5 Feet of Fury

Ezra Levant: Canada’s ‘most irritating journalist’ looks forward to a new year

Ezra Levant writes:

Personally, I don’t know how 2015 could possibly top 2014.

In August, online readers of the Globe and Mail voted for me as the “biggest name in broadcasting,” beating out even Peter Mansbridge.

Then in December, an Ottawa newspaper called the Hill Times surveyed parliamentary staff – the assistants to MPs and senators – asking them to name the “talking head you’d most like to silence.” I won that poll too, with more than triple the votes of the second-place contender, Rex Murphy.

And just before Christmas, the Globe’s TV critic, John Doyle, chose me as the “most irritating” personality on TV.

These three honours don’t contradict each other. In fact, in journalism, how could they not go together?

Doesn’t most investigative journalism involve unearthing facts that upset the status quo? Aren’t the most useful and interesting ideas the ones that challenge the establishment view?

Especially when it comes to criticism of other journalists.

Actually, Macleans‘ also said something bitchy about Ezra in their year-end issue. Forget what exactly, but basically it just echoed the others — which of course simply reinforces his point about group think.

He mentions Ghomeshi-quiddick, too. Most revealing thing for me about Ghomeshi? Dig up old footage and you’ll notice something:

There were more reporters at the Ghomeshi court appearance than there were at the (fatal) Lee Harvey Oswald prisoner transfer. (Which it somewhat resembled.) You think I’m kidding.

In fact, there were more reporters there than at any Canadian news story I can remember since I’ve been alive. Why? Because it was one of their own! #MediaParty indeed.