Media expert: Canadian journalists first to ask VANOC tough questions

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – The Vancouver Olympics are receiving harsh criticism from some members of the international media–especially the British contingent. But one media expert we spoke with says Canada’s “Debbie-downers” may be the ones focusing international attention on Winter Games glitches and screw-ups.

Philip Savage, professor of Communication Studies & Multimedia at McMaster University, has been observing Canadian coverage of the Games and he says Canadian journalists have been first to really take Olympic organizers to task.  He says journalists from all over the world have had a whiff of this critical stance, and may be picking up on it.

While Canadian journaists may have brought attention on the short-falls, Savage thinks these critical questions need to be asked.  “There are different questions to be asked about this event.  Good, bad and ugly.  I’m just quite impressed that actually, the media have responded well to doing that.”

Savage says this reaction may have come as a bit of a surprise to Olympic organizers.  “The organizers, I think, are reacting to trying to control the message.  And yet, one of the enduring messages of this Olympics is that in Canada you can’t control the message.”

He says those questions seem to be forcing Olympic organizers to make changes and work toward a better experience for Games visitors.  Savage says these are hallmarks of a healthy journalistic environment, even if our international reputation needs a while to recover.

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