Current News & Events / Press Releases



Spring 2010 Newsletter - Volume 3
Keeping you informed with our current newsletter.
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May 18, 2010 - Looking for Public Directors

The Alberta Press Council is seeking applications for three Public Directors, from the circulation areas of the Edmonton Journal, the Calgary Herald and AWNA. The
successful candidates will serve on the Press Council for a three year term.

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May 18, 2010

Ms. Bauni Mackay, chair, Alberta Press Council announces the election of Dr. Joan Scott to the position of public member, Alberta Press Council for a second term of three years. She currently instructs in the Bachelor of Education program at Red Deer College and is actively involved in the health, sport, and education spheres in Red Deer. Dr. Scott has been an active member of the press council since 2007 and is currently chair of the Policy & Procedures committee. Scott represents the readership area of the Red Deer Advocate.



May 18, 2010

Ms. Bauni Mackay, chair, Alberta Press Council announces the election of Dr. Ian MacLachlan to the position of public member, Alberta Press Council for a second term of three years. An economic geographer, Ian is a Professor of Geography at the University of Lethbridge and is currently the Editor of The Canadian Geographer / Le Geographe Canadien. Dr. MacLachlan has been an active member of the press council since 2007. MacLachlan represents the readership area of the Lethbridge Herald.



May 17, 2010

Directors are pleased to announce that Ms. Bauni Mackay of Edmonton, AB is the Alberta Press Council’s new chair. Her term will expire spring, 2013.

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2010 Scholarship Winner Announced

Ed Kamps, chair of the Alberta Press Council is pleased to announce that the 2010 Essay Competition Scholarship of $2,000 is presented to Mr. Marjun A. Parcasio, a grade twelve student at Old Scona Academic High School, Edmonton, AB. Mr. Parcasio has been accepted to the Joint Honours Baccalaureate in Social Sciences in “History and Political Science (French Immersion) program offered in English, for the Fall 2010 session at the University of Ottawa, ON.

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Right To Know

Tuesday October 6, 2009 - Calgary, Alberta - Knowledge is Power: Access to information in Alberta. A forum celebrating the Right to Know

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Right To Know

Wednesday October 7, 2009 - Edmonton, Alberta - Knowledge is Power: Access to information in Alberta. A forum celebrating the Right to Know

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Brown Vs. Brooks

Friday, July 3, 2009 - The Alberta Press Council has upheld a complaint against The Brooks & County Chronicle made by Rob Brown, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

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2009 Scholarship Winner Announced

Ed Kamps, chair of the Alberta Press Council is pleased to announce that the 2009 Essay Competition Scholarship of $2,000 will be presented to Ms. Erin C. Valentine, a grade twelve student at Strathcona High School, Edmonton, AB. Ms. Valentine plans on attending the University of Alberta in the fall in the Bachelor of Science program.

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Spring 2010 Newsletter - Volume 2
Keeping you informed with our current newsletter.
: CLICK HERE TO READ :



February 9, 2009
Ed Kamps, chair wrote to the Edmonton Journal as a letter to the editor regarding National Media Councils. READ MORE ...



December 19, 2008

The Alberta Press Council has dismissed a complaint by Tony Morneau of Edmonton, that an October 19, 2008 headline in the Edmonton Journal, “TERRORISTS TARGET U.S.A. VIA ALBERTA” was not an accurate statement.

Mr. Morneau complained that “nowhere in the ensuing article is this unequivocal statement of fact supported”. He also stated that the Edmonton Journal didn’t know if terrorists are targeting Alberta – it is pure speculation. Mr. Morneau pointed out that there had been two explosions at sour gas pipelines in British Columbia in the preceding week and felt that the Journal was reporting to its readers that it had determined that terrorists are targeting the US by hitting the energy supply that travels through the energy infrastructure that travels through Alberta.

The story, printed on the front page, described a conference in Calgary attended by specialists and consultants in the field of security and emergency response. The story contained numerous quotes from several of the consultants.

With respect to accuracy, the Alberta Press Council’s Code of Practice states that “It is the duty of newspapers to avoid publishing inaccurate or misleading statements and further, that it is the duty of newspapers to correct promptly, and with due prominence, significant inaccuracies or such misleading statements”

In dismissing the complaint, the Alberta Press Council did note that the headline was provocative, but it did reflect the proposition being put forward by the persons being quoted in the news story, adding that the function of a headline is not to tell the full story, but rather to draw the reader’s attention to the story.

Respectfully submitted,

Colleen Wilson
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Alberta Press Council
P O Box 2576
Medicine Hat, AB T1A 8G8

abpress@telus.net
www.albertapresscouncil.ca
Telephone: 1-888-580-4104 (Alberta)
Telephone: 1-403-580-4104



The Future Of Press Councils
Ed Kamps, chair was a member of a panel on the “Future of Press Councils” at the Canadian Press Council bi-annual meeting in Quebec City in October. This is the text of his speech. READ MORE ...



Fall Newsletter
Keeping you informed with our current newsletter. READ MORE ...



Fall Forum 2008
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May 22nd, 2008 - Scholarship Winners Announced

Ed Kamps, chair of the Alberta Press Council is pleased to announce that the 2008 Scholarship of $1500. is presented to Ms. Caitlin Marie Fortier, a grade twelve student at Sturgeon Composite High School, Namao, AB. Ms. Fortier lives in Gibbons, AB. and plans on attending the University of Alberta in the fall.

Caitlin’s essay titled:
“Treasure in the Trash: Why Society Needs Sensationalism”
was judged to be the winning essay over 41 submissions received on the topic: “Has Newspaper Reporting On Crime Become Too Sensational?”

Mr. Kamps also announces the 2008 Scholarship of $500. is presented to Ms. Lynsey Grosfield, a grade twelve student at Bev Lacey Community High School, Sherwood Park, AB. Ms. Grosfield plans on attending McGill University in Montreal, Quebec in the fall.

Lynsey’s essay titled:
“Sordid Stories of Scandals, Sex and Slayings”
was judged to be the second place essay over 41 submissions received on the topic:
“Has Newspaper Reporting on Crime Become Too Sensational?”

Dr. Ian MacLachlan, chair of the Scholarship Committee states: the scholarship committee comprised of Tanis Fiss, public member, Calgary Herald readership area; Clare Gauvreau, press member, AWNA and David Forbes, public member, Medicine Hat News readership area “has now completed its work and read and graded 41 essays that were received from across the province from grade twelve students”. “The scholarship committee spent considerable time reviewing and scoring each paper based on creativity, style and content. The winning essays were selected from among a large and competitive field with many fine qualities and interesting arguments about crime reporting in newspapers. The difficult adjudication process was made all the more challenging by the high quality of essays received”. Each student submitting an essay “brought their intellect to bear on a problem of social relevance and this was done very well indeed.”

2008 Essay Winners
Congratulations to our 2008 Essay Winners.

1st Place - Caitlin Marie Fortier
: READ ESSAY :

2nd Place Essay - Lynsey Grosfield
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For more information on our scholarships and our 2009 eligibility criteria, please view our SCHOLARSHIPS page.



Announcing - World Press Freedom Day.
Before this day is over, two journalists will be imprisoned somewhere in the world. By the end of the week a reporter will be killed. READ MORE ...



April 18th, 2008 - Announcing Selection of Public Member For Fort McMurray

Mr. Ed Kamps, chair, Alberta Press Council announces the selection of Steven Wright, Business Development Manager at Unified Systems Group to the position of public member, Alberta Press Council. Mr. Wright will represent the readership area of member newspaper, Fort McMurray Today and begins his three year term on the Alberta Press Council this spring.

Mr. Wright, a Journeyman Communication Technician is involved with Leadership Wood Buffalo and is an active volunteer in the Fort McMurray community.

The Alberta Press Council welcomes Mr. Wright to the council and looks forward to his participation.

The Alberta Press Council serves to protect the public’s interest in access to full, fair and accurate news reporting. As a non-judicial, non-governmental review board, the Alberta Press Council considers complaints from the public about the conduct and the performance of its member newspapers.

The Press Council serves to preserve the freedom of the press while providing a forum for greater understanding and communication between the press and the public.



Fall Forum 2007
The Fall Forum Was A Success!
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2007 Essay Winners
Congratulations to our 2007 Essay Winners.

1st Place - Emma J. Curran - Grade 12 Student at Ponoka Composite High School
: READ ESSAY :

2nd Place Essay - Melissa Tierney - Grade 12 Student at Cochrane High School
: READ ESSAY :

For more information on our scholarships and our 2009 eligibility criteria, please view our SCHOLARSHIPS page.