Evan Solomon not a reflection of most journalists' standards: Brian Stewart
Solomon worked at CBC since 1994 and was the host of network TV and radio programs, he was fired Tuesday
The latest scandal with a CBC personality is not indicative of most journalists' standards, a former CBC correspondent says.
CBC News announced Tuesday evening that it had ended its relationship with their popular TV and radio host Evan Solomon following a report published by the Toronto Star claiming that Solomon had brokered art deals with people he also dealt with as a journalist.
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"I'm always rather surprised when journalists sort of cross a line at a point because it's always seemed to me that the line is pretty clear," said Brian Stewart, a former senior correspondent, currently a distinguished fellow with the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto.
Stewart called Solomon a "very very good journalist" and that he was surprised he had fallen into that trap.
"He's brilliant at his job. A great questioner," Stewart said.
It is important for journalists to have ongoing friendly and courteous relationship with sources, Stewart said from his decades of experience. However, those sources in power often have a talent for getting close to people, Stewart warns. Journalists have a unique access to those people and it's not something that should be taken advantage of.
"It's very important, and you learn this almost day one, journalism 101, to keep a basic distance. So that you don't in fact fall into their circle of power, their manipulation of power," Stewart said.
"You both need each other to a certain extent. But if you get too close to them, you start to fall into their sphere of influence and your reputation starts to suffer."
Once your reputation is shot, your effectiveness as a reporter is eroded, Stewart said.
"It's extremely difficult to turn around and start being hard on a close friend," he told CBC.
That being said, Stewart is not worried about the integrity of the majority of journalists in Ottawa, or at the CBC. Most of them are very good at knowing where the line is, he said.
"The basic standards of the CBC are actually quite clear and quite tight. The overwhelming number of CBC reporters are quite strict with themselves in living up to those standards."