno Kopecky, national politics reporter for Canada's National Observer joins Scott to discuss the change, wider denial of access to journalists and what he learned reporting from the convention lobby.
Clarification: Shortly before this was recorded, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and the Ontario Progressive Conservatives had changed their policy and allowed reporters to cover Ford's speech. No details were given on allowing journalists to cover any other part of the convention.
Follow Arno on Bluesky
Sources and Further Reading
Federal Conservatives trade journalists for partisan cheerleaders - National Observer
The sad predictability of the CPC Convention - National Observer
Conservative Delegates Energized By Poilievre, Claim ‘Mainstream Press’ Coverage Is Unfair (2023) - The Maple
Nora goes to the Conservative Convention (2023) - Nora Loreto
Ontario PCs bar reporters from policy convention - CBC News
Carney cancels news conference appearance last minute after Quebec City cabinet retreat - CBC News
Ontario PCs reverse course, will allow media to hear premier's convention speech - CBC News
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