Wow, you shamed him. He doesn't answer to the challenges you have with him. Your triggers are deeper than Richard Southern's commentary. 

Bias is cool. it is how new ideas and approaches are formed. Even your biases Stephanie, we may not agree, but we get new perspectives. We can choose to dismiss them, or adopt other's view points.

It is healthy. What's not healthy is criticizing bias, if one doesn't like the reporter and their interpretation of the stories, then, that is on us, not on them. They are being who they are, so let them.

Lastly, it is helpful to think why Southern's reporting is triggering you, why is it challenging your views and beliefs? Perhaps discuss and share the why's of this story from your experiences. 

.

The one fact that everyone can agree on is that Richard Southern is employed as a reporter by 680 News, and has been for a long time, and Stefanie is not. The free market has spoken on that. But maybe Stefanie is just not a fan of the free market either.
Haven't seen any concrete examples of what Stefanie seems to think is so biased about his reporting, or how it is any different from other Queen's Park reporting. But it's all WhoGAS: Doug Ford has easily cruised to three majority governments, irregardless of his reporting. 
There is also a reporter for the London Free Press newspaper who is married to a newly elected Conservative MP. But that doesn't mean that all of that newspaper's coverage will be automatically slanted to that party either.
It seems like an unnatural obsession over Richard Southern. Let's hear your thoughts about other reporters.
 

Muffaraw Joe wrote:

Bias is cool. it is how new ideas and approaches are formed. Even your biases Stephanie, we may not agree, but we get new perspectives. We can choose to dismiss them, or adopt other's view points.

It is healthy. What's not healthy is criticizing bias, if one doesn't like the reporter and their interpretation of the stories, then, that is on us, not on them. They are being who they are, so let them.
.

Bingo.


PJ
 

Stefanie wrote:

Hi, I sent Richard Southern at 680 news any email about more of his bias reporting today. Here's what he said and how I responded.
Stefanie, 
 
I appreciate your feedback, but it's my job, and the job of every reporter covering Queen's Park, to hold the government to account, not to simply be a stenographer and read press releases. It's important that reports include both sides of an issue, and yes to cast a critical eye on what your government is doing. If you're able to point to anything I said that was incorrect I would gladly offer up correction, otherwise I think you may be confusing balance, and my job of holding a government to account, for bias. 
 
My response....

Richard, you are confusing reporting the facts and holding the government to account. 
 
I believe your job is a reporter not an interpreter.
 
I just need the media to report the facts and, with my voting, I'm able to interpret the facts and be in a position to hold any government to account. When I vote, if I disagree, I will hold them to account.
 
I have a graduate degree so I consider myself relatively smart. I don't need the media and you giving me your personal 'interpretation' of a situation in the government. I never read the editorial page of any newspaper...Why??.... Because if I know the facts from a story, I can make my own decision. Just give me the facts.

Your tonality in 98.7% of your reports on the Ontario government, obviously indicate your bias. I never hear anything against other parties.
 
You should be ashamed of yourself as a reporter........ Just give the facts and leave it to the listeners to make their own decision. 
 
Maybe Rogers/your superiors have told you to constantly criticize Ford's government. If that is so, and if you're that fragile,  Richard, quit the business or go to CBC.
 
Some of our greatest News reporters over the years just gave the facts.... Lloyd Robertson, Harvey Kirk, and even Peter Mansbridge at CBC.
 
Facts, facts, facts with no interpretation.
 
SW

     I'd like to hear some examples of where you think Richard is biased.  But comparing a reporter like him to news anchors like Lloyd, Harvey and Peter really defeats your argument.  A reporter and a news anchor have completely different jobs.  Talk about comparing apples to oranges.  And as someone else here has mentioned, what about Brian Lilley?
 

Last edited by dieter (July 5, 2025 1:52 am)

This may not be a popular take, but I'm impressed he took the time to write you back.

Brian Lilly is a right wing editorialist and pundit.
He is not a straight ahead reporter, though he might have been in the distant past.
Editorialists can write whatever they want (to a legal limit obviously)
Some people do not understand the difference between a reporter and a columnist.
 

pinto wrote:

I like Richard's reports... just sayin'

& so do  I.  

 

Last edited by Radiowiz (July 6, 2025 6:30 am)

pinto wrote:

I like Richard's reports... just sayin'

Me too!

RadioActive wrote:

It's always been my experience that muckraking reporters are common on a political beat. Everyone wants to challenge the man (or woman, depending on who's in charge) and get the next big scandal. The late Colin Vaughan at City TV was notorious for this. But he did get some great exclusives.

I think the only way to really judge whether Richard Southern is what Stefanie thinks he is is to see how he covers a future premier from a different party. My guess is he'll probably be just as tough on them because that's just part of the job. It's going to be a while until we find out because the next provincial election is a long way away.

A pretty fair assessment, IMO.

radiokid.....I'm not sure how you know what my political views are. Maybe I didn't avoid responding to him on incorrect items and sent a direct note . By the way, speaking of things that are wrong... It's Stefanie not Stephanie.. Duh!!

Jody Thornton wrote:

Stefanie wrote:

radiokid.....I'm not sure how you know what my political views are. Maybe I didn't avoid responding to him on incorrect items and sent a direct note . By the way, speaking of things that are wrong... It's Stefanie not Stephanie.. Duh!!

Ah ... the fine art of side-tracking to avoid addressing or reacting to a point.

Once again, Jody is bang on : )) .. as was radiokid & pretty much most others who've responded to the OP.

It's prudent to remind some that when one is in a hole, STOP digging .. Duh!!

 

A journalist has been shamed here. Examples, or an apology, would be appropriate.

Stefanie wrote:

.. I have a graduate degree so I consider myself relatively smart ..

so much to unpack .. dishing it out goes both ways .. 

re: I have a graduate degree
in what?

re: I have a graduate degree
from where? Trump U?

re: I consider myself relatively smart 
Dunning–Kruger effect ?

Stefanie wrote:

.. radiokid.....I'm not sure how you know what my political views are ..

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