We the signed call on the Times Colonist newspaper in Victoria B.C. to withdraw its paid membership with the Urban Development Institute Capital Region development lobby.

We consider that membership of a development lobby and partnering with it by a news organization is an ethical conflict of interest when it comes to journalism.

Journalism should be non-biased and represent the interests of the public.

By aligning the Times Colonist to the development lobby through paid membership of the UDI and by partnering with it, the Times Colonist has taken a visibly biased position in regards to the lobby.

The Times Colonist should be looking out for the public's interest by doing proper unbiased journalism and investigations, not by acting in alignment with Public Relations from a development lobby.

Public Relations and Journalism are two different things entirely.

Please Times Colonist do the right thing.  Demonstrate for the public journalistic integrity and non-partisanship by immediately withdrawing media partnership status with the UDI development lobby and paid membership in it.

Show the public that you have earned our trust.

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Sources: 

See below the front page the Times Colonist listed as "Media Partner" (as of March 19, 2023): https://udicapitalregion.ca/​

https://udicapitalregion.ca/membership/member-directory/ (See: Times Colonist)

https://www.lobbyistsregistrar.bc.ca/app/secure/orl/lrs/do/clntSmmry?clientOrgCorpNumber=3004&sMdKy=1655787429132#clientOrgCorpAddress

An Example of a recent Times Colonist front page article: https://www.timescolonist.com/business/its-a-process-saanich-aims-to-make-housing-approvals-more-efficient-6723610

The parent company of the Times Colonist is Glacier Media, which is involved with Real Estate:

https://www.glaciermedia.ca/sectors/real-estate

Glacier Media is listed on the UDI Pacific Region website's members directory at the time of writing March 19, 2023 under the entry:

"Glacier Media (Real Estate Weekly)
 
303 W. 5th Avenue
 Vancouver, BC v5Y1J6"

https://udi.memberzone.com/list/ql/vancouver-region-68

For more information, please contact:
GreaterVictoriaMediaPetition@mail.com