Scrum wars : the prime ministers and the media / Allan Levine.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Levine, Allan, 1956- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mass media--Political aspects--Canada.

Government and the press--Canada.

Prime ministers--Canada.

Canada--Politics and government--1867-.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxiv, 389 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Toronto ; Oxford : Dundurn Press, [1993]

Summary:

The image of the scrum -- a beleaguered politican surrounded by jockeying reporters -- is central to our perception of Ottawa. The modern scrum began with the arrival of television, but even in Sir John A. Macdonald's day, a century earlier, reporters in the parliamentary press gallery had waited outside the prime minister's office, pen in hand, hoping for a quote for the next edition. The scrum represents the test of wills, the contest of wits, and the battle for control that have characterized the relationship between Canadian prime ministers and journalists for more than 125 years. Scrum Wars chronicles this relationship. It is an anecdotal as well as analytical account, showing how earlier prime ministers like Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfrid Laurier were able to exercise control over what was written about their administrators, while more recent leaders like John Diefenbaker, Joe Clark, John Turner, and Brian Mulroney often found themselves at the mercy of intense media scrutiny and comment.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [365]-382) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9786611962241

9781554882892

1554882893

9781281962249

1281962244