This is a copy of an email I sent to Global News about some recent coverage they did on the disappearance of Cecilia Zhang, the 9 year old girl who was abducted from her Toronto home over a week ago:

Subject:

Outraged at irresponsible journalism on Cecilia Zhang story.

Message:

I just saw your lead story on Tuesday’s 5:30 Global News. I was shocked and dismayed that you made a big deal about how police suspect that Cecilia is alive and “hope” that she will be returned before the weekend. You made it sound as if the police actually have some definitive evidence as to her situation, and are working on solid leads that they expect will ensure her safe return.

When nothing could be further from the truth. Even in your newscast itself, you specifically stated that the police have no evidence to support that she isn’t safe or that she isn’t in the area – but no evidence to support the contrary either.

But constantly repeating that the police “hope” she’ll be returned shortly, gives a false impression that something more is known than what actually is. I’m sure that the police also “hope” that she’s not dead, that she’ll be returned within the next 24 hours, within the next 48 hours, and within the next month. But “hope”, as perhaps relayed by the police, does NOT equate to having any kind of solid evidence one way or the other. (I kept waiting for a statement from the police that wasn’t open to anything other than personal, subjective interpretation and never saw it.) Of course they “hope” she’s safe and will be returned – we all do – but your story makes it sound as if we shouldn’t be as concerned about everything as we are, because things are working out in a positive fashion.

In all the of the years that I’ve followed Global News, I’ve never known this kind of “sensationalism” to play any kind of part in a fair and impartial report. All of your commentary on “we don’t know what kind of evidence may have been discovered” is nothing more than saying you don’t have any idea what’s going on. How dare you slant the story into something that assumes a positive, when there’s no reason to suspect that at all? To me, it smacks of nothing more than a rating grab.

You haven’t said anything that, technically or literally, could be considered wrong – but that’s not the point. We’re not talking about a court case here. Whoever approved this news story needs to have their priorities and journalistic integrity re-evalutated. You have a duty to report everything impartially. I’m very disppointed.