Fear, creativity: The reality of reporting the occupation of Ottawa
On the ground, the anxiety and fear journalists face is leading to colourful news gathering methods.
BY WALTER CRUNKWELL
OTTAWA - Journalists continue to face growing challenges as they attempt to cover the "Freedom Convoy" occupation in Ottawa. With constant threats of violence and abusive language, many are turning to obscuring their identities in order to stay safe.
Tensions in Ottawa continue to rise between police and the protesters, who have brought the city to a standstill since Jan. 28. Today protest organizers called for the resignation of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the end to all COVID-19 mandates. Thus far, there has been no real response from the PM's office.
With each passing day journalists tasked with covering the story are finding it more and more difficult to report from the field without constant fear and anxiety.
"On one hand, we have a job to do," said Skylar Matthews, a cameraperson for CTV Ottawa. "But on the other hand… facing the threat of being harassed, yelled at, and made fun of is making it very difficult."
According to a Feb. 9 tweet by Jeremy Thompson, CTV News Edmonton made the decision to remove decals from their vehicles due to safety concerns.
Some of the reporters we have spoken to - those brave enough to take to the streets - have taken rather unusual steps to avoid harassment and to obfuscate their identities.
A real sticky situation
Brandon Boulangerie with CBC News Ottawa has been using a footlong Subway sandwich to hide his microphone in while conducting interviews.
"It's not something I would ever consider, and a little messy, but it works," he told us. "I started by using a Spicy Crispy Chicken sandwich because I had coupons. But some of the protesters we interviewed would either take a bite out of the sandwich, or just take it altogether after we finished talking."
We observed Boulangerie at work. Protesters were distracted enough by the sandwich not to notice the camera.
"At this rate we are going through four or five sandwiches each outing, which is costing us a lot," he explained. A footlong Spicy Crispy Chicken subway sandwich at the Bank Street location Boulangerie frequents costs him $11.49 plus taxes.
"We switched to Pizza Sub Melts, which are only $8. But it's still running us about $40 a story," he continued. "That's like $200 a week between me and the cameraman. CBC is not covering that expense, and it's biting into our personal food budget."
But Boulangerie says he is committed to stick it out until the end.
“I’m lucky enough to have parents that can help me with my student loans and food costs,” he said. “But I really feel for the Postmedia guys. They’re barely making a living as it is.”
Several Postmedia employees we spoke to on condition of anonymity told us they are using much more dangerous strategies to get the story.
“We’ve basically embedded ourselves within the convoy,” one reporter told us. “I’m paying a trucker $15 a night to sleep in his cab. Thankfully the protesters are providing free food and toiletries. The pizza especially is really great.”
“But it’s tough,” she added. “Knowing that if we’re found out we can face danger, or worse. I’ve been at this since February 1. I don’t know how much longer I can do it for.”
The Daily Sooth attempted to speak to reporters for The Toronto Star and the Globe & Mail, but were met with a paywall.
On the frontlines
James Patterson is a veteran reporter currently working for CBC Radio Canada. Over his thirty year career he has covered various conflicts, oftentimes from frontlines. While reporting on the KFOR mission in Pristina, Kosovo in 1999 Patterson suffered shrapnel wounds from a sniper round that nearly took his life.
"I've been in nearly every conflict Canada has been involved in since 1995," he said. “And I’ve got the scars to prove it.”
"I covered Canada's involvement to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan in 2004, spending six months embedded with an infantry unit. I would travel outside the wire on patrols. As part of that work I was exposed on a daily basis to the threat of enemy fire, IED's, and mortar attacks. The danger of being kidnapped by the Taliban was constant and very real," Patterson told us.
"But my experience in Afghanistan is nothing compared to this occupation - this terrorism - and the threats and danger that I feel on a daily basis while walking down Wellington Street."
Patterson tries to maintain a low profile while conducting interviews using his phone. But his worn whiskey voice, distant and piercing blue eyes, and over-simplified questions are just an accidental six-syllable word away from exposing him.
"I'm 84 days away from retirement," he added. "I'd quit now, but I need the full pension."
This is Part One of a series covering the stories of journalists on the ground in Ottawa.
Mindy, how do I share this on Parler? It keeps bringing me back to the edit screen.