November 3, 2006
In recognition of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms’ 25th anniversary, the one-day Media and the Charter Conference explored the media’s role in recognizing, representing, and responding to the Charter. Open to the public, the Conference provided an opportunity for stakeholders – including lawyers, academics, journalists, and members of the public – to learn and to engage with one another. Panelists included journalists, lawyers, academics, and the Edmonton Police Service.
You can access the full schedule here.
Conference Audio Recordings:
May be available upon request. Please contact the Centre’s Administrator at ccslaw@ualberta.ca.
Key Note Talk: Freedom of the Press – Rightsholders and Responsibilities under the Charter
- Michelle Mann (Lawyer, writer, consultant, and commentator on social justice issues)
Session 1: Journalistic responsibilities regarding the public consequences of media freedom
- Allan Mayer (Editor-in-Chief, Edmonton Journal)
- Daniel Burnett (Owen Bird Law Corporation)
- Shannon Phillips (Columnist, Vue Weekly)
- Greg Alcorn (Staff Sergeant and Manager, Corporate Communications, Edmonton Police Service)
Session 2: Reporting on equality issues
- Shannon Sampert (Department of Political Science, University of Winnipeg)
- Barbara Billingsley (Faculty of Law, University of Alberta) & Jim Rankin (Reporter-Photographer, Toronto Star)
- Patricia Paradis (Paradis & Associates)
Session 3: The “open court,” the public’s “right to know,” and the rights of litigants
- Michelle Somers (Executive Legal Officer for the Chief Justice, AB Court of Queen’s Bench)
- Matthew Woodley (Reynolds, Mirth, Richards & Farmer LLP)
- Jamie Cameron (Faculty of Law, York University)
- Janice Johnston (Broadcast Journalist)
Session 4: What should journalists know about the Constitution?
- Susan Harada (School of Journalism and Communication, Carleton University)
- Robert Bragg (Centre for Communications Studies, Mount Royal College)
- Janice Tibbetts (Legal Affairs Reporter, CanWest News Service)
