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Linden MacIntyre - On Institutions, Power, & His Life in Journalism

8/31/2013

36 Comments

 
PictureJournalist Linden MacIntyre of CBC's The Fifth Estate
Linden MacIntyre has been a co-host of CBC television's seminal investigative documentary program The Fifth Estate since 1990 and is widely considered one of the best investigative journalists we have in this country. The acclaim is with good reason - MacIntyre has been instrumental to a number of landmark cases in Canada. To take just one example, it was largely as a result of his investigative work through The Fifth Estate, that interest was revived in the wrongful conviction case of Stephen Truscott. His reporting efforts have earned him nine Gemini awards, including three Gordon Sinclair Awards, the distinction given for the best overall broadcast journalist.

Linden MacIntyre started off his journalism career as a newspaper reporter, working in Halifax, Ottawa and Cape Breton, before joining the CBC in 1976. One of his first roles at the CBC was hosting a Halifax based current affairs program called The MacIntyre File during which he successfully initiated a precedent setting legal action which clarified the public's right to access court documents relating to search warrants.

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Between 1981 and 1986, MacIntyre worked for CBC's ground-breaking national current affairs program, The Journal, and started covering stories abroad, acting as a foreign correspondent throughout the world, including reporting from the Middle East, Central America and the USSR. 

But perhaps most impressive about Linden is that his talents as a storyteller go beyond his excellent work as a journalist. MacIntyre has also turned his hand to exploring the human condition through fiction, and has authored three best-selling novels, including his 2009 novel The Bishop's Man for which he won the Giller Prize.  

In our conversation Linden touches on his formative years growing up in rural Cape Breton, his early days as a muckraking newspaper reporter, and his thoughts on the challenges facing journalism and the critical role that public service broadcasting plays in sustaining an open and democratic society. 

Hope you enjoy it, listen right below, and remember for all of our interviews, you can always subscribe to our podcast.

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36 Comments
Bill
4/16/2014 01:11:16 pm

I highly respect Linden and am very frustrated at the Harper Conservative government being so vindictive. I am disappointed that Mulcair and Trudeau aren't fielding more opposition to it and warning Harper that if they are elected they will overturn his malicious wrongdoing on the CBC.

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Rodo
4/17/2014 05:25:07 pm

because Mulclair and Trudeau work for the same people that Harper does. They're all puppets!!

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gene
5/16/2014 02:35:21 am

But I think thats the strategy. Wean CBC off of government funding and under NAFTA rules, it cannot come back into the public domain without paying all and sundry American companies that want to sue the Canadian government for "lost profits".

Anyway one half of your "defenders" is riding on name recognition-hasnt a clue about whats good for Canada.


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Marilyn Rose
4/16/2014 01:11:20 pm

Thank you for what you do.

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Ed Tigchelaar link
4/16/2014 09:02:50 pm

Canada is most fortunate to have Stephen Harper as it's Prime Minister. Period.
Most journalists have never run a Popsicle stand, yet consider themselves experts on Fiscal Policies and anything else connected to running a country or a business. The majority, it seems, are Left Wing Socialists with each one living in a dream world of his/ her own making.

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Allan Rutherford
4/16/2014 09:23:52 pm

Fortunate??? Are you kidding me? Stephen Harper is the most corrupt, despicable PM this country has ever seen. He is supposedly an economist but has never had a real job outside of politics. Lynden MacIntyre is honest, ethical and hard working - attributes which could make him a fine PM.
You have had the benefit in this country of freedom, education, health care, and social programs if needed. If you don't like our Canada - Move. That's right, leave, get the hell out.

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Alex Costa
5/16/2014 12:24:10 am

You're completely right about harper, he is the worst possible option out there, however, when you say to someone to leave the country if he/she doesn't like it how things are, that's is fascism!

I'm not proud that Canada get out of the top 10 HDI list, should I leave the country too?

Sandra
4/16/2014 10:05:22 pm

Steven? Is that you?

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Chuck
4/16/2014 11:53:53 pm

You sir, are an idiot of the highest water.

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Richard Saulnier
4/17/2014 12:12:50 am

Kudos to Linden MacIntyre! Thank God for CBC News; where they follow the rules of journalism, and not base their stories on opinion nor simply air the government's press releases. Ed, give your head a shake, running a country is NOT like running a business. Harper lied when he said he was an economist and a social scientist. Harper is our Nixon - a clever, but devious politician, who will go down in history as a man who practiced Hayek economics, and made thing worst.

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Mo
4/17/2014 12:46:30 am

Well said. Governments and corporations need to do what they do without any prying journalists getting in their way. We don't really need journalism .. government and corporate press releases are sufficient. The whole concept of journalism is just some plot by those damn liberals. Where is Marie Antoinette when we need her?

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Richard Saulnier
4/17/2014 05:47:42 am

I agree Mo, if, the world was perfect. But until then, we need professional news services to keep them honest, and look beyond the press release. Don't forget, if they get it wrong, there are legal consequences - some stories are vetted by lawyers before going to air. Those "damn Liberals" are, and will be scrutinized like everybody else. Would you rather get your news from Fox News or the C.B.C., since?

Richard Saulnier
4/17/2014 05:49:25 am

I agree Mo, if, the world was perfect. But until then, we need professional news services to keep them honest, and look beyond the press release. Don't forget, if they get it wrong, there are legal consequences - some stories are vetted by lawyers before going to air. Those "damn Liberals" are, and will be scrutinized like everybody else. Would you rather get your news from Fox News or the C.B.C.?

Joe
5/15/2014 10:10:38 pm

"We don't really need journalism .. government and corporate press releases are sufficient."
I think Hitler had a similar way to running his government too.

Edie
5/16/2014 02:39:09 am

Love that you have the tongue in your cheek. Sarcasm states it best. Let them eat cake while the rest of us crave bread.
As for McIntyre, sadly this may be just the beginning. Sad day for Canada. Our journalists, when they do it right, are the only ones who can keep Harper from becoming a total dictator. Them and the Supreme Court.

Rod M.
4/17/2014 01:22:37 am

Balderdash

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Rod M.
4/17/2014 01:27:28 am

My balderdash was in reference to someone trying to say that Harper was a great Prime Minister. The comment seems to have disappeared after I entered my previous comment.

Jakay
5/15/2014 01:27:07 pm

You have GOT to be joking! Harper has gutted environmental laws, and is trying to destroy all our public services. Thanks to him & the conservatives my children will live in a polluted land controlled by oil and gas companies and 1%ers like the Westins. The only people who will benefit from Harper's policies are older privileged white males... Oh perhaps you are one of them?

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Distant Observer
5/15/2014 01:42:06 pm

Funny you should say that, Ed. The venerable Stephen Harper has no experience operating a popsicle stand nor any other business. His entire professional experience is either as a politician or as a lobbyist for extremist fruitcakes. In fact, the great majority of his adult income has been sucked from the public teat.

I've come to understand that conservative hypocrisy is truly the gold standard of hypocrisy.

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Maria
5/15/2014 03:09:12 pm

Ed, Obviously been brain washed. No doubt about it. Lacking a few live brain cells as well.I wonder who is living in a dream world by his own making.

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Tim Coon
5/15/2014 03:42:36 pm

Running a country is NOT the same fucking thing as a goddamn business, you fascist fucking prick!! A country does actually have to consider things beyond how far they can take things to the bottom for businesses to ransack. Please put a gun to your fascist, house negro head & pull the fucking trigger!

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v turner
5/16/2014 12:35:27 am

Stephen Harper is a puppet for big corporations! PERIOD! If it benefits big corporation, Stephen Harper is all for it! He is ruining Canada and he is doing what he can now, because he knows he will not be re elected!

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Vince Litardi
5/16/2014 01:56:00 am

That must be some pipeline you're smoking, please do not share. If ignorance and platitudes are gold Harper is the modern Midas. Our stock in the world has so greatly diminished under his "stewardship".

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Brenda Lynch
5/16/2014 03:53:41 am

Hahahah. Good one, Ed. Harper is a disaster. Period. He's a paranoid, dishonest, slippery snake. Can't wait to see the door hit his ass on the way out. I've already started to encourage every young person I know to get out and vote his fascist party out next year. Hopefully, if the word gets out to enough young people, the CPC won't have 1 seat in Parliament.

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Carol Perry
4/16/2014 10:10:34 pm

Thank you Linden for your honesty. Harper has to go!!!!!

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noreen galvin
4/17/2014 12:17:19 am

Thank you for being such a great journalist and author. "The Bishop's Man'" is one of my favourite novels. Please keep standing up for CBC.

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Richard Saulnier
4/17/2014 05:53:07 am

I agree, if, the world was perfect. But until then, we need professional news services to keep them honest, and look beyond the press release. Don't forget, if they get it wrong, there are legal consequences - some stories are vetted by lawyers before going to air. Those "damn Liberals" are, and will be scrutinized like everybody else. Would you rather get your news from Fox News or the C.B.C.?

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Joe link
4/18/2014 10:39:24 pm

Please forgive the reference to Wikipedia but they put this so they average person can see the differences between the Liberal Party and the Conservative Party. Please note beside the Liberal Party you will see the "creation of " and the Conservative Party you will see the "Cancelation of ". Also note William Lyon Mackenzie King a Liberal created the CBC, so it's only a matter of time before a conservative has the cancellation of. After reading the accomplishments of both parties I get the impression one is building a country and one is selling a country.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Canada

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Mo
4/19/2014 01:51:57 am

The CBC was in fact created by the Conservatives way back when that party had concerns about US domination of Canada's economy and culture. Harper's gang could not care less about such things. And remember the Liberals did years of slashing at the CBC given their reputation of campaigning for election like NDPers and then governing like Tories. You would not see the Liberals deal with the Senate and you will not see them champion the CBC either. Tom Mulcair is the guy to do both!

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John
5/15/2014 02:21:52 pm

I consider myself fortunate to have listened and watched Linden through my life and to have read his books. You are a great storyteller and an honest and trustworthy reporter. Thank you.

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Maria
5/15/2014 03:16:16 pm

Thank You Lindin foryour excellent journalism. The naysayers here do not even know what the term journalism means nor do the understand even if it slapped them on their dim minds and definitly empty heads.

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Melissa Fuller
5/15/2014 04:20:48 pm

I had to come back to listen to this again, after hearing of your resignation (which, by the way, was an incredibly honourable act). I trust this is not the end of your journalistic career - Canada needs you now more than ever!

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Julia Fraser
5/16/2014 04:59:14 am

It's my opinion that Harper is doing everything he can, by small cuts, to destroy democracy in Canada. By gutting the CBC, there will be no-one capable or interested in digging out the truth of what's going on in any field. If he's re-elected, we can kiss our country good-bye. Then prepare to live in a dictatorship--which we're not far from now.

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Blanche Lewis
11/21/2014 09:20:11 am

I have tremendous respect for Linden MacIntyre. His work has been focussed on principles that defined Canada when people were more kind than cunning. His writing and broadcasting display great skill, passion and concern with extending justice and dignity to all people. Unable to abide abuse, entitlement or crooks, he has done excellent work in exposing them on Fifth Estate.
Earlier this month he got into a little hot water during a discussion about the continuum of abusive behaviours at the CBC and in other workplaces. But it would be an absolute tragedy to mistake his desire to talk about the truth of abusive behaviours in workplaces with a desire to name names for the sake of being unkind.
Thank you, Linden MacIntyre, for all you have spoken and written. Thank you for all you have done for Canada. You will be greatly missed!

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