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~@q alling himself "Forrest ; Gump" because he has been "found in various places which has enabled him to do all kinds of interesting things," Vincent Carlin, By SHELLY SANDERS GREER Special to the Beaver CBC exec is the Forrest Gump of Canadian journalism » e ce o o it mss Reg 999 "‘Whllc quanmles last â€" We reserve the rlghf to limit quamltles 5 ; We have drastically cut prices on hundreds of items in the store to make room for our new inventory on its way! Save now in sofa‘s and loveseats â€" all in stock! There are over 15,000 sq. ft. of savings including bedrooms, dining rooms, mattresses and more... all top quality, Canadian furnishings at huge savings, right now! WING CHAIRS FROM $299 Sale $4.99 "The Biggest Name in Entertainment" Reg. 9.99 With a broad background in jourâ€" nalism that spans 30 years, Carlin used his experiences to show the impact of technology on reporting senior director of information proâ€" gramming for the CBC, began his talk to the Canadian Club, Wednesday evening. Sale $4.99 Reg. 999 Sticker price on previously viewed "Campaigns covered in film meant tight deadlines and a traditionâ€" al style of reporting," he explained. "In 1977, something happened to routine political reporting â€" the Electronic News Gathering (ENG) Camera. This gave more time and opportunity to get contrary opinion; it was cheaper than film; it looked live; and we had to build sequences that more accurately affected what hapâ€" pened." Film didn‘t look live; it had a disâ€" tancing effect, and gave the viewer an artificial rendering of reality. Shots were not necessarily sequenâ€" tial; it needed to be processed which meant a considerable time was needâ€" ed to produce the report, and it was relatively expensive, so there was a premium on how much could be used. There were also major changes in Ottawa‘s press gallery around the same time, with the infusion of younger reporters, and for the first time, women were involved. But, Carlin explained, the biggest change, which affected the nature of political reporting, was the move from film to ENG cameras. Journalists, called reporters in those days, were less educated than people today in the field, according to Carlin. "As the century wore on, reporters went to school, the quality of writing improved, and the probing got better." "Some journalists actively took sides, some times advising politiâ€" cians," he recalled. "In the press galâ€" leries, the personal problems of politicians remained unreported." and, subsequently, politics. When he arrived in Canada â€" from New York, in the 1970s â€" Carlin found the Ottawa politicians had a cozy situaâ€" tion with journalists. Even with these advantages, "Most of our journalists tend to be younger," answered Carlin. "There is a certain naivete. Many reporters "Politically speaking, things often look leftâ€"wing, biased," commented Dr. Frank Philbrook, a former MP and an Oakville resident. For the future, Carlin said, "It is our job as journalists to supply honest and fair information, so that Canadians can make up their own minds. Journalists can‘t afford to be uncredible and politicians have to engage in real discourse with people." "In Canada, many reporters find it their task to find holes in anything proposed. This is the job of the oppoâ€" sition...covering politics by verbally tripping up a politician is easy. Covering by understanding the issues is hard. A journalist shouldn‘t be the opposition party, but the public at large." Letting politicians get their mesâ€" sages across unfiltered is a big probâ€" lem Carlin finds today with his proâ€" fession. "Trudeau," said Carlin, "was smarter than most reporters. He overâ€" whelmed technology and when he engaged in debates, they always lost; Mulroney tried to be one of the guys like his friend Ron (Reagan), but he paid too much attention to what was being said about him and reacted to everything." But not all politicians learned to work with this new technology, including John Turner. "Turner left when ENG came in," Carlin said, "and when he came back, he did his throat clearing on camera. The rules had changed, and he didn‘t know how to catch up." Carlin believes that ENG "speeded the decline of public speech. Politicians started to give sound bites, jargon...their speech was more conâ€" trolled." YOUR NEW OLHAUSEN DEALER, ONTARIO‘S LARGEST SELECTION OF AFFORDABLE POOL Call For SHUFFLE BOARD Showroom TABLES Hours Cfi â€" ( eYOU PICK OR JUST PICKED » * Spencers * Spartans * Cortland * Golden Delicious * Empire * Tea Room + Home Baking + School Tours * Fresh Apple Cider + Free Hay Rides BLIND LINE COLLING RD LPuls Pring ] Open Daily 9 a.m. â€" 6 p.m. "Like Forrest Gump," he concludâ€" ed, "it looks like I‘ve lucked into a front row seat." Graduating in the same class as president Clinton at Georgetown University marked the start of Carlin‘s illustrious career. When he started working in Montreal in the early 70s, he witnessed the October Crisis; the kidnapping of James Cross â€" the British trade commissioner in Montreal; and the kidnapping of Pierre Laport â€" the Quebec minister of labor and immigration, by the Front de Liberation du Quebec. He saw the move away from politicians talking directly to people, to talking to a lens. And now, he will be a part of what could be Canada‘s biggest crisis ever... separation. "I anticipate there is a great deal of boredom right now," Carlin respondâ€" ed. "As time goes on, people will realize there is a country at stake. I think it will become a much more tryâ€" ing time. Things will get better before they get worse." "How do you think things will play out in Ontario and Quebec this year?" asked Tom McCormick, a local business person. come to the CBC right out of univerâ€" sity and have not worked in the priâ€" vate sector. They don‘t understand that profit is not bad, that we all surâ€" vived by it. I would like to broaden the base of opinion." Is easy, CGovering by understanding the issues is "‘Govering politics by verâ€" bally tripping up a politician WALDON POOL BILLIARDS 484 Plains Road East (next to Bingo Connection) Burlington 632-5945