Almost 17 years after the federal Access to Information Act was introduced some journalists are still questioning if the act helps them get the facts. 

“To some degree it has opened up new avenues to stories and allowed journalists to get stories they may not otherwise have been able to find such as the spending habits of politicians,” writes Bryan Cantley, from the Canadian Newspaper Association, during an e-mail interview. “But the Act contains so many restrictions and exemptions that it also hampers journalists who find requests so riddled with censored material that the information is often useless.”

Media ownership.

It is undeniably the controlling factor in just about every facet of information we receive as consumers, and increasingly we are seeing the trend towards not simply ownership, but conglomeration.

Mega-corporations are sweeping their way through the media. That much is certain just by looking at the recent record of acquisitions and mergers. Conrad Black, for instance, now owns 60 of the 101 daily newspapers in Canada. And just south of the border, Time-Warner and America Online (AOL) completed the largest merger in media history last year. These are not anomalies. They are an industry-wide trend. The net result of this trend is now left open to debate.

Sports at all levels have an impact on society.  Whether we play or watch, sporting events and athletes can inspire, motivate, and provide entertainment to millions of people. 

The media play a vital role in society as well.  Their purpose is to inform the public, inspire and motivate action, and can also be used in some forms for entertainment.

By now, most Calgarians have heard about the labour dispute at the Calgary Herald. Since November 8, the Local 115A, Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada and Local 34M of the Graphic Communications International Union have been on strike. Picket lines, placards and posturing for local, national and international media. Plenty of stories published.

So how do the two sides feel about the coverage they've received? It depends which side you talk to, but the consensus is that the amount of coverage has been adequate.