Catching up on MediaPolicy – Dhanraj files CBC accusations – are US cable networks marching right ? – TIFF’S Degrassi documentary will screen after all

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September 14, 2025

The Travis Dhanraj story that MediaPolicy followed this summer took another step forward with the former news host filing a formal complaint against the CBC at the federal human rights commission.

In a previous media interview, Dhanraj’s lawyer Kathryn Marshall described the public broadcaster as “Stalinist” and her client’s complaint as “the CBC’s nightmare.” She promises to disclose “names, receipts and e-mails.”

The Globe and Mail viewed a copy of the complaint and, as reported earlier, the grit of the allegation is an ugly newsroom battle between Dhanraj, host of the Canada Tonight evening show, and “two liberal white hosts” of CBC’s Parliamentary bureau over booking, or not booking, high profile news guests. Dhanraj characterizes the dispute, and how CBC responded to it, as race discrimination. 

According to the Globe, the complaint says “the CBC constantly gave leading speakers and guests to shows on CBC News Network that had liberal, white hosts namely [Power & Politics host] David Cochrane and [chief political correspondent] Rosemary Barton…These hosts received resources and opportunities that Mr. Dhanraj, the only brown prime time host on CBC News Network with a solo show representing multiple minority identities, was denied.”

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US mainstream media is typically disparaged on the right as hopelessly woke, liberal and Democrat, but things are looking up for conservatives.

The right-wing Fox News cable television network has been rejuvenated by the resolution of the succession dispute among 94-year-old patriarch Rupert Murdoch’s children. The three older siblings have been handsomely bought out for $4 billion and Lachlan Murdoch, who is currently running Fox, will continue to lead the business. Prior to the settlement, there was speculation that the less conservative heirs might one day reorient the political compass of the news organization. 

Meanwhile the venerable CBS news network may be in for a big change. As reported previously, CBS is changing owners and the new proprietor Paramount has given assurances to the White House that it will keep a watchful eye on the newsroom that President Trump disparaged and sued. Now there is a report that Paramount may purchase Bari Weiss’ online news site, The Free Press, and as part of the deal appoint Weiss as head of CBS News. 

For those who aren’t familiar with the iconoclastic Weiss, read up. She’s difficult to pigeon-hole but she would readily claim that mainstream media is hopelessly woke, liberal and Democrat.

Still more news, Reuters reports that Paramount is now considering a bid for Warner Brothers Discovery. A merger or acquisition would surely be driven by the opportunity for increasing market share in streaming video. But Warner Brothers also owns CNN News, a charter member of mainstream media and oft impeached on the right as “the Clinton news network.”

Paramount is owned by David Ellison, the son of Larry Ellison (the world’s second richest billionaire) who is reputedly a supporter of the President’s, although their relationship bears a strong resemblance to the President’s mercurial alliance with the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.

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There is something special about the ability of documentaries to ignite controversy and the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival is often the well lit stage.

Previously, MediaPolicy commented on TIFF disinviting Russians At War (2024) and this year’s The Road Between Us. The latter was reinvited after public outcry. Barry Hertz has an interview with TIFF festival director Cameron Bailey here.

Now there’s another TIFF controversy. A new film on the making of the iconic Degrassi television series reportedly features former child actors accusing producer Linda Schuyler of exploiting them. Schuyler deemed that categorically false and defamatory, adding that she was never confronted with the allegations or given an opportunity to refute them when she was interviewed for the film. 

Her application for a court injunction against TIFF screening the film was resolved after the film’s producers agreed that post-TIFF screenings of the documentary will “add some additional context around the compensation paid to the performers.”

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This blog post is copyrighted by Howard Law, all rights reserved. 2025.