What would you have chosen to do as a journalist in this situation?   Because this case study is intended primarily as a teaching resource, a password is required to view the epilogue. The purpose is to encourage readers to pause and think about how they would resolve the difficulty, before learning how the journalist(s) […]

Back in the spring of 2013, reporter Selena Ross had written the Chronicle Herald’s first article about Rehtaeh. Ross’s coverage that year included several award-winning, in-depth analysis articles about mishandled police investigations and the actions of the school board in relation to the victim’s case. Ross continued to have a vested interest in the story, […]

When faced with a publication ban, most reporters choose to toe the line. A decision to break a ban must usually be made quickly, and media organizations tend to err on the side of caution. In the case of Rehtaeh Parsons, media outlets were forced to make this decision on Sept. 22, 2014, after one of […]

There are instances in which Canadian individuals and organizations have been charged with violating publication bans. While it does not appear that a Canadian journalist has been jailed for breaking a publication ban, the potential for severe punishment is nevertheless real. [1] In some cases, even minor breaches of the ban have brought charges. However, […]

Publication bans also apply to online content. But due to the ubiquity of the Internet and the reach of social media, legal authorities and reporters alike question whether such methods of controlling trial information are effective. [1] Rehtaeh’s name and story spread internationally, starting with a single Facebook post. The public expressed outrage that the […]

In principle, the idea of withholding information is often in conflict with the public interest. As the Canadian Association of Journalists asserts: “the public has a right to know about its institutions and the people who are elected or hired to serve its interests…However, there are inevitable conflicts between the right to privacy, and the rights of […]

On April 30, 2014, Judge Campbell ordered a mandatory publication ban on Rehtaeh’s identity under section 486.4(3) of the Criminal Code. [1] While the accused were charged in August of the previous year, they had not yet entered their pleas. [2] As such, Canadian media, including the Chronicle Herald, had published her name in connection to […]

Publication bans involving young people or sexual crimes are common in Canada, and most court reporters expect them. Bans are meant to protect victims, witnesses and, in some instances, the accused from being identified outside of the courtroom. They also prevent prejudice or misrepresentation of accounts related to the case, something that could unfairly influence a […]