Watching the primetime news conference March 6 of U.S. President George W. Bush, I was struck by how stiff the entire event was. I couldn’t help but feel that R2D2 would have been more successful in affecting a less mechanical performance.

Even more striking, though, was that questions posed by reporters in the White House were, for the most part, neither tough nor probing. (‘How is your faith guiding you? And what should you tell America or what should America do collectively as you instructed before 9/11? Should it pray?’ was one question asked of Bush.) Worse still, was the obvious fact that it was stage managed with Bush anticipating questions and responding with rehearsed and polished answers.

I bring this up because it has always been in moments of conflict that reputations are made, and Canadian broadcasters have a proven track record of rising to the occasion. But never has this been more important than today. Since Sept. 11, U.S. news organizations appear to have been incrementally losing perspective. Whether from fear of losing access to the most powerful man in the world or because they believe his push to war against Iraq is just and as black and white as the White House would have us believe, the legendary U.S. media is not taking Bush to task.

And while no one could ever accuse the U.S. media of reporting a broad worldview, events of the new millennium have thickened the veil considerably.

‘I think the American coverage is very focused on the American dimension, far more self-centred than ever before. And to a Canadian that’s unacceptable,’ says Tony Burman, editor in chief of CBC News, in our cover story on broadcast preparations for war.

Later in the story, we are told of Canadian filmmaker Shelley Saywell, who cannot find a U.S. network to air her doc Generation of Hate, which probes the views of Iraqi children regarding the impending war.

Such programming gives citizens a chance to see the other side and is essential to making an informed decision on whether to support the U.S. initiative or oppose it. So far, polls indicate the Americans are standing behind their government with a majority supporting a war with Iraq. One wonders what the results would be if Americans were fed a daily diet of the kinds of news and doc programming seen in Canada or in the U.K.

All of this will become even more critical when bombs begin to rain down on Baghdad. Up-to-the-minute news coverage tends to completely alter ratings and millions of Canadians have access to 24-hour U.S. networks. Many believe CNN and its ilk are the only way to get the most up-to-date information.

Network executives know coverage of crises is critical both in terms of building long-term viewing and in attracting all-important young viewers.

I interviewed Burman not long after Sept. 11 about the effects of such events on network TV. ‘There are only a few times in the period of a year where an event clearly captivates everyone in society,’ he said. ‘It is then that our audiences extend well beyond people who consider themselves regular CBC viewers.’

This is one of those times.

More importantly, this is a chance for national broadcasters to clearly define the Canadian view. A broad editorial slant away from trends in the U.S. is more critical now than ever before.