Media reader/consumer advocates in Canada?

[Carrier]

UK media has numerous consumer/reader advocates who take on companies (eg banks, travel agents and airlines!) and government departments (eg CAA, various UK airports etc) who have "provided bad service" to their victims and are refusing to provide a remedy. These are most effective, particularly regarding refunds for cancelled or late flights during the last three years and mandatory EU flight delay compensation. Below are some examples.

Daily Mail Helen Crane Crane on the Case helen.crane@thisismoney.co.uk
Dave Fishwick bankondave@thisismoney.co.uk 
Sally Hamilton Sally Sorts It sally@dailymail.co.uk
Tony Hetherington This is Money tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk

The Guardian Zoe Wood consumer.champions@theguardian.com

The Observer Anna Tims your.problems@observer.co.uk

Daily Express (The Crusader) Maisha Frost maisha.frost@express.co.uk

The Telegraph Katie Morley kminvestigates@telegraph.co.uk

A quick scan of various media websites in Canada does not show any equivalents. Who do Canadian victims turn to for help?

[Bede]

The purpose of the news media is to keep the citizenry informed, not be weaponized to pursue personal agenda. In Canada we have the Canadian Transportation Agency and the small claims court for redress.

[photofly]

The purpose of the news media is to keep the citizenry informed, not be weaponized to pursue personal agenda.

Wow!

That is not the purpose, tone or content of those columns at all!

The purpose of the media is actually to sell advertising space, and those columns play a part in making the various publications interesting to read.

[Bede]

The purpose of the media is actually to sell advertising space, and those columns play a part in making the various publications interesting to read.

Touché

[photofly]

I’m sure I read a similar column in the Toronto Star (I don’t know its politics and don’t buy it myself, so don’t judge!)

[CpnCrunch]

Gabor Lukacs writes for various publications and advocates for passenger rights. But as mentioned by the other posters, he isn't going to help you. The CTA is pretty useless: if you complain to them, they will just sit on it for years.

The best solution is the small claims court. It's simple, cheap and relatively quick. The problem is getting proof of the cause of the delay. Keep all emails from the airline, and ask them for specific details of the delay if there is any doubt.

[albertdesalvo]

These consumer advocates used to be quite common, every decent newspaper had one, and TV stations as well.

Two that survive to this day are Pat Foran with CTV News and Sean O’Shea with Global News.

These guys do airline stories, check 'em out.

EDIT: you might also want to look at www.cbc.ca/news/gopublic

[Carrier]

albertdesalvo, Many thanks for the names. I filed the information for future use.

Late last month I wanted to contact one regarding a non-aviation issue and story but am unable to find an email address for either.

There is an email address for Pat Foran showing up on his website ConsumerReport@PatForan.com but it does not work. Several emails sent to it bounced back. Emails to 11 email addresses at CTV and Bell Media asking for it have all been ignored.

Online searches fail to find an email address for Sean O'Shea. Emails sent to four email addresses at Global TV and Corus have all been ignored.

If these individuals are still functioning as consumer advocates does anyone have email addresses for either or both?

Note that the UK consumer advocates mentioned above all show email addresses for the public to contact them. I used Sally Hamilton in the summer regarding a long standing problem with a UK government department that refused to solve the problem or even answer emails. It was soon solved once the media took it up and I actually received some compensation from the department.

Are there any other consumer advocates in Canada?

I will appreciate some help. Thanks.

[‘Bob’]

The purpose of the news media is to keep the citizenry informed, not be weaponized to pursue personal agenda.

Wow!

That is not the purpose, tone or content of those columns at all!

The purpose of the media is actually to sell advertising space, and those columns play a part in making the various publications interesting to read.

And sometimes this function can be to keep the citizens informed OR weaponized for a personal agenda.

Because especially in Canada, public perception of airlines is awful. It’s just that there’s so much noise regarding it that you might as well publish news about paint drying for how unique and interesting it is.

[Mr. Lutsch]

CBC Marketplace sounds like something that might qualify.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/marketplace/abo ... -1.5695017

Submit a tip https://www.cbc.ca/news/marketplace/sub ... -1.5695097

[albertdesalvo]

@Carrier:

I posted those names over a year ago.

If you've been following developments in the media industry over the last year, you're aware of the turmoil. Massive layoffs, firings, newsrooms closing down, radio stations going silent, people with 25 years service being shown the door, and on and on.

It wouldn't surprise me if both those guys are no longer with the media companies they worked for.