In case you are wondering, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations has lifted its ban on reporters from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix covering FSIN events.  Last Tuesday, FSIN chief Lawrence Joseph blew a gasket about what he described as unethical behaviour by a Star Phoenix reporter.  Joseph decreed that the paper’s journalists were not welcome at FSIN events which included a news conference about the re-instatement of David Ahenakew as a Senator. 

However, within a few hours of the news conference, the paper’s editor Steve Gibb met with Joseph and the FSIN decided to lift the ban.  Gibb maintains his reporter was simply doing her job, just like any other journalist would have done in a similar situation.

The CBC is likely hoping a more mellow Joseph will reverse a decision he made about a year ago regarding Saskatoon-based video journalist, Kaveri Bittira, another casualty of the Chief’s ire. Joseph claimed Bittira had acted disrespectfully at a news conference, purportedly ‘making faces’ while he was answering questions. She too has been barred from official FSIN events.  (Ironically, Bittira did some outstanding reporting about the Yellow Quill tragedy and in the process spoke to Band leaders.)

CBC Managing Editor Nigel Simms says Bittira did not act inappropriately at the news conference and that an apology was not required.  Simms, however, did meet with Joseph to resolve the situation but that discussion was unsuccessful.  Contacted today, Simms says it may be time again to solve the disagreement.

It is uncommon for news outlets or individual journalists to be blackballed by organizations but it does happen.  The Regina steel plant, IPSCO, refused to have any contact with CBC news for years. Perhaps, it still does. It all stemmed from a edict by a former CEO who was upset with the CBC.  (I can’t recall the specifics.)  Do you think IPSCO’s new owners, the Russians, have a different relationship with journalists?  :^)