If you are a journalist unwilling to be absorbed into the Global Warming Borg, you are most definitely not welcome to report on the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference next month in Morocco. For proof of this hositility towards such independent journalists, you need only listen to the incredibly condescending and dismissive tone of the UN spokesperson for that conference, Nick Nuttall, as he is interviewed by the As It Happens host, Carol Off, on CBC Radio.
The target of Nuttall's ire for not blindly accepting the Global Warming ideology is Ezra Levant of The Rebel. Before we get to Nuttall's sneering dismissal of journalists not willing to automatically become part of the UN cheering squad, let us watch Levant explain the situation:
Below is the transcript of Carol Off's interview with Nick Nuttall but, believe me, you absolutely have to listen to it to get the full flavor of Nuttall's over the top attitude of condescension.
CAROL OFF: Mr. Nuttall, Ezra Levant says that you have rejected his application because you don't like Rebel Media's point of view. How do you respond?
NICK NUTTALL: We looked at Rebel Media and we just really weren't sure what it was. I mean, we weren't sure if it was a platform for this chap Ezra — I can't remember his last name now …
OFF: Levant. Ezra Levant.
NUTTALL: Ok fine, yeah. I don't live in Canada, so I don't know. We get a lot of people who purport to be journalists and sometimes they're NGOs or civil societies or others with all kinds of different axes to grind and all kind of issues. We try and just make sure that we accredit what we consider to be journalists.
OFF: On what grounds did you reject Mr. Levant and Rebel Media's application?
NUTTALL: I looked at Rebel Media's website and it seemed to me that this was a kind of website that was very much pushing a very particular point of view and therefore made me wonder how it was funded, who backs it, and what kind of purpose they were there to serve. Looking at some of the headlines on their website … there didn't seem to be much balance in the reporting. It seemed to be more kind of anti-refugee, anti-climate, anti-this, anti-that. And I just didn't feel that it was maybe appropriate in terms of better understanding climate change issues and giving balanced reporting to a general public.
OFF: So it does seem that what Mr. Levant is saying is true — that you didn't like his point of view.
NUTTALL: No, not really. The point is he seems to be advocating a particular point of view which is so personal that it didn't seem to be a genuine media outlet to me.
OFF: Do people have to prove that they're helpful in order to be accredited journalists?
Okay, and now Nuttall pitches a very easy softball:
NUTTALL: Well, what do you think journalism is about?
OFF: Reporting.
That short response knocked it right out of the ball park! However, Nuttall continues plowing ahead with pure unadulterated condescension:
NUTTALL: Reporting. Factually, accurately, honestly, trying to get the truth out of what actually is going on in this very complex world. And, from the little I saw, which were inflammatory headlines on issues that weren't even related to climate change ... It was a croc of something, or other.
OFF: He called it "climate change croc".
NUTTALL: Yeah, well what does that add to public understanding? What is journalism?
Well, it sure isn't blind cheerleading. Okay, sorry to interrupt Nuttall while he is on a roll...
OFF: Is it not possible, though, by rejecting his application that you have given his position even more publicity?
NUTTALL: That is one reason why I was slightly reluctant to do this interview with you … Many people have written to me that he's very adept at using this kind of thing to generate more money through crowd-funding to keep his website going. I hope that people who maybe listen to this interview will think twice.
WARNING! A skeptical journalist is loose! Must be avoided!
Finally, Nuttall reveals that despite his dismissal of independent journalism, he really does have a big heart and might chew over the possibility of allowing a Thought Crime journalist to attend the conference after all:
OFF: Can he do anything to convince you otherwise to give him the accreditation?
NUTTALL: Well I have to say that two Canadian journalism associations have in fact written to me saying that we should rethink the situation. Now, when serious Canadian journalist associations actually write to me on that basis and are willing to stand by this individual and his website and what he covers, then now, I'm chewing that over. [These associations] have credibility, it would seem, and so I'm really thinking about it.
We now wait with bated breath whether Nuttall will relent and allow The Rebel journalist to attend the UN Climate Conference in Morocco.
N/T: Climate Depot
