Journalistic Integrity

Saturday marks the third week anniversary of my book and I couldn’t be happier about how well things have gone. The response from those working in and around gang issues has been great and media interest in the book and the issue of street gangs has been outstanding (thanks to my lovely and talented publicist, Barb Bower!), with coverage in over 20 media outlets and publications, with many more to come.

As a first-time author of a major non-fiction publication that deals with contentious issues, I have been anxiously awaiting the dreaded book review, preparing myself for the worst, but hoping for the best. Another author told me a year ago that when you write a book such as this, you essentially hang your butt out in the open, so prepare to be kicked! I was okay with that then, and I am okay with it now, because everyone is entitled to their opinion on street gangs. In fact, stimulating a debate was exactly what I set out to do in writing Young Thugs, because with debate comes engagement, and with engagement comes a broader response to gangs. About time.

Over the past three weeks, I have had the pleasure of reading two reviews of my book. While neither was an unequivocal endorsement of all my ideas, both were complimentary and never dismissive. The criticisms raised are fine by me, as I have sufficient strength of conviction to weather the storm and keep promoting my take on street gangs. To each his own I say, let the debate continue!

While I don’t object to criticism, I do object to factual misrepresentations of what I have written in my book. Bruce Owen from the Winnipeg Free Press wrote in his review that "where Chettleburgh loses some credibility is his sappy description of his visit to Winnipeg's North End, which describes as ‘Canada's shameful little secret’. The fact is there are shameful little secrets all over Canada, particularly in isolated First Nations' communities". On this point, I agree completely with Bruce. The thing is, what I actually wrote in my book in respect to North Winnipeg was that it was "just one of Canada's many shameful little secrets". We expressed an identical idea, yet I was accused of losing credibility.

However, the Winnipeg Free Press made good by publishing the "Have Your Say" letter below on May 14, a testament to their commitment to the key principles of journalistic integrity – accuracy, impartiality, truthfulness, fairness, objectivity and public accountability. For other newbie or aspiring authors, the lesson I would pass on is this: take the criticism "like a man" – it will strengthen you, broaden your perspective and make you more committed to your craft. But if a reviewer misrepresents what you say, especially a professional journalist, push back and hold them to the journalistic standards to which they have committed. Like the esteemed Winnipeg Free Press, trust that the Canadian media will set the record straight.

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Mistaken attribution

Re: Street gang examination reads much like a textbook, May 6. In Bruce Owen’s review of my book, Young Thugs: Inside The Dangerous World of Canadian Street Gangs, he suggests I lose credibility because I singularly accord North Winnipeg with the status of “Canada’s shameful little secret,” and then goes on to state there are many other shameful little secrets all over Canada. However, a careful read of my book will show that I referred to North Winnipeg as “just one of Canada’s many shameful little secrets.” Since our opinions are therefore identical, the mistaken attribution is rather unfortunate. MICHAEL CHETTLEBURGH Markham, Ont.