19 ~ Sunday, January 24, 1999 — North Shore News
north shore news

MAIL Box

Author takes issue with co

Dear Editor:

In November columnist
Trevor Laurens wrote a col-
umn in your paper personally
attacking. me for comments 1
made about Conrad Black's
new National Post newspaper.
He also criticized Rafe Mair
for having me on his show to
analyze the new paper.

Mr. Lautens described me

“A Saskatchewan NDPer.”
He then, in a gratuitously
offensive manner, says
“Dobbin is so far up the NDP
that he is lodged somewhere
in its throat ..

T have never been a mem-
ber of the NDP either in B.C.
or in Saskatchewan, nor have
J worked for them.

Compounding his shoddy

journalism, Lautens mistak-
enly says 1] work for the B.C.
Teachers’ Federation, a posi-
tion | Jeft over owo years ago.

1 make my fiving from
writing and in that context
rely on my non-partisanship
as an integral part of my rep-
utation as an objective jour-
nalist.

Mr. Lautens’ column was a
deliberate attempt to portray
me as an uncritical promoter
of the NDP. He acknowl-
edges that I do journalistic
work and therefore, as a jour-
nalist himself, knows that
such a characterization would
be damaging to my reputa-
tion as a journalist.

The column suggests, that
because Iam “an NDPer” |

should not be given air time
on Mr. Mair’s program. In
other words, he puts into
question my qualifications as
a journalist.

For the record, E have
been a journalist, broadcaster
and author for over 30 years
and I am nationally recog-

‘nized as such.

The personal insults and
factual errors aside, what Mr.
Lautens is trying to do is to
shut down political debate in
this province by publicly
attacking another media out-
let for allowing air time to
somcone he happens to dis-
agree with.

Unwilling to even check
his facts — abour me or abour
one of the issues raised on the

WAKE-UP
VANCOUVER!

: Le a
. "(a0 iiss

Bottom-Line Prices epean 0

-f te wae ‘ly

B.C.’s FOREMOST SLEEP SPECIALISTS
Family Owned & Operated For Over 38 Years

12948 Rupert St, Vani (ot Grandview nwyi- 434-9148

Rate Mair show — he is con-
tent to use bully tactics to
silence other views. That he
did so in predictable defence
of his emplover, Conrad
Black, further lessens his
credibility,

Democracy cannot thrive
or even survive without an
informed citizenry and that
means citizens who are pro-
vided with a range of political
viewpoints to ponder.

By printing Mr. Lautens’
personal attack on me, the
North Shore News implicit-
ly endorses a crude attempt to
silence me, hardly an hon-
ourable action for a commu-
nity newspaper.

Murray Dobbin
Vancouver

Andrew WS. Donald
\- President

on

All Qrapery Labour
including specialties

Supreme Venetian

Blinds
Sale ends January 31/99

? BETTER

MC

Pervez H. Patel
Investment Manager

CANADIAN

INVESTMENT CONSULTANTS

(888) INC.

oy invite you to attend an held Nght

7

Mutual Fund Inv resting:

» ESTATE AND TAX PLANNING
Guest Speakers: Richard Bennett & Diana Reid

Lang Michener Lawrence & Shaw

> RRSP’s - Tax Time Bomb?? Retirement Planning
> TAX SAVINGS: Mutual Funds - Annuities!
> WORLD MARIETS - Outlook for 1999 & beyond

RSVP to Jeroo or Margaret at 436-3556 to reserve seais.

Sponsored by:

This doesn't mean you can g
into 20% more accidents.

Now you can save up to 20% on optional auto insurance. Just drop by your nearest branch for details. And please, drive safely.

BLUNDELL 272-9309 * BRoADMOOK 272-017) * Camuie 273-1195 * COMMERCIAL SERVICES 279-5399 * CoQquiTLAM 941-8183 * GEORGIA STREET 682-7728 ¢ IRONWOOD 271-8181
RicttMOND CENTRE 273-7838 * Scott Roap 572-8900 * STEvesTON 272-5900 * TsawWassEN 948-0738 « Wesr VANCOUVER 926-2612 * Wuite Rock 536-12¢1

Linderwinen by Canadian Northern Shield Insurance Company

Richmond Savings Insurance Services Lad.