TORONTO -- Canada's largest newspaper has agreed to an independent review of its newsroom culture in the aftermath of the suicide of a prominent reporter, its chairman and editor said Wednesday, but its union said the proposed scope, while a useful step, was too narrow.
The newspaper had earlier rejected a union call for an outside probe of the circumstances around the suicide of Raveena Aulakh, saying it would have been too bureaucratic.
In a memo to newsroom staff, the senior executives say a seasoned professional will facilitate the review and come up with recommendations.
"The union has publicly called for an 'independent investigation' of the newsroom's 'poisonous workplace' where ' harassment' and 'bullying' are rife," Torstar Chaiman John Honderich and Star Editor Michael Cooke say in their memo.
"The union's assessment is not our view."
Honderich and Cooke acknowledged the strong language in the union's statements, saying if they were true, such a workplace environment would not allow a "great metropolitan newspaper" to publish.
Nevertheless, newsroom staff have raised "legitimate concerns" in recent weeks that merit investigation, the memo states.
Paul Morse, president of Unifor Local 87-M, which speaks for Star journalists, repeated the union's demands for a full-fledged, external investigation, saying the proposed review doesn't go far enough because the circumstances surrounding Aulakh's death will be outside its scope.
"The company has very clearly said that this process will not be allowed to look at that," Morse said. "We continue to call for an independent review with the appropriate scope to look at all the issues."
Aulakh's suicide was part of a larger picture and brought to light problems in the newsroom and requires a thorough probe, Morse said.
Nevertheless, the union has agreed to take part in the review, saying the process will likely be useful. A union grievance filed after Aulakh's death -- which demands among other things an outside investigation -- is still pending.
The facilitator who will lead the process is to be announced next month and will be free to quiz managers and staff.
In a column last month, Star public editor Kathy English talked of the newsroom turmoil that followed Aulakh's suicide in May. The column stated that Aulakh, 42, had been in a relationship with a senior editor, Jon Filson. A "clearly heartbroken" Aulakh had sent emails in which she made allegations about a relationship between Filson and managing editor Jane Davenport, English said.
Filson left the Star and attempted to explain his behaviour in a recent magazine article, while Davenport was reassigned within the company.
In an ensuing internal investigation, Brian Daly, vice-president of human resources, and Alan Bower, the Star's executive director of labour relations, concluded that Aulakh's immediate manager had provided "outstanding and exceptional levels of support and assistance" to her but that "extensive efforts by many individuals were not enough."
Daly also asserted the Star had "investigated this matter thoroughly and objectively and taken appropriate and necessary action."
The announcement of the investigation came shortly before news broke that Rosie DiManno, one of the newspaper's marquee columnists, is facing assault charges stemming from an incident in Wollaston Township, Ont., east of Toronto.
Ontario Provincial Police say DiManno, 60, and the alleged victim were visiting Wollaston when an assault occurred. They have released no details about the alleged victim.
Torstar holds an investment in The Canadian Press as part of a joint agreement with a subsidiary of the Globe and Mail and the parent company of Montreal's La Presse
