Globe and Mail suspends columnist Leah McLaren after breastfeeding controversy

[EllieBC]

Snippet:

The Globe and Mail has suspended marquee columnist Leah McLaren for a week.

A source told the Star that McLaren, who wrote about her attempt to breastfeed Tory Leadership candidate Michael Chong’s baby without his knowledge and at a time when she was not lactating herself, has been forbidden to comment on her controversial column or on her suspension.

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/03/30/globe-and-mail-suspends-columnist-leah-mclaren-after-breastfeeding-controversy.html


Here's a link to the now gone but archived column:
https://web.archive.org/web/20170326224152/https://www.mbnews.one/ca_news_158305.htm


I have to say that if I walked in and saw someone attempting to breastfeed one of my babies, I'd probably smack them across the room after taking my baby back. What is wrong with her brain?

[True Dough]

1. Hmm, I suspect the Globe and Mail is quite satisfied with how this situation has unfolded

First of all, it's a lot of publicity and attention. That's a good thing for any newspaper in this day and age when newspapers are becoming increasingly irrelevant, particularly among the younger crowd. You can bet that many readers will now be curious about what Leah McLaren is writing. How will she follow up on this? It will create somewhat of a following.

Then there's the suspension. One week is a slap on the wrist. Nothing more. If the paper's management was truly disgusted by McLaren's antics they would have parted ways.

Finally, let's not forget that Laren did not write, edit, layout and proofread her own column. There were at least a few other editors involved and if any of those people had an iota of journalistic ethics/common sense, they would have run that column up the flagpole and got it approved by the managing editor, or someone in a senior position. There were multiple hands involved in getting McLaren's words on the page and they all decided it was fit to see the light of day.

So, bottom line, I believe the head honchos at the Globe and Mail are rather pleased with the "fallout" from this controversial column.

[EllieBC]

3. I was surprised that there is not some editor in trouble as well

And I'm sure they're enjoying the added attention.

[Saviolo]

2. Too bad that this is all the coverage that Michael Chong is getting.

Of the Tories, he's probably the most reasonable. Certainly head and shoulders better than Leitch, and worlds better than O'Leary. He actually might have the ability to bring the federal Conservative party back into rational territory after those 11 years under Harper.

I guess it's good that he's getting coverage at all when Leitch and O'Leary are out there Rob Ford/Donald Trump-ing the place up with wilder and wilder statements. If Chong ends up leader of the federal Conservatives, I will hold much less fear for the future of Canada.

... I still won't vote for them, though.