by Peter Mansbridge
Just like he is for many Canadians, Peter Mansbridge is a familiar face and voice to me. When I was in journalism school, he was and had been for a long while, the pinnacle of Canadian journalism. For over 20 years he had been anchoring CBC’s nightly news broadcast, The National. I wanted to be him and, as we often do to people in the public eye, I also felt I knew him.
Going into his autobiography with an already established idea of what this man is like (an icon!), I think any review I put forth will be biased. But obviously, I’m going to do it anyways as everything about this book surpassed my expectations. It is mostly a collection of anecdotes, short snippets of moments that made an impression on Mansbridge. He writes about how he got his start, various impactful assignments, and the role of the media. He shares the funny, the sad, the at times upsetting experiences he had as a journalist and gives a behind-the-scenes peek at the chaos that surrounds getting something live to air.
“Words matter. And the wrong words matter a lot.”
Off the Record, p. 71
While he, for the most part, stays away from the personal side of things, in one chapter, as Mansbridge reflects on the why of his career, I think he simultaneously answers why (as I mentioned earlier) people feel like they know him when he doesn’t share many details about himself. The reason is obvious when you think about it and is inherent in what we expect from journalism: trust. Mansbridge possesses a unique quality that allows people to immediately trust him; with him, trust isn’t built over time, it’s instantaneous from the moment you hear his voice.
This foundation of trust is what good, ethical journalism is dependent on and accountable to. I appreciated and respected that throughout his stories, Mansbridge gives examples of times when he has made mistakes. He doesn’t shy away from discussing his own reservations about the CBC and takes ownership of the criticism he has also faced during his storied time on air. After more than 50 years in broadcasting, he has witnessed huge shifts in the journalism trade, but its roots and purpose have always remained the same. It is this duty to hold decision-makers accountable and report honestly to the public so that we can make informed decisions that have been the backbone of his service.
“Journalism is based on trust. Or so it should be. And trust is often gained through the pathway of truth. The two ‘T’s.’”
Off the Record, p. 302
With a background in journalism (admittedly, one not exercised in quite some time), I truly admire those who do this job well. The industry has taken a hit recently and those in it have become, as Mansbridge addresses, condemned as people we should question—people with a hidden agenda. That’s perhaps the most seismic change that we’ve seen, or at least that I have seen, in the last 10 years since I graduated with my Bachelor of Journalism. I’ll never forget that on Day One, the first thing I learned in J-school was that the only thing, the most important thing, a journalist has is their word. Peter Mansbridge’s inspiring career is a testament to how he has upheld that journalistic integrity and, even after retiring, still does. This man will forever be a pillar in, not just Canadian news, but the global media, as he deserves to be.
(I don’t typically do this but here are a few more quotes from this book that really stood out to me.)
“They seek input, but unless the decision makers at the big table bring in a multitude of perspectives, backgrounds, ethnicities, lived experiences, and diversity, the CBC will not adequately serve all Canadians.” p. 51
“Too often, in the comfort of the anchor chair on the other side of the world, we lose touch with the reality of what it’s really like out there. And we forget how real, sometimes ugly real, the situation is for reporters who are just trying to do their best under horrific circumstances.” p. 168
“What they’re asking boils down to this: What is it like to be an ordinary human being in the middle of extraordinary circumstances while at the same time being the vehicle for an entire country to witness those events?” p. 307
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