Paul Berton: A response to charges of racism from Hamilton councillors, trustees and candidates

An article in The Spectator late last week upset some readers, and caused some council and school board politicians to say they will not speak to The Spectator until the issue is resolved.

The letter was signed by four councillors-elect, one councillor, five trustees-elect and four unsuccessful candidates.

The story was about the arrest last week of a Hamilton man associated with a high-profile and violent home invasion in September 2021, in which a member of our community lost his life and his father was kidnapped.

Some have said the story was offensive because it prominently noted the arrested man had worked for the Hamilton Centre for Civic Inclusion, and that he has been vocal about defunding the police. Therefore, the politicians' letter said, it contributed to anti-Black racism. The Spectator's reporting was dehumanizing, perpetuated stereotypes, and vilified community organizing."

Context is everything in news, and we endeavour to include it wherever possible. If I was charged in a crime or involved in any other newsworthy event, you can rest assured I'd be identified prominently as the editor of The Spectator.

What goes into such decisions?

Is the crime serious?

Is the connection to the employer relevant?

Do we have the information?

Is there a public interest?

It is standard practice in journalism, and this one met all those criteria.

It has been suggested The Spectator deliberately wrote the story in that manner and published it at that time to harm the campaigns of candidates in the municipal election.

This is preposterous.

No candidates were named in the article, but many have perceived it to have harmed some, and one in particular. The letter from councillors claims the article was weaponized by other candidates. That is unfortunate, if true, and The Spectator is investigating.

To suggest The Spectator or its journalists are motivated by anything other than a desire to share information and foster positive community development and reasonable debate is wrong.

As I said in an article on the issue Friday, we are forever learning, we are sensitive to those who feel our journalism has fallen short and, like society as a whole, we still have a long way to go. But we are not politically motivated and the article is accurate.

Some say our intentions are irrelevant and accuracy is beside the point, and that we should have known better.

Most people are not obliged to talk to the media - and it's up to politicians to engage with us or not, but for transparency we must tell our readers we have reached out.

The Spectator is assailed regularly by all sides of the political spectrum. During the pandemic, for example, some members of Hamilton Police Service objected to implications in a cartoon that they were racist and organized a protest of The Spectator because we printed it.

Commenting on inflamed, polarizing and divisive issues that involve our work is difficult for us. Anything I say is likely to be interpreted as fanning the flames, and that is never my intention.

Racism exists. It is abhorrent. And we all must work harder to eradicate it. We will continue to try our best.

CLARIFICATION: The article was updated Oct. 29 to clarify the police response to a Spectator cartoon.

Paul Berton is editor-in-chief at The Hamilton Spectator. pberton@thespec.com