WHO KILL LAWRENCE MARTIN?Posted By: Frank Editor Much pissing and moaning among Daily Izzy hacks over the recent sacking of Lawrence Martin. The Southam national affairs columnist went for the high jump last week in a belated punishment for his criticism of Prime Minister Crouton’s Shawinigate hijinks. Naturally, the Globe and Minion gave the Martin execution an economic spin—i.e., the dismissal was justified by Southam as a cost-cutting exercise. In fact, Southam mouthpiece Murdoch Davis said nothing of the sort. No one, except Globians, could believe that nosestretcher. After all, Martin’s $100,000 a year salary wouldn’t do much damage to the Asper’s $700 million debt. The Aspers made it clear when they purchased the Southam chain from Tubby Black last year they would no longer tolerate editorial slagging of their buddy Crouton (after all, CanWest depends on the PM and cabinet to ensure that the CRTC rubber stamp its licence applications.) The Izzyites wanted to come up roses in their recent pitch for a seven-year licence renewal and to that end they sent out orders to senior editors to turn down the volume on stories negative about the CRTC, Israel’s dispute with Palestine and the alleged recession. The hack who most felt the Asper jackboot was Martin. His “Shawinigate” roasting of Crouton triggered David Asper’s hysterical defence of the prime minister and venom from Crouton shinegirl Francie Ducros. In reply, Martin wrote a column describing Ducros as a spinmaster in blunderland, serving as the PM”s “attack-trained sparrow.” This was too much for Asper’s corporate mouthpiece Gord Fisher and, per Asper’s orders, he had the column killed. Martin was also reprimanded in a phone call from Asper for his column suggesting that Kim Campbell had sufficient vitality, smarts and panache to be appointed to the Senate (shurely shome mishtake!—ed.). Asper was furious, as he once was David Milgaard’s lawyer, and he still nurses a grudge against Campbell dating back to her days as justice minister and her department’s dismissal of Asper’s appeals on Milgaard’s behalf. Lately, Martin seemed to be toeing the party line, writing about golf and singing Crouton’s praises at the G8 in Genoa. In fact, Southam supremo Murdoch Davis last month sent Martin a note of congratulations for his yeoman service and especially his Trudeau funeral labours. Martin also received glowing reports from Southam editors. No matter. Davis last week fired off a “Disregard all previous praise, I’m now working in Winnipeg,” and Martin was sacked. Ironically, Martin had kissed and made up with the PMO over the Shawinigate fiasco. In fact, while his execution warrant was being drawn up, Martin was playing golf at the Royal Ottawa—Crouton’s club—with Francie Ducros. Meanwhile, at the Daily Izzy Parliamentary Bureau, hacks like bureau chief Bob Fife and Andrew McIntosh are increasingly chilled. Both are high atop the PMO shitlist for their unrelenting assaults on Crouton and the moment Lord Tubby sells out his remaining 50% share of the paper to Uncle Izzy, the two will be toast Posties. Martin’s dismissal coincided nicely with the CRTC’s Global Television licence renewal, raising the issue that with newspapers mingling with broadcasters, who do a great deal of regulatory business in Ottawa, hacks must tread carefully, or risk offending an entire range of corporations, including the one that owns the newspaper or network or television station they work for. Next for the high jump? How about Vancouver Sun editor Neil Reynolds, who has publically condemned David Asper for censoring working journalists and meddling in a business for which he is woefully underqualified. (This article was borrowed from Frank magazine's old web site. Their new site can be found at www.frankmagazine.ca)
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