[LINK] "CBC reverses ban on journalist over Ghomeshi-Mansbridge remark"

[rfmcdonald]

The Globe and Mail's Simon Houpt notes the latest terrible misstep in reacting to the Jian Ghomeshi scandal. Trying to shut down Linden MacIntyre is a terrible idea, especially over discussions of workplace abuse.

The head of CBC’s news operation has overruled a directive that sought to bar the veteran journalist Linden MacIntyre from appearing on CBC News Network this week, after executives at the public broadcaster were offended by comments he made comparing chief anchor Peter Mansbridge to the disgraced radio host Jian Ghomeshi.

Jennifer McGuire, the general manager and editor-in-chief of CBC News and Centres, told The Globe on Thursday that Jennifer Harwood, the managing editor of CBC News Network, erred in sending out a memo late Wednesday announcing interviews that had been previously scheduled with Mr. MacIntyre in advance of his final report for The Fifth Estate had been canceled.

“Jennifer Harwood wrote a memo in the heat of the moment,” said Ms. McGuire. “The idea that Linden MacIntyre would be barred from the News Network is not true and is not what is going to happen.”

[. . .]

In her memo, titled “Standing up for Peter Mansbridge,” Ms. Harwood said Mr. MacIntyre had made “a disgraceful comment that is unfair and untrue. It’s time to stand up for Peter. And stand up for what’s good and right at the CBC.” She added: “The NN Execs and “the fifth estate” are aware that we are cancelling all Linden MacIntyre interviews on NN.”

In the Globe interview, which was published Wednesday afternoon, Mr. MacIntyre cited Mr. Ghomeshi’s “tantrums,” and said “he is allowed to bully and abuse people. You know, that’s the way it works, that’s what you put up with, whether it’s Mansbridge, [Peter] Gzowski, whatever. They were not like shrinking violets, either. So along comes Ghomeshi: ‘Oh, yea, he’s in the tradition of that.’ But somewhere along the way, it crosses a line. It does cross a line.”