Facebook throws cash at reporting fellows
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The addition of eight one-year Canadian Press journalist roles to Facebook’s spree of funding news media coincides with the national wire service seeking federal relief to offset losses. Heritage minister Steven Guilbeault still promises to find the solutions for Silicon Valley to compensate Canadian companies, as Facebook remains under fire.
Another bell rung at Bell Media
The video about how BodyBreak succeeded in spite of racist treatment experienced by Hal Johnson, particularly at TSN—which revoked a job offer because they had another Black reporter, and advised he find a white co-host for wife Joanne McLeod—prompted an apology from the network, which was owned at the time by Labatt.
Toronto landlords are complaining that a couple of Blue Jays haven’t paid their rent. The lawyer for first baseman Rowdy Tellez argues the team is on the hook for it, even if the contract wording suggests otherwise, while first base coach Mark Budzinski is in similar arrears. Major League Baseball has yet to pay their salaries in a stalled season.
The first dibs at Disney World
It’s been a year since the Raptors held their parade, and they’re still the reigning NBA champions. Now, as the suspended season readies a July 30 restart confined to Disney World, the team will reportedly be summoned there ahead of any other. The strategy is will avoid the double quarantine required if they first regrouped at home:
Thou shalt not sing nor dance in Ontario businesses this summer. A stipulation in restaurant reopening guidelines is bringing on allusions to Footloose, because the provincial government wants patio patrons to remain safely seated. The guidance also extends to child-care centres, while similarly being discouraged in places of worship.
The greener side of Popeyes
After busting the Tim Hortons app for its detailed tracking of users who didn’t opt out of sharing location data, the Financial Post supplies some friendlier press to Restaurant Brands International. The preview of Popeyes chicken sandwich in Canada has been rerouted to Edmonton, with American meat for now. But the pickles are domestic:
“I will not apologize for it; nor apologize for any part of it, word, comma or space between words. I will even stand for the semicolons.” Rex Murphy responded to the National Post editors who claimed a production error facilitated his argument of why Canada isn’t a racist country. He also had no problem with them running a rebuttal.
Finally, no hard feelings here
Idris Elba hinted that he contracted COVID-19 from Sophie Grégoire Trudeau at a We Day event on March 4 in London, England. The virus then struck his wife, Sabrina Dhowre Elba, although both only experienced minor symptoms. The couple then launched a rural relief fund from the United Nations, which now has a donation:
