Politicians and journalists: a love/hate relationship

The life of a parliamentary journalist can seem similar to the life of a politician on Parliament Hill.

They spend their days paying attention to every detail of life on the Hill. It’s an ever-evolving job, fast paced and brutal at times.

Journalists or politicians may disagree with this comparison. There’s no way in hell we have anything in common, they may say. But the fact is, you can’t have one without the other. The politician’s job relies on the journalist, and vice-versa. Politicians need press to communicate a message to the public, and garner votes. Journalists need politicians to have something to put on the front page or to headline the evening news.

Former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau had no qualms about standing on the steps of Parliament Hill and speaking to journalists on his way to work. One of these conversations – regarding Trudeau’s use of the Canadian army to protect the Hill during the FLQ crisis – lasted nearly ten minutes, during which Trudeau did not hold back from speaking exactly what was on his mind to reporters. In fact, he made his famous “Just watch me” comment during the interview, demonstrating just how honest and open Trudeau was. He engaged the journalists in a conversational debate, something that seems non-existent now.

Reporters Tim Ralfe (right) and Peter Reilly (centre) question Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (left) on the steps of Parliament Hill about the FLQ crisis and the invocation of the War Measures Act, Oct. 13, 1970. The question by Ralfe elicited the famous quote by Trudeau, " just watch me". (CP PHOTO/Peter Bregg)

Fast forward to present day Parliament Hill, just outside of the House Commons in the minutes leading up to Question Period.

The cameramen and women stand in the foyer resting on their boom mikes or taking a seat with shoulder cameras resting on their laps. As Question Period finishes up, the MP’s stream into the foyer. Many leave immediately with their heads tilted down.  Those who feel like talking to the press are closely followed by communications staff. NDP leader Jack Layton approaches a mike, and the lights, cameras, and recorders are thrust forward – but not before his press secretary Karl Belanger adjusts the microphone and ensures Mr. Layton will feel comfortable speaking into it.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper stealthily makes his way out of the House of Commons through a back staircase, the same way he came. He refuses to descend the traditional stairs that lead directly into the foyer and face the cameras. A cameraman says it was different in the days of Jean Chretien. In those days, the press and cameras were allowed to go up the stairs and wait outside the Prime Minister’s office. The day Harper took power, he says, the cameras were pushed back and down the stairs by security. Three and a half years later, they’re still there.

Things have changed. Veteran journalists will tell you – they remember a time when interviews weren’t booked through communications assistants, when comments were made by politicians off the cuff. They didn’t have a focus statement created by their team at the centre of every answer, regardless of the journalist’s question.

But there are still signs of a fond relationship between some long-time journalists and the politicians they have  covered.

CTV’s national bureau chief Rosemary Thompson retired from 22 years in journalism a few weeks ago to take a job in communications. In her last week on the Hill, MP’s and party leaders stopped to say goodbye on their way into the House of Commons. On the same day Layton’s press secretary prepared the mike like a doting mother, Layton acted on his own accord and gave Rosemary a hug in the foyer, wishing her all the best. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff pointed and joked, “Aren’t you  supposed to be gone?” Some MP’s took out their beloved Blackberry’s to put the date of her going away party in their calendars.

At the National Press Gallery Dinner this year, politicians and journalists came together in the Hall of Honour at Parliament Hill for their annual chance to let loose and spend an evening together. Politicians stepped up to the podium to make fun of themselves. Even Iggy commented on how the Liberal party has been floundering lately. Most often they made jokes about the things the press had focused on in the past year. Former Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier took to the stage and pretended  he had misplaced his speech in reference to the scandal surrounding his misplaced confidential documents.  That was a story the press took hold of and didn’t let go until every angle was told. Not forgotten, but now made into something more comical.

Michael Ignatieff poses with his award for Best Crossover to the Dark Side at the National Press Gallery Dinner on October 17. Beacon Journalist Molly Cormier is pictured on the left.

It was an evening designed for light conversation and comedy. Something that happens only once a year, and wouldn’t end up on the front page. The event was covered slightly this year but no one reported much. No one mentioned Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt’s hilarious speech mimicking her recorded comments this summer about isotopes and cancer being a “sexy” issue. When the recording made it into the hands of a parliamentary journalist named Steve Maher, her career was almost ruined. And here she was a few months later, laughing it up with the crowd, including Mr. Maher.

Despite the unending flow of wine, there was still some tension. And of course, Prime Minister Harper chose not to make an appearance lest he rub elbows with the media.

So no Beatles’ songs were sung, but plenty of jokes were made about them.

But for the politicians and journalists who were there, it was a good time of co-existence. Uncensored and off the cuff. At least for a night anyway.

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Posted by Molly Cormier on Oct 31, 2009. Filed under Opinion, This Week's Edition. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.