Public Statement From CBC Defending Its STL Report

I just received the statement below in my inbox and I figured you guys would be interested in reading it (Emphasis is that of CBC). It’s interesting that the CBC felt the need to publish this. This means that some of the campaigns to discredit McDonald and the CBC were hitting home.

I’m interested in knowing if after reading it you’ll have more confidence in the report.

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Public statement re:
CBC News report on the assassination
of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri
December 2, 2010

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) holds that it is the role of journalists to serve as independent monitors and reporters of events and issues in the public interest.

For almost 75 years, CBC News has earned its reputation as an internationally-respected news organization, committed to fair and factual public service journalism. It is among few in the world bound by established Journalistic Standards and Practices and accountable to the public through an independent public ombudsman.

The circumstances surrounding the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri represent an important story that deserves to be investigated and reported in full.

Neil Macdonald’s recent investigative report is an example of CBC’s ongoing commitment to public service journalism. Mr. Macdonald is a respected, award-winning correspondent who over many years has reported breaking stories around the world, including those while based in the Middle East, Washington and Ottawa. He has a well-established reputation for serious, factual and independent journalism. Mr. Macdonald’s report, like all CBC journalism, was subject to rigorous fact-checking and editing.

CBC News stands by its decision to broadcast the November 22, 2010 report on the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Mr. Hariri and the subsequent investigation by the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The report came after many months of investigation that included interviews with those directly involved in the investigation and drew on related internal documents. We will continue to report on this matter as circumstances warrant.

Established in 1936, CBC/Radio-Canada is the country’s national public broadcaster and operates independently of government. CBC News is the largest broadcast news organization in Canada with bureaus around the world.

Jennifer McGuire
General Manager and Editor in Chief

CBC News