Front Page Story

Bridle Path exile

by Judi McLeod, Canadafreepress.com

September 1, 2004

The black-bordered front-page photograph of Conrad Black on Wednesdays National Post leaned graphically on the traditional death notice. `A Corporate Kleptocracy, heralded the headline with a caption over the photo reading: "Report alleges Black, allies `plundered US$400M."

The word "plundered" is the kicker here. "Plunged" would be an apt word to describe the National Posts treatment of this story. By bordering the photo to make it look like a traditional grief notice; using two full inside pages, one depicting "A Sample of the Spending" with its generic dish of caviar ostensibly served at Barbara Blacks $42,000 birthday bash, the Post plunged itself down to cheap tabloid level.

Overkill coverage for a report, released by a special three-member committee of Hollinger International Inc.s board of directors, mandate of which was to probe the companys affairs.

Blacks Ravelston Corp. says the report is "laced with outright lies".

Never mind that the allegations made in the report have yet to be proven. Interesting to note that the Posts lead story doesnt get around to making that clear until paragraph eight, which also happens to be the penultimate paragraph in the front page story: "None of the allegations in yesterdays report have been proven." (Emphasis ours).

In essence, the report accuses Lord Black and associates for having "violated every concept of fiduciary duty" and then points the finger of blame at the excessive lifestyle of Lord and Lady Black.

Using a term hardly in use since Napoleon languished on St. Helen, Theresa Tedesco, Chief Business Correspondent for the Post claims the Blacks have been "exiled" to their Bridle Path mansion in Toronto, "far from the jet-set life in London, Palm Beach and New York."

Only journalistic license could place the Blacks in exile, and in claiming that right Tedesco seems more sleuth than business correspondent.

How people hate the rich! And its worse when the rich happen to be perceived in some minds to be nothing more than jumped-up Canadians.

But even more ridiculous than Tedescos claims of Bridle Path Exile are the Posts use of photos in the full page, A Sample of the Spending. As proof, theres a generic dish of caviar, three bottles of fine wine in ice and a picture of the garden-variety corporate American Express card. A postcard-perfect picture of Bora Bora in French Polynesia is meant to illustrate the Blacks July, 2001 vacation. Barely discernible in the picture is what appears to be the figure of a woman, who could be anybody but the svelte Barbara Amiel Black.

Outrageous spending by Lady Black in the scathing report includes $140 for her jogging clothes.

In the bottom corner of the same page depicting the caviar, wine, etc., credit card can be foundif you really look for ita story based on the Ravelston response.

"The special committees report is recycling the same exaggerated claims laced with outrageous outright lies that have been peddled in leaks to the media and over-reaching lawsuits since (investigator) Richard Breeden first began his campaign against the founders of Hollinger International.

&"Mr. Breeden and the special committee have squandered more than $25 million of shareholders money in a futile 14-month investigation that paralyzed Hollinger International, eroded the value of the assets, and persecuted and defamed the men and women who created the value they are now vandalizing."

No doubt this is a catfight that will tie up court time for years.

Odd that the loudest yowls in the catfight are coming from the National Post.

There would never have been a National Post without the courage of a visionary newspaper magnate named Conrad Black.

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