As a journo, I always thought we were like seagulls... we'd go to any trash pile for a free feed --- we felt not the least shred of influence from it. I think the public relations people plan them so they can scoff up for free too.

A different issue is accepting gifts or money or anything that might actually influence your reporting. Accepting them was a firing offence in my day. But I have known journalists who've responded to flattery (and flattery doesn't cost a penny). Politicians like Harper are more likely to be seen by a good, thinking journalist as an adversary: he likes to control information flows and I think that was blood in the water to most of my colleagues.

I don't see the press changing what it says because of its treatment in Ottawa. The reality is that most news media are owned by people who have a set position. Reporters and editors know that. Anybody who hopes to have a future remembers it.

Even an agency like the CBC has to run scared because their boss is government, which can get very nasty at budget time.

The other problem is that journalists are a lot like academics. That is, having an understanding within a narrow range, they think themselves wise. It makes for sloppy reporting.

... and for some pretty sloppy university teaching.

In the grand scheme of culinary delights, just what IS Canadian food, anyway?  Ketchup chips and Poutine?

frozen pizza

Butter Tarts?

beaver tails