The Canadian Television Network (CTV) has dismissed its correspondent, Brian Nelson, for an unauthorized appearance on a television newscast in Abu Dhabi where he read a script that referred to Israeli Premier Yitzhak Shamir as a “terrorist” and to Israel as “the Zionist entity.” The privately-owned network said it was taking disciplinary action against Nelson’s field producer, Barry Barnett. Nelson confirmed today that he was fired and said he would consult a lawyer. Marjory Anthony, vice president for network relations, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that by agreeing to appear on the newscast, Nelson acted irresponsibly and violated network rules by failing to obtain his employer’s permission.
The incident occurred while Nelson was covering Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau’s visit to the Persian Gulf states. According to Anthony, Nelson would have been dismissed even if there had been no derogatory remarks about Shamir and Israel in the newscast.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
