Paul Wells is one of the most notable columnists in Canada — and he just published a column that serves as a perfect case study of how not to meet the current moment.
In an insipid piece that should have been left on the cutting room floor, Wells describes at length his personal experiences with Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.
To hear Wells tell it, Poilievre’s public persona as a pitbull is in stark contrast to how he can be privately: “patient and generous.” At times, “friendly.”
But that’s not what I’ve heard in conversations with Conservative staffers and family members of Liberal politicians.
Is it possible that the people who get the “courteous” version of Poilievre, like white male columnists, are forgetting that their experience of certain politicians isn’t necessarily the one everyone gets to enjoy?
By filling their entire field of vision with their own experiences and putting personal access at the forefront of their storytelling, media like this is setting itself up for failure.
Let’s talk about this case study in how not to report on politicians in the current climate.
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