Control, Creativity and Identity in Canadian Media

The idea that Canadians receive a diverse and creative flow of ideas is an illusion. To a Special Senate Committee on Mass Media in 1969, Conrad Black (then an owner of one independent newspaper) wrote: "Diversity of opinion and aggressive newsgathering tend to disappear with the disappearance of competition...." Barlow and Winter quote this in their 1997 article "The Horse's Mouth" to reflect on Black’s extensive influence over Canadian news media. They comment: "There is something chilling and strangely medieval about one family administering its views to an entire population..." Black’s wife, writing as Barbara Amiel, is one of the most-widely read columnists in the country through her association with Maclean’s magazine and its connection to a chain of Black-owned newspapers. He reaches beyond these newspaper chains by providing much of the material on the Canadian Press (CP) and its Broadcast News and Press News services. He also partially owns Chapters Inc., a megachain controlling about 35% of the national book market. Black is not just an individual who likes to own companies. He has very definite political views that he forces on his papers, an example being his opinion poll on Quebec separatism. (Barlow,Winter 20-22)

Woe to us. We do not just have the problem of a few corporations owning most of the TV and radio stations in this country. The problem is much bigger. Robert McChesney, in "Market Media Muscle," writes that "a small fleet of transnational corporations is seeking global media dominance." You say to yourself, so what’s the difference? Just another seller of goods. McChesney feels, however, that "Neo-liberalism is not merely a set of economic principles; rather, it is implicitly a theory of democracy. And the democratic system that works best with a market driven economy is one where there exists widespread public cynicism and depoliticization, and where the mainstream political parties barely debate the fundamental issues." (McChesney 17-22) McChesney’s main concern is the seriousness of the world wide decline of public service broadcasting systems. His contention is that public funding ultimately gives citizens some control.

However, after looking at a program policy manual for CFRO 102.7 FM--a non-commercial co-operative radio station--I have deep reservations that even this type of media allows a broad range of opinion. They claim to offer an alternative to mainstream media, but it is very clear they have defined who the socially or politically disadvantaged are. They have a page listing shows that have been turned down, with their reasons for doing so. At the top of the page is listed "Concerned Fathers"--refused on the grounds that it was sexist.

Canadians are consciously and unconsciously in revolt against being put into a mental channel. There are many symptoms of this on the Canadian scene. C.G. Jung, in his book Modern Man in Search of a Soul gives us a clue as to why so many people have gone in one direction - to manipulate and change what they are being feed. He contends that "The creative activity of the imagination frees man from his bondage to the 'nothing but' and liberates in him the spirit of play." (Jung 66) Play is a central concept that draws us to see this revolt. How many remote control channel surfers do you know? Are they just speeding along equally on each channel or are they making their own patterns from the bits? Some people--like the Emergency Broadcast Network--have made a comedic art form out of manipulating video clips in a way similar to music videos. This attack on straight TV has become so prevalent that the Eaton’s company is using this style in its new commercials.

Many others have decided to escape to the Internet. People can see creative expression on their own web sites. The actual building of a website is an artistic act. There is also a free exchange of ideas. Many people feel the need for release but do not want the cost of real creative activity. These people spend their time with video games or surfing the net.

McLuhan noted a pattern that is still very much in evidence today. He saw in media that sex and technology are linked. These are found with images of hectic speed, mayham, violance, and sudden death. Isabel Hoffmann is risking her reputation as a multimedia guru that these images will continue to attract the population's attention. She is president and CEO of the Toronto based I. Hoffmann + associates (H+a) which publishes interactive educational and entertainment software. The company is planning for the day when CD-ROM’s will disappear entirely and content will be delivered through high-speed networks.(Onstad 83-85) Her vision is supported by an American survey by the Roper Organization, which found that video games were up seven percent as one of the ways individuals are choosing to cope with stress.(Roper 5) Some people are finding the escape so compelling that we may see Computer Addicts Anonymous in the future. One lab research assistant is having a hard time with her compulsive game playing and internet use even though her job is at stake.

God made humans in his own image. Our creative side will always want to be expressed. We will rebel against anything that suppresses this part of our identity. Tom Wujec, the Creative Director of the Royal Ontario Museum’s Digital Media Services, contends in his book Five Star Mind that the "magic of your creative powers is that the more you use them, the stronger they grow." For Wujec, "Creative thinking is fun. It’s a tonic for information overload and life’s pressures. Creativity grants us license to play." (Wujec 1)

Jung, C.G. Modern Man in Search of a Soul. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace, 1933.

McChesney, Robert. "Market Media Muscle." The Canadian Forum (March 1998).

McLuhan, Marshall. Selections from The Mechanical Bride: Folklore of Industrial Man. 1951. In Essential McLuhan. Ed. Eric McLuhan and Frank Zingrone. Toronto, ON: Anansi, 1995: 21-34.

Onstad, Katrina. "Can The Digital Diva Deliver." Canadian Business (March 13 1998)

Roper Organization. "How Americans are Coping with Stress." USA Today (August 1993).

Royce, Peter & Proix, Louise. CFRO Programming Policies. February 1992.

Seaman, Debbie. "Hooked Online." Time Special (October 12 1998).

Wujec, Tom. Five Star Mind: Games & Puzzles to Stimulate Your Creativity & Imagination. Toronto, ON: Doubleday, 1995.