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Tony Burman is Editor in Chief of CBC News — which includes news, current affairs and Newsworld. He is CBC's chief journalist, in charge of editorial content on radio, television and the internet. With more than 30 years' experience, he has produced many award-winning news and documentary programs for both CBC-TV and Radio. He has covered stories in more than 30 countries, including the Ethiopian Famine of 1984, the fall of Communism in Eastern Europe and the release of Nelson Mandela in South Africa. More...

How do we protect the crucial role of investigative journalism?

Thursday, May 24, 2007 | 09:37 AM ET


In a 24/7 era when people can feel overwhelmed by the massive amounts of information that flood down on them each and every day — some of it important, most of it not — why does investigative journalism matter more than ever? Because it helps people, as citizens, better understand what is happening in their society and how they can best deal with it. That will be one of the themes this weekend at an important meeting in Toronto that brings together journalists, authors and documentary filmmakers from more than 30 countries.

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Why the struggle of Arab journalists matters to us

Thursday, May 17, 2007 | 03:18 PM ET

In a week when Middle East tensions seemed to be at the breaking point, how is the world — including the Arab world — to know what truly is happening in the Gaza Strip? With Western journalists no longer able to function in Gaza without the probability of being kidnapped, international news organizations have been relying on Palestinian journalists. So it was more than ironic on Wednesday that Gaza’s remaining broadcasters became the centre themselves of a very harrowing siege that was shown live on television.

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Why BBC's kidnapped Alan Johnston needs to be freed

Wednesday, May 9, 2007 | 10:28 AM ET

As the political drama in Israel deepened, there was a special poignancy for many journalists last Thursday — designated by the UN as World Press Freedom Day — as vigils were held around the world in support of Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist kidnapped in Gaza more than seven weeks ago. There have been more journalists killed in the past year covering Iraq and the Middle East than ever before. But the plight of Alan Johnston has struck an exceptional chord among many in the Middle East and beyond, and it’s instructive to explore why.

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Media debate over Virgina tech video

Thursday, April 26, 2007 | 09:44 AM ET

Last week, NBC News received in the mail a sick, horrifying multi-media ‘press kit’ from a mentally-disturbed young man who went on to kill 32 people at Virginia Tech University. On its evening newscast, NBC ran several minutes of excerpts. At the CBC, we did not broadcast any video or audio of this bizarre collection. CBC's handling of this issue has been criticized by some other media. That’s fine, and predictable. It's an important debate. The fact is that this is not about ‘censorship’ or ‘avoidance.’ It’s about ‘editorial choices.’

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A story of victims and issues, not only the killer

Wednesday, April 18, 2007 | 01:26 PM ET

So what will be the iconic image that will forever recall the massacre at Virginia Tech? Will it be the grandfatherly face of Holocaust survivor Liviu Librescu? Or the glowing smile of Canadian Jocelyne Couture-Nowak? Some sort of composite photo of the more than 30 innocent victims of this awful event? Or will it be the sullen image of the dark, demented killer?

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Hostage videos as a weapon of war

Monday, April 16, 2007 | 10:48 AM ET

There is something incredibly haunting about this latest ‘hostage video’ — obtained by CBC News in Khandahar last Friday — that has just emerged from Afghanistan. It is pure emotion from beginning to end. The emergence of this videotape became one of the major international stories this past weekend. It was reported on the weekend by hundreds of newspapers and networks across the world. But why didn’t the CBC broadcast the full video as part of its news coverage?

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Issue of global warming isn’t going away

Friday, April 13, 2007 | 04:21 PM ET

What do the Black Eyed Peas, the Beastie Boys and Foo Fighters have in common? They will be among the 100 musical acts who will give the fight against global warming the pop world’s imprimatur in a 24-hour “Live Earth” concert in July. As recent as several months ago, there were predictions in the media that public concern over global warming and climate change would eventually evaporate. Like a hummingbird — or so it was said — the public would fly to another flower. But events in recent days have indicated the opposite.

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Vimy, The Great War — and today

Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 01:29 PM ET

So what’s the meaning anymore of the Battle of Vimy Ridge? Or The Great War? Why reach so far back to the past century to remember? Why do the battlefields of France still matter now? For anyone who marvels at the connection between history and today, this will be a very special weekend.

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Seven major trends for today’s news media

Monday, April 2, 2007 | 09:45 AM ET

The challenges facing today’s major news organizations are seemingly unlimited, and so are the multitude of strategies being employed by these companies to respond to them.The need for significant, even radical change is now widely-accepted in the industry — at least in theory — and the reasons for this were outlined in gruesome detail in the fourth Annual Report on American Journalism: The State of the News Media 2007, which is available online.

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Is the era of YouTube politics beginning?

Monday, March 26, 2007 | 12:08 PM ET

With an exciting election in Quebec and the prospect of a Canadian general election in the Spring, the era of YouTube politics taking shape in the U.S. presidential campaign is becoming particularly interesting. Will Canadian politics soon follow suit?

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Letters from the Editor in Chief Archives »

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World »

Millions of Iraqi children need help now: UNICEF report
A United Nations report paints a grim picture of life in Iraq for two million children, but says an improving security outlook offers the opportunity to provide much-needed help.
December 21, 2007 | 12:28 PM EST
U.S. government asks judge to hold off investigating destroyed CIA tapes
Lawyers for the U.S. government urged a federal judge on Friday not to launch his own investigation into the destruction of CIA videotapes that showed officers using harsh interrogation methods as they questioned suspects.
December 21, 2007 | 6:37 PM EST
50 killed in suicide attack outside Pakistan politician's home
At least 50 people were killed and dozens injured when a suicide attacker detonated a bomb early Friday at a mosque outside the home of Pakistan's former interior minister, officials said.
December 21, 2007 | 10:09 AM EST
more »

Canada »

Hundreds attend funeral for doting grandfather killed delivering Christmas cards
Friends and family gathered Friday for the funeral of Hunter Brown, an elderly man who was slain while delivering Christmas cards in Kitchener, Ont.
December 21, 2007 | 3:21 PM EST
Byelections in 4 vacant federal ridings set for March
The race is on in four vacant federal ridings as Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Friday that byelections will be held on March 17.
December 21, 2007 | 8:27 PM EST
Arms exports reached record levels in 2003: report
A new report by the federal government shows that in 2003, Canada's arms exports reached the highest level ever recorded.
December 21, 2007 | 8:18 PM EST
more »

Health »

Surgeons fail to discuss reconstruction with breast cancer patients: study
Surgeons frequently fail to discuss breast reconstruction options with women who have undergone surgery for breast cancer, a new U.S. study has found.
December 21, 2007 | 12:33 PM EST
Sleep disorder drug linked to severe allergic reactions: Health Canada
Health Canada has issued a warning about serious skin and allergic reactions related to Alertec, a drug used to relieve excessive sleepiness due to narcolepsy, obstructive sleep apnea and shift-work sleep disorders.
December 21, 2007 | 4:06 PM EST
Improper use of fentanyl pain patches linked to more deaths: FDA
U.S. health officials say improper use of patches that emit the painkiller fentanyl is still killing people.
December 21, 2007 | 12:41 PM EST
more »

Arts & Entertainment»

Sacha Baron Cohen bids Borat, Ali G goodbye
British comic actor Sacha Baron Cohen is bidding farewell to the two alter egos that brought him international success: the dim-witted hip hop interviewer Ali G and uncouth reporter Borat.
December 21, 2007 | 3:45 PM EST
Quebec City museum gets $37.5 million from Ottawa
Ottawa has come up with $37.5 million for Quebec City's Muse national des beaux-arts du Qubec.
December 21, 2007 | 1:41 PM EST
Karl Rove sells memoir for more than $1.5M
Republican strategist Karl Rove will dissect the presidency of George W. Bush in a memoir said to be worth more than $1.5 million US.
December 21, 2007 | 6:01 PM EST
more »

Technology & Science »

Toshiba, Sharp expand LCD TV ties
Japanese electronics rivals Toshiba and Sharp expanded ties in making liquid crystal displays Friday, with competition growing increasingly intense among flat-panel TV producers.
December 21, 2007 | 7:16 PM EST
CRTC gives thumbs-up to telecom complaints agency
The CRTC has approved an industry-sponsored telecommunications complaints agency, giving cellphone and internet customers an official way to resolve their problems with service providers.
December 21, 2007 | 12:49 PM EST
Bell to administer telemarketer do-not-call list
The CRTC has picked Bell Canada to operate the National Do Not Call List, giving the company a five-year mandate to block calls from telemarketers for customers who request the service.
December 21, 2007 | 2:46 PM EST
more »

Money »

2007's winners and losers on the TSX
As 2007 winds down, it's 'woulda, coulda, shoulda' time as investors take a look back to find the stocks they should have bought in bulk at the start of the year.
December 21, 2007 | 5:58 PM EST
RIM rallies as earnings beat street
Shares of Research in Motion shot up by 10 per cent Friday after the maker of the BlackBerry wireless device reported earnings that topped expectations.
December 21, 2007 | 4:14 PM EST
Treasury runs $2.7B deficit in October
The monthly budget surplus that Canada usually records disappeared in October as the tax cuts announced in that month's economic statement were added to the mix.
December 21, 2007 | 12:44 PM EST
more »

Consumer Life »

Bell to administer telemarketer do-not-call list
The CRTC has picked Bell Canada to operate the National Do Not Call List, giving the company a five-year mandate to block calls from telemarketers for customers who request the service.
December 21, 2007 | 2:46 PM EST
Transport Canada issues safety alerts for 3 car seats
Transport Canada has issued recall notices and safety warnings for three models of child restraint systems.
December 21, 2007 | 3:53 PM EST
Holiday shopping to peak Friday
Storekeepers ready your registers, holiday shopping will reach its peak Friday afternoon between 2 and 3 p.m., according to credit and debit card transaction processor Moneris.
December 21, 2007 | 9:33 AM EST
more »

Sports »

Scores: CFL MLB MLS

Stars end Flames win streak
Centre Mike Ribeiro scored two goals, including the game winner just 57 seconds into overtime, to give the Dallas Stars a 3-2 win against the Calgary Flames Friday night at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
December 22, 2007 | 1:07 AM EST
Gionta rallies Devils past Oilers
Winger Brian Gionta scored the game-winning goal early in the third period to lift the New Jersey Devils to a 3-1 victory over the Edmonton Oilers Friday night at Rexall Place.
December 22, 2007 | 1:54 AM EST
Durant lifts Sonics over Raptors
Seattle rookie Kevin Durant scored 27 points and the Seattle SuperSonics handed the Toronto Raptors their second straight loss following a 123-115 victory Friday night.
December 22, 2007 | 1:32 AM EST
more »

Diversions »

Lawyer of Powerball winners claims $151M jackpot, RI couple takes lump sum
Russian leader Putin, Japanese champion, make judo instructional video
B.C. court says insurance firm must compensate couple for loss of rare wine
more »