Maclean's cover story was an editorial opportunity seized

The outrage displayed by (among others) Britain's Daily Mail about Maclean's magazines's cover showing Omar Khadr is so clearly misplaced that it's hard to know how -- or whether -- to respond. 

(That the comments the paper cited came largely from Ezra Levant doesn't help matters. It is also perhaps one of a dozen times when Khadr's image has appeared on the magazine's covers.)

The story, written by Amanda Lindhout (who spent a year and a half as a hostage in Somalia) chronicles the unlikely friendship that sprang up between her, Khadr (who spent most of his youth imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay) and Rinelle Harper (the survivor of a vicious attack in Winnipeg). The magazine acknowledged that the connection among the three was "utterly improbable"

Is there an editor among us then who, when presented with such a story, would not seize the opportunity and publish it fully and prominently? And, having such a story in an issue, would not feature it on the cover? Magazines are in the storytelling business and this is a heckuva story. 

Western Standard launches a new "awards" program -- The Globies

The Western Standard has launched a not-altogether-tongue-in-cheek awards program called The Globies, designed to allow readers to vote on their perceptions about bias, or lack of it, in news stories. The site allows readers to click on a 10-point range of choices from "balanced" to "biased" on various highlighted news stories; and to submit their own examples clipped from the nation's papers and newscasts.

Heavy with irony, the site introduces itself:

Welcome to the Globies, where we recognize the most breathtaking examples of unbiased Canadian political print news!

The Ottawa Press Gallery plays a crucial role in our democracy, giving Canadians straightforward, thoughtful insight into Canadians politics.

Without their enlightening and well researched articles, you wonder how average Canadians might ever see beyond their own narrow view of the world.

Help us recognize our nation's political journalists by submitting the most remarkable models of balanced coverage you come across! (News pieces only, not opinion columns).

The site is clearly designed to cock a snook at the Globe and Mail and other mainstream media that the Western Standard considers too liberal. It also seems designed to get attention paid and sell some subscriptions to the upstart Calgary-based magazine which now has a paid circulation of 25,000.