Let’s Talk About Op-Ed Writers/Columnists

[Northendzone]

Ok CP I know the dislike for Francis, Spector and now Lilly - but I am interested in hearing the names of OpEd writers you like.

I’d prefer to keep the list to writers whose stuff is not behind paywalls - but if you have to, go ahead.

I’d like to focus mostly on general/political op-Ed writers, but will take sports journalists as well

[DoubleK]

I'm definitely in the minority but I don't mind Francis.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I'm definitely in the minority but I don't mind Francis.

Get him!!

[Wormius]

What is the purpose of the op ed writer? Maybe I have only be exposed to the bad ones because they often come across as paid shills, eg) Francis and Corbella.

[powderjunkie]

Corbella is the worst.


They are before my time (for when they actually wrote), but Tony Kornheiser and Dan Jenkins were great sports columnists.

For a 'generalist' columnist, I can't think of (m)any that are any could. I think you're far more likely to get a good thought provoker from a guest columnist writing about something they actually understand deeply than some schmoe who just pretends to know everything a little bit. Jen Gerson is the only good one that comes to mind at the moment.

[iggy_oi]

Rex Murphy for when I need a good laugh and a reminder that money can buy the promotion any narrative no matter how absurd

[SebC]

My first thought is that there is no such thing as a good op-ed writer. I want journalists to help me understand an issue, not push me towards an agenda.

[GGG]

I liked Andrew Coyne and Paul Wells when paper copies of Macleans were found in bathroom stalls. Now Coyne is behind a paywall at the Globe and Mail but is still a reasonable center right voice. His quality is down from what it used to be though.

Jen Gerson is pretty good. I enjoy that she gets called left by Conservative leaning voters in Alberta and right in her national work.

Jesse Brown of Canada Land - not quite op Ed and in podcast form only but I enjoy him and his guests because he provides Indigenous voices a platform and his general critique of the terrible state of news.

[Cowboy89]

All of them are awful adverts. Almost all op ed writers are bought and paid for by some interest whether that be political or corporate. Evidence - anyone writing about the Edmonton Oilers, Rex Murphy, and Katie Telford telling the PM that she'll line up op eds to tell the country what tp think about things. You're mind will be better off not reading and ignoring and forming your own opinions on things from hard facts.

[CliffFletcher]

I know newspaper columnists. They aren’t paid by anyone except their publisher. If there was money to be made on the side as the mouthpiece of private interests, a lot more people would be going into journalism rather than leaving the profession in droves.

As for columnists I enjoy:

Robyn Urbach - Globe and Mail (paywalled). Mostly politics. Manages to have personality and a bit of bite without descending into snark.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/authors/robyn-urback/

Conor Friedersdorf - the Atlantic (paywalled, 3 free articles a month). Politics and culture. Big picture issues from a liberal perspective.

https://www.theatlantic.com/author/conor-friedersdorf/

Yascha Mounk - the Atlantic (paywalled, 3 free articles a month). International politics and global trends. Looks beyond the minutia of day-to-day politics.

https://www.theatlantic.com/author/yascha-mounk/

Caitlin Flanagan - the Atlantic (paywalled, 3 free articles a month). Social issues and culture. Insightful and often funny.

https://www.theatlantic.com/author/caitlin-flanagan/

David Mitchell - the Guardian (free). Culture and humour. One of the funniest people alive (ie “are we the baddies?”)

https://www.theguardian.com/profile/davidmitchell

Most major newspapers and magazines have returned to a subscription model because Facebook took their ad revenue lunch.

Interestingly, the Economist not only doesn’t have opinion columnists, it doesn’t even have bylines. One of the most prestigious english-language newspapers/magazines and its writers are pretty much anonymous.

[PeteMoss]

There are very few good ones in Canadian newspapers these days. Like Cliff mentioned - the Global and Mail might be the only paper in Canada that doesn't have a obvious slant that rivals the worsts posts on CP - Postmedia will slag Trudeau/provincial lefties and Torstar will slag the Conservatives/provincials righties to the point where it's useless to read the op-eds because they will make a mountain of whatever molehill they can find and then move to the next molehill they can blow out of proportion.

[Mull]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Corbella is the worst.


They are before my time (for when they actually wrote), but Tony Kornheiser and Dan Jenkins were great sports columnists.

For a 'generalist' columnist, I can't think of (m)any that are any could. I think you're far more likely to get a good thought provoker from a guest columnist writing about something they actually understand deeply than some schmoe who just pretends to know everything a little bit. Jen Gerson is the only good one that comes to mind at the moment.

I honestly would like to see a Corbella article posted that didn't misrepresent the facts and told the entire truth


She seems to think if she is presenting an view it has to be bullet proof and can't account for other perspectives. Given most things have levels of grey it would be amazing if she realized showing the entire true perspective, as best one could, would make her worthwhile.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Mull

She seems to think if she is presenting an view it has to be bullet proof and can't account for other perspectives. Given most things have levels of grey it would be amazing if she realized showing the entire true perspective, as best one could, would make her worthwhile.

The marching orders most columnists get from their editors is to express a strong opinion and not be wishy-washy. Their job is to drive engagement, and readers who hate an opinion are as engaged (if not more engaged) as readers who agree with it.

Nobody should be looking to opinion pieces as their primary source of news. What’s far more concerning than columnists giving a one-sided perspective on an issue is news stories being one-sided.

[Mull]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The marching orders most columnists get from their editors is to express a strong opinion and not be wishy-washy. Their job is to drive engagement, and readers who hate an opinion are as engaged (if not more engaged) as readers who agree with it.

Nobody should be looking to opinion pieces as their primary source of news. What’s far more concerning than columnists giving a one-sided perspective on an issue is news stories being one-sided.

#### here I have been strictly reading the rebel and the Narwhal as my only news sources!

Joking aside, that's fair and I wasn't implying I anyone should read them as a primary news source. I just don't think it weakens ones argument by addressing the associated flaws up front, instead of ignoring them. For me, it strengthens their view as I feel they have actually thought through the issue.

But I hear you on engagement and the current purpose of columnist in our world today. Sucks but I guess its how we are wired.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I know newspaper columnists. They aren’t paid by anyone except their publisher. If there was money to be made on the side as the mouthpiece of private interests, a lot more people would be going into journalism rather than leaving the profession in droves.

It doesn't have to be directly financial, there are other forms of graft. Corbella almost certainly gets an annual invite to the Scurfield's cabin in exchange for puff pieces on Sunshine Village. Of course she'd never disclose such a CoI.

Other times it can be a career security hedge - maintain good relationships for the Comms Directors at huge companies who give a wink that they'll hire you if you ever need the work.

Most people go into journalism with morals and principles...another reason people are fleeing is because they are ashamed of their company and/or don't want to be involved in shady unspecified advertorials, etc.

[karl262]

Rick Bell.

Instead of calling it City Hall he calls it Silly Hall. Genius!

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by karl262

Rick Bell.

Instead of calling it City Hall he calls it Silly Hall. Genius!

Seems a little verbose for the Dinger. May I give it a go?


Rick Bell.

City Hall?

No.

Silly Hall.

A Big Blue Playpen.

Hear that sound?

Ding-a-ling.

Time's up!


Rick Bell.

[Matata]

The writer must answer to a team of editors and the editors must answer to a board of directors, the directors are beholden to a complex web of business interests. How many media companies can you name that arent a part of a massive corporate conglomerate?

[Mull]

Originally Posted by Matata

The writer must answer to a team of editors and the editors must answer to a board of directors, the directors are beholden to a complex web of business interests. How many media companies can you name that arent a part of a massive corporate conglomerate?

I don't think a massive corporates conglomerate are more or less trustworthy then an independent media company.

Independent media companies have their own BoD, and business interests.

Heck, lets go even smaller, less cooperate - independent bloggers without BoD can and are skewed

Each company gets rated on its on individual basis, I don't think it being owned by a corporates conglomerate impacts its rating.

[Cappy]

Andrew Coyne and Jen Gerson are my go-to's in Canadian politics. Their twitter accounts are hilarious in that people accuse them of being both in the pockets of conservatives and liberals over the same article.