Be it tariffs or his overall negative viewpoint of Canada, U.S. President Donald Trump has caused us to look inward as a country and cherish what we’ve always had within our borders.
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we → cause → borders
Many of us are now seeking more Canadian content — whether that means travel destinations or keeping a sharper eye out for Canadian-made products.
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that → seek → products
As a result, for a while now I’ve also been seeing more letters to the public editor’s office from our readers demanding more Canadian content in the Star.
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I → see → Star
It’s a request the Star takes very seriously.
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Star → ’ → ?
For example, several readers took exception recently to an article we ran online that was originally published by the Associated Press (AP) news wire service.
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that → take → service
The story was about the flu vaccine in the U.S. and October being the month to help protect oneself against the virus.
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October → help → virus
For background, the Star, like most mainstream media outlets around the world, publishes content from AP, a long-trusted New York-based news agency that employs journalists who produce articles, features and photography.
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who → publish → articles
Their content — much of it pertaining to the U.S. — is provided to outlets like the Star that pay AP.
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that → pertain → AP
In Canada we have a similar agency, The Canadian Press national news wire service.
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we → have → agency
CP (of which Torstar, the company that owns the Star is part owner) provides news from its bureaus across Canada.
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that → own → Canada
The AP article about flu shots in America quoted several experts including a host of U.S. doctors’ groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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article → quote → Pediatrics
The Food and Drug Administration the federal agency in America responsible for public health in America is also named, as is Walgreens, the pharmacy store chain that operates in the U.S.
The item, which also mentioned the need to get COVID vaccinations, was an entirely U.S.-focused piece.
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which → name → vaccinations
Robin, a Star reader, complained that we shouldn’t have run an article on the flu that had no Canadian information in it.
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that → complain → it
“We live in Canada and have universal health care.
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We → live → care
We do not have Walgreens drug stores here,” Robin wrote in part, later adding “why are you buying news articles that have no pertinence for Canadians?
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that → have → Canadians
You can do better.”
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You → do → ?
Barry, another reader had a similar take on the article.
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reader → have → article
I was expecting to read about the availability of vaccinations for flu and COVID here in Toronto.
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I → expect → Toronto
Quoting the FDA and that vaccinations are available at Walgreens isn’t useful
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vaccinations → quote → Walgreens
,” said Barry, who in a followup note admitted to feeling “cranky about the U.S.”
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who → say → U.S.
I responded to both readers by pointing out that the article in question had a clear “World” label above the headline.
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article → respond → headline
I’m not sure the readers who complained noticed that, but the label is intended as a clear indication that the article does not involve Canada.
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article → ’m → Canada
Secondly, while events south of the border are forcing us collectively consider what it means to be Canadian, many of our readers continue to pay close attention to what is happening in the U.S. and that includes reading wire stories from AP along with articles that appear in the Star from other U.S. media.
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that → force → media
That said, anyone reading the Star closely will see that we continue to provide robust coverage of Canadian news and issues — I’m thinking of the wildfires across the country this summer, the upcoming referendum in Alberta, the recent provincial election in Quebec, our prime minister’s bids to reposition Canada economically in the world, business articles pertaining to efforts to restructure Canada’s airline industry and so much more.
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I → say → industry
And on the flu issue, we did publish an article a few days after AP’s that looked closely at this year’s flu season in Ontario and how effective the influenza vaccine is expected to be.
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vaccine → publish → effective
Another area we’re seeing complaints about U.S. content pertains to the puzzles, crosswords and comics that run in the Star.
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that → see → Star
Reader Josie wrote “Can you not use Canadian cities?
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you → write → cities
Are there no Canadian puzzle writers you can access?
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you → access → ?
While U.S. giant King Features/Hearst has cornered the market as the world’s largest producer and distributor of licenced puzzles, comics, word games, the Star does include some Canadian content.
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Star → corner → content
Torstar Syndication Services for example produces the Colossal Canada crossword by Kelly Ann Buchanan each week for the Star.
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Services → produce → Star
Buchanan, a Toronto-based puzzle creator, creates this Canadian crossword exclusively for us.
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Buchanan → base → us
We also carry trivia by Canadian Scott Whalen on Sundays, and our comics section includes Rhymes with Orange and Between Friends — both by Canadian creators or co-creators.
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section → carry → creators
“Our new Bridge and Don’t Quote Me puzzle features are Canadian-sourced,” notes Doug Cudmore, the Star’s assistant manager of operations, who added that Canadian Lynn Johnston’s popular comic strip For Better or For Worse also runs in the Star.
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strip → quote → Star
We’re listening when our readers tell us they want more Canadian content in the Star.
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they → listen → Star
The Aporia
