I am relieved — cautiously so — to know Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has stated publicly that he believes in the essential role journalists play in our democracy and is seemingly taking a more conciliatory tone toward the media than was earlier indicated.

Still, what I want to tell him and other politicians with power and influence who may be inclined to try to score political points by casting Canada’s media as the enemy is simply this: Please, do not go there.

Can we please do our best not to import the ugliness that prevails in the United States where President Donald Trump repeatedly refers to the media as “fake news” and impugns us with that hateful slur, “enemy of the people.” Can we be better than that in Canada?

Too much of the hate and mistrust of the media stoked daily by Trump has already crossed borders — too many Canadians journalists can now attest to that. I hope all involved take seriously some responsibility to set a better standard of civility in our country.

The Star reported last week that the federal Conservatives appeared to be gearing up to battle the media as part of its 2019 electoral strategy, with Scheer accusing journalists of siding with the Liberals in the carbon tax debate and telling a rally he would stand up to the media. As the Star subsequently reported, Scheer said this week that he respects the role the media plays.

“I believe it’s essential in a vibrant democracy that the media plays its role to hold politicians of all parties to account, that does fact-checking that makes sure you hold our feet to the fire and hold us responsible for what we say,” Scheer said, after a meeting in Toronto with Premier Doug Ford.

That is an accurate and fair summation of the media’s role in our democracy. And, to be clear, just as the journalists hold politicians to account, so too do politicians of every political persuasion — and citizens too — have every right to hold journalists to account for accurate, fair and trustworthy news.

That is fair game all around. But, any inclination from any political party to appeal to voters by demonizing the media should be resisted. Otherwise, we risk creating the hideous, unhealthy civil discourse now raging in the highly polarized U.S., where mistrust of media too often verges on hate and many journalists now fear for their safety.

Indeed, as The Associated Press reported this week, journalists in towns and cities across America say Trump’s attacks on the media have resulted in more hostility toward them within their communities.

As a result, some news groups — including the Radio Television Digital News Association and the National News Photographers Association — are developing workshops for journalists on staying safe while covering local news. Newsrooms throughout North America have re-evaluated their security measures.

“The environment has changed,” Chris Post, a photographer for WFMZ-TV in Allentown, Penn., told AP reporter David Bauder. “I’ve witnessed the transition.”

As has been said many times in recent days, as violence in America has escalated, hateful words can lead to hateful actions. Most days, I feel sickened bearing witness to Trump’s constant attacks on journalists and I fear where this is heading.

I wish I could tell you we are not seeing similar trends here. But, over the past couple of years — since Trump became president — we too have seen increasing hostility and hate toward our journalists in emails and social media postings.

This has resulted in some new policies and practices: We now have a “harassment” file to collect and monitor threatening communications to newsroom journalists. Our social media policy makes clear that Torstar journalists are encouraged to block or mute those who make threatening, abusive or harassing comments.

And, while there’s never been a time throughout my four decades working in journalism that I have not heard strong — sometimes well deserved — criticism of journalists, the tone now is darker, more hateful and increasingly more polarized.

Witness these words in a recent mail from a critic who parroted that ubiquitous f-word popularized by Trump: “This exposed further your bias and hence fake news status,” the man said. “Corrupt, incompetent organized criminals and social terrorists the lot of you clowns pretending to be journalists.”

There is not a lot we Canadians can do to tune out Trump and we should not be surprised that his words seem now to be emboldening haters and infiltrating our civic discourse. But for civility’s sake, let’s hold our Canadian politicians to account to ensure they never decide it is a good idea — or good politics — to ape Trump’s media bashing.

Please, let’s be better than that in Canada.

Kathy English is the Star’s public editor and based in Toronto. Reach her by email at publiced@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @kathyenglish

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