Reinstate Rachel Gilmore’s Fact-Checking Segment: A Call to Defend Press Freedom

          « BREAKING NEWS! Rachel Gilmore has just landed a new gig with The National Observer to host a biweekly Election 2025 Fact-Checking segment!  A huge thank you to everyone who has signed and shared this petition—your voices matter! Let’s keep up the pressure, not just to support Rachel, but to hold CTV accountable for caving to alt-right harassment and online bullying instead of standing by journalistic integrity. I’ll be subscribing to The National Observer, and I encourage everyone who supports Rachel to do the same! Let’s show that fact-based journalism has our backing. » 

      Petition:

In a democracy, a free and independent press is essential. Journalists hold power to account, provide fact-based reporting, and ensure the public remains informed. Yet, the recent cancellation of Rachel Gilmore’s fact-checking segment on CTV News highlights a troubling trend: increasing political pressure and harassment campaigns targeting journalists—especially women—who challenge conservative narratives.

Rachel Gilmore, known for her sharp analysis and courage in covering politically charged issues, has faced relentless harassment from far-right figures and Conservative-aligned influencers. This is not just an attack on one journalist—it is an assault on press freedom and democratic accountability.

The Harassment of Female Journalists

Gilmore is not alone. Journalists like Global News’ Mercedes Stephenson and CBC’s Rosemary Barton have also been subjected to online mobs that weaponize death threats and intimidation tactics. Conservative-aligned influencers falsely portray these journalists as “biased” simply for reporting verifiable facts.

This is not about media bias—it is about silencing dissent. Under Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party has made attacking the press a core political strategy, branding fact-checking journalists as “activists” rather than reporters. This rhetoric fuels harassment campaigns that push journalists out of their roles, chilling press freedom.

CTV News’ Decision: Capitulating to Pressure

The cancellation of Gilmore’s segment after just one episode raises serious concerns. Normally, new segments are evaluated over time, yet this decision appears to be driven by social media outrage rather than journalistic merit. Canceling fact-checking in the middle of an election cycle is especially alarming.

If a journalist’s work is to be assessed fairly, it must be over a reasonable period—certainly more than a single episode. This abrupt cancellation sends a chilling message: challenge the wrong people, and your career is at risk. That is not how a democracy is supposed to work.

Why This Should Outrage Everyone Who Cares About Democracy

Silencing journalists through political pressure is a direct threat to democracy. Without fact-checkers, misinformation spreads unchecked. Without fearless journalists, those in power manipulate narratives without accountability.

This is not an isolated case—it mirrors strategies used by far-right leaders worldwide, from Donald Trump’s attacks on the press to authoritarian regimes that undermine journalistic independence. The goal is clear: discredit the media, pressure networks into self-censorship, and create an environment where only one political narrative dominates public discourse.

What Needs to Happen Now

CTV News must be held accountable. At a minimum, Gilmore’s segment deserves a fair trial period—such as four weeks—before any final decision. Viewers deserve transparency on whether the cancellation was due to journalistic standards or political pressure.

Media organizations must also protect their journalists from politically motivated harassment campaigns. When networks abandon reporters facing intimidation, it emboldens further attacks and weakens press freedom for everyone.

This is not just about Rachel Gilmore or one news segment—it is about the future of journalism in Canada. If we allow this pattern to continue, journalists will hesitate to challenge those in power, and fact-checking itself will become a dangerous act. That is a future no democracy can afford.

We urge CTV News to reverse its decision and reinstate Rachel Gilmore’s fact-checking segment with a fair evaluation period. Journalism must be guided by truth, fairness, and the public interest—not dictated by online mobs or political pressure.

#FairChanceForJournalism

#DefendPressFreedom