Telegraph-Journal

Last updated

Telegraph-Journal
Telegraph Journal Wordmark.svg
Telegraph Journal Cover.jpg
Front page of the Telegraph Journal
Type Daily newspaper
Format Broadsheet
Owner(s) Postmedia Network
Founded1862
Headquarters380 Bayside Drive
Saint John, New Brunswick
E2L 2X7
Circulation 233,549 Weekly
Readership~100,000 Daily
Sister newspapers The Daily Gleaner
Times & Transcript
Website tj.news/telegraph-journal

The Telegraph-Journal is a daily newspaper published in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, owned by Postmedia Network. It serves as both a provincial daily and as a local newspaper for Saint John. The Telegraph-Journal is the only New Brunswick-based English-language newspaper to be distributed province-wide, and has the highest readership in the province at a weekly circulation of 233,549 and a daily readership of about 100,000.

Contents

In May 2022 the Monday print edition was discontinued, and in March 2023 the print edition was reduced to three days a week. Daily news coverage continues online. [1]

History

The paper has been published out of Saint John since 1862, when it was started as The Morning Telegraph. [2] The paper merged with several other New Brunswick papers in the following decades: the Morning Journal in 1869, [3] The Sun in 1910, [4] and The Daily Journal in 1923, which is when it first adopted the name Telegraph-Journal. [5] Capitalist Kenneth Colin (K.C.) Irving, without formal announcement bought New Brunswick Publishing and the Telegraph-Journal, as well as a local Saint John radio station CHSJ in 1944. Eventually word got out that Irving had bought the paper as he began purchasing others in the province. [6]

In 1998, the Irving family created Brunswick News to merge their various media holdings, including the Telegraph-Journal. [7] In 2022, Toronto-based Postmedia acquired Brunswick News for $7.5 million cash and $8.6 million in variable voting shares. [8] [9]

Controversies

The Telegraph-Journal has been the focus of controversy several times, with allegations of media control, bias and advocacy journalism on behalf of business and political interests. A report from the Canadian Senate in 2006 on media control in Canada singled out New Brunswick because of the Irving companies' ownership of all English-language daily newspapers in the province, including the Telegraph-Journal. Senator Joan Fraser, author of the Senate report, stated, "We didn't find anywhere else in the developed world a situation like the situation in New Brunswick." [10] The report went further, stating, "the Irvings' corporate interests form an industrial-media complex that dominates the province" to a degree "unique in developed countries." At the Senate hearing, journalists and academics cited Irving newspapers' lack of critical reporting on the family's influential businesses. [11]

Irving family scion Jamie Irving took over as publisher in 2005, after which criticism of the Telegraph-Journal's journalism became even more prevalent. This was particularly notable during the newspaper's reporting of issues related to electricity rates and NB Power, the crown corporation responsible for power generation and distribution. Editorials argued against rate increases that would harm J.D. Irving Ltd but failed to acknowledge the conflict of interest. [12]

In 2009 the Telegraph-Journal weathered a storm of national attention after a series of incidents that raised issues regarding the newspaper's credibility. The Telegraph-Journal faced charges of political bias when it fired intern Matt McCann for writing a story about a protest against the award by the University of New Brunswick of an honorary degree to New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham. In response to the firing, respected professors from the University of New Brunswick, Mount Allison University and St. Thomas University announced a boycott of the newspaper. [13] [14]

Further controversy arose over the Telegraph-Journal's reporting of municipal affairs in Saint John. The newspaper ran a series of stories alleging mismanagement and inappropriate conduct by the City Manager and senior staff, based on what were later seen as fabrications, and faced allegations that it was using negative coverage to blackmail the City into making changes in administration and the tax rate. This led to a very public conflict between the Mayor and the newspaper. [15]

Shortly after, in the "Wafergate" affair, Telegraph-Journal editors altered a news story about the funeral of Governor General Roméo LeBlanc to allege that the Prime Minister of Canada 'pocketed' a communion wafer while attending. The resulting controversy dominated national news coverage. Embarrassingly, the Telegraph-Journal was later forced to retract the allegation and apologize for fabricating the story after its own reporters threatened a lawsuit over editorial manipulation. The newspaper's credibility suffered further under critical national media attention. [16] Editor Shawna Richer was dismissed and publisher Jamie Irving was suspended. [13] [17] A well-respected editor was brought in from outside the province to rehabilitate the publication, though Jamie Irving quietly returned to manage the Telegraph-Journal later in the year.

Controversy continued in 2009 when a Telegraph-Journal writer plagiarized an entire story from the French-language paper, L’Acadie Nouvelle. The incident triggered another apology from the Telegraph-Journal. [12]

In 2015 the Telegraph-Journal once again came under scrutiny over its efforts to obtain, as part of a campaign for greater transparency into government lobbying and partisanship, lists of guests at the Government of New Brunswick's "Larry’s Gulch" luxury fishing lodge. An employee of Brunswick News, the newspaper's parent organization, had been a guest at the lodge and contrived to have his own name deleted from the lists prior to publication. Brunswick News had become aware of this ethical breach but didn't act until another news outlet, Canadaland, was about to break the story. The employee was forced out, and despite its earlier fervour for transparency the Telegraph-Journal quietly dropped further efforts to publish Larry's Gulch guest lists. [18] Court proceedings in 2019 suggested that greater Irving family control over the newspaper's editorial direction was a factor in how the organization handled this affair. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

The New Brunswick New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial political party in New Brunswick, Canada linked with the federal New Democratic Party (NDP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick</span> Canadian provincial political party

The Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick is a right wing conservative political party in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. The party has its origins in the pre-Canadian confederation Conservative Party that opposed the granting of responsible government to the colony. It has historically followed the Red Tory tradition. The Progressive Conservative Party currently leads the provincial government since 2018 under Premier Blaine Higgs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CBAT-DT</span> CBC Television station in Fredericton, New Brunswick

CBAT-DT is a CBC Television station in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. It has common ownership with Moncton-based Ici Radio-Canada Télé station CBAFT-DT. CBAT-DT's studios are located on Regent Street and Vanier Highway in Fredericton, and its transmitter is located on Rice Hill. CBAT originally broadcast from a transmitter located on Mount Champlain near Saint John, its city of licence until 2011, and operated a network of rebroadcasters throughout the province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station</span> Nuclear power plant in New Brunswick, Canada. CANDU reactor

Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station is a nuclear power station located 2 km northeast of Point Lepreau, New Brunswick, Canada. The facility was constructed between 1975 and 1983 by NB Power, the provincially owned public utility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irving Oil</span> Canadian oil company

Irving Oil Ltd. is a Canadian privately-owned intergenerational gasoline, oil, and natural gas producing and exporting company, a subsidiary of the parent company Irving Group of Companies,—one of the largest "private conglomerates" in North America. Irving Oil was one established in 1924 by Canadian oil baron and billionaire, Kenneth "K.C." Irving, whose family fortune when he died in 1992 was estimated by Forbes at USD$5 billion. His son, Arthur, became chairman and president of Irving Oil.

Neil Reynolds was a Canadian journalist, editor and former leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada.

<i>Calgary Herald</i> Daily newspaper published in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The Calgary Herald is a daily newspaper published in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Publication began in 1883 as The Calgary Herald, Mining and Ranche Advocate, and General Advertiser. It is owned by the Postmedia Network.

<i>Times & Transcript</i> Canadian newspaper published in Moncton, New Brunswick

The Times & Transcript is a newspaper from Moncton, New Brunswick. It serves Greater Moncton and eastern New Brunswick. Its offices and printing facilities are located on Main Street in Downtown Moncton. The paper is published by Postmedia Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. D. Irving</span> Canadian privately-owned multigenerational conglomerate

J.D. Irving Limited (JDI) is a privately owned conglomerate company headquartered in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. It is a subsidiary of the parent company, Irving Group of Companies, along with Irving Oil Refinery, Canaport, Irving Tissue, Irving Equipment, Kent Building Supplies, New Brunswick Railway, New Brunswick Southern Railway, Eastern Maine Railway, Maine Northern Railway, Brunswick News, Acadia Broadcasting, Irving Shipbuilding, Cavendish Farms. It is involved in many industries including forestry, forestry products, agriculture, food processing, transportation, and shipbuilding. JDI company forms, with Irving Oil, Ocean Capital Investments and Brunswick News, the bulk of the Irving Group of Companies, which groups the interests of the Irving family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NB Power</span> Electric utility company

New Brunswick Electric Power Corporation, operating as NB Power, is the primary electric utility in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. NB Power is a vertically-integrated Crown corporation by the government of New Brunswick and is responsible for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. NB Power serves all the residential and industrial power consumers in New Brunswick, with the exception of those in Saint John, Edmundston and Perth-Andover who are served by Saint John Energy, Energy Edmundston, and the Perth-Andover Electric Light Commission, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rothesay (electoral district)</span> Provincial electoral district in New Brunswick, Canada

Rothesay is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. The riding consists of the Town of Rothesay and its surroundings.

The Daily Gleaner is a morning daily newspaper serving the city of Fredericton, New Brunswick, and the upper Saint John River Valley. The paper was printed Monday through Saturday, until dropping to Tuesday through Saturday in 2022 and announced it would only publish the printed copy three days a week starting March 2023. Daily news coverage continues online. It began operating in 1880. In April 2006, the paper switched from afternoon to morning publication. The offices of the Daily Gleaner are located on Alison Boulevard on the city's south side.

<i>Bugle-Observer</i>

The Bugle-Observer is a newspaper based in Woodstock, New Brunswick, which provides local news to Carleton and York Counties. The paper publishes twice weekly, on Tuesday and a weekend edition on Friday.

Brunswick News Inc. (BNI) was a Canadian newspaper publishing company based on Bloor Street in Toronto. Once privately owned by James K. Irving and based in Saint John, New Brunswick, it was sold to Postmedia Network in 2022.

The Green Party of New Brunswick was formed in November 2008 to run in provincial elections. It is a registered Green political party in New Brunswick, Canada. A founding convention was held on November 15, 2008, in Moncton where the membership adopted a constitution, and a charter of principles to guide the development of policies and platforms. A 12-member Executive Committee was elected.

Postmedia Network Canada Corp. is a foreign owned Canadian based media conglomerate consisting of the publishing properties of the former Canwest, with primary operations in English-language newspaper publishing, news gathering and Internet operations. It is best known for being the owner of the National Post and the Financial Post. The company is headquartered at Postmedia Place on Bloor Street in Toronto.

The proposed sale of NB Power was an attempted takeover of New Brunswick's Crown corporation public utility assets by Hydro-Québec, Canada's largest utility. Announced on October 29, 2009, by premiers Shawn Graham of New Brunswick and Jean Charest of Quebec, the deal ultimately collapsed in March 2010 after months of controversy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blaine Higgs</span> Premier of New Brunswick since 2018

Blaine Myron Higgs is a Canadian politician who is the 34th and current premier of New Brunswick since 2018 and leader of the New Brunswick Progressive Conservative Party since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 New Brunswick general election</span>

The 2014 New Brunswick general election was held on September 22, 2014, to elect 49 members to the 58th New Brunswick Legislative Assembly, the governing house of the province of New Brunswick, Canada.

The Irving Group of Companies is an informal name given to those companies owned and controlled by the Irving family of New Brunswick—descendants of Canadian industrialist K.C. Irving: his sons James K., Arthur, and Jack (1932–2010), and their respective children.

References

  1. ↑ Poitras, Jacques (7 February 2023). "English-language dailies in N.B. will print only 3 days a week". CBC News. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  2. ↑ "The Morning Telegraph (Saint John, New Brunswick: 1862)". New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project. University of New Brunswick Libraries. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "St. John Daily Telegraph and Morning Journal (1869)". New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project. University of New Brunswick Libraries. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Daily Telegraph and The Sun (Saint John, New Brunswick: 1910)". New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project. University of New Brunswick Libraries. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Telegraph Journal (1923)". New Brunswick Historical Newspapers Project. University of New Brunswick Libraries. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  6. ↑ Poitras, Jacques (2014). Irving vs. Irving: Canada's Feuding Billionaires And The Stories They Won't Tell. Toronto: Penguin Canada. ISBN   978-0-14-319302-9.[ page needed ]
  7. ↑ Poitras, Jacques (2014). Irving vs. Irving: Canada's Feuding Billionaires And The Stories They Won't Tell. Toronto: Penguin Canada. p. 200. ISBN   978-0-14-319302-9.
  8. ↑ "Postmedia buys Telegraph-Journal, other N.B. papers". TJ.news. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  9. ↑ Ibrahim, Hadeel (18 February 2022). "Irving-owned New Brunswick newspapers to be sold to Postmedia". CBC News. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "CBC: Feds must examine Irving media empire". 12 October 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  11. ↑ "The Star: Hot scoop burns reporter at Irving paper". Toronto Star . 17 June 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Ryerson Review of Journalism: The Calm after the Storm". 23 June 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  13. 1 2 "CBC: Publisher, editor out over wafer story". 28 July 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  14. ↑ "Columbia Journalism Review: Three Strikes and You're Fired". 26 June 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  15. ↑ "CBC: Saint John mayor claims Irving demanded city hall changes". 29 June 2009.
  16. ↑ "Macleans: Er, never mind". 28 July 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  17. ↑ "Changes Confirmed at Local Paper". 29 July 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  18. ↑ "CBC: 2 Moncton Times & Transcript editors out after ethics probe". 16 February 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  19. ↑ "CBC: Trial begins in NB editor's fishing-lodge firing case". 24 June 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.