‘A great benefit to the community’
Dear editor,
I found it disheartening to read the editorial in the January 30, 2020 edition of the Fitzhugh concerning the suspension of court reporting in the Fitzhugh.
In an age where local newspapers and local court reporting are going the way of the dodo bird, I always felt it was a great benefit to the community of Jasper that there was a general court beat section of the Fitzhugh twice per month.
The reporting on the court news in the Fitzhugh was always fair and quite accurate often even more so than what one would find in the dailies of larger Canadian centres.
From time to time there would even be occasions where Fitzhugh articles on a past sentence imposed on unreported cases were used as precedent in subsequent proceedings of similar nature.
The open court system is a core tenet of the Canadian Judicial system and democracy as a whole. It ensures that justice is not only done but also seen to be done. It sets Canada and other democratic nations apart from despotic ones where trials are conducted in private without public observation.
There is nothing that the Fitzhugh ought to be ashamed of in reporting court results as they are a public record.
I am hopeful that in the future the Fitzhugh will reconsider its decision to suspend court reporting and return to the courts. After all the courts belong to the people and media reporting plays a role in bringing the court to the people.
Ian Ross
Crown Counsel
Alberta Federal Prosecution Agents
‘Most people have nothing to fear’
Dear editor,
I was disappointed to learn you will not be having a court news section anymore. I think the decision should be submitted to a general vote or a pool among the community.
I understand the points raised in your editorial note for both sides. But overall I think there is more benefit than harm to having court news, as long as they are presented in an objective and compassionate manner when it comes to sensitive populations.
Also, most of the people have nothing to fear. When you take illegal actions you shouldn't expect to remain anonymous.
Nobody is perfect in all spheres of life, but if you're a good citizen and live with a clear conscience, you shouldn't have anything to fear.
I hope the court news will be back at some point.
People (including me) don't understand all the rules around objective journalism and even less about court procedures. It is not a reason to give in instead of educating the community and having a more transparent society.
I am very sorry to learn you've had threats because of it. At the same time, in some jobs, like journalism and law enforcement, having threats and complaints against you means you're doing things right and following the right principles - as long as after peer and expert review, these complaints are unfounded.
Keep up with the good work. I enjoy reading your paper.
Mauricio Arango
Jasper, AB
Getting away from ‘negative factors’
Dear editor,
The article presented in the recent paper was very interesting to me and would like to express my view.
I moved to Jasper just over a year ago. Living and working in resorts for 30+ years across Canada.
When I first read your local paper I noticed right away at times full page reports on people's court reports and mistakes they made.
I right away asked myself and others why on Earth would a local small paper commit to this feature.
I choose to live in mountain resorts to get away from negative factors in the world, hoping not to see or read about it.
What's more interesting is how I have never seen an article about how employees are treated here in Jasper how some staff accommodations are horrible and lacking.
Some business turn a blind eye to drug use corruption and I have even witnessed prostitution on the job site all the while the business knowing.
My thoughts are this, maybe to help strengthen the fact or facts of working in Jasper could be more brought out by positive reporting. Or reporting on the ones somewhat responsible.
All in all there are better things to write about. This after all is supposed to be a protected national park. People included.
Christopher Isbister
Jasper, AB
‘Small towns keep you honest’
Dear editor,
I just read the editorial ‘Addressing Court News’.
I don’t know all the facts concerning the story that was published that brought this on. I did read some locals voicing their displeasure with the reporting on these ‘facts’ on Facebook awhile back. But like I said, I don’t know the entire background of the issue.
Mediacouncil.ca/complaint is a good place to start instead of fanning the flames on social media like Facebook. Or asking the Fitzhugh for a retraction if the story was false?
I don’t have an opinion one way or another, since I don’t know the facts. All I know is, the court report is one of my favourite parts of this newspaper.
I like to know what my neighbours are up to, especially if they are breaking the law.
I moved to this small town from the big, impersonal city, knowing it is a small town. I think small towns keep you honest, since everyone knows your business.
I hope this issue can be resolved and the court report is once again a feature of the Fitzhugh.
Katie Davies
Jasper, AB
