Advertisement

Gawker vs the Toronto Star

U.S. website Gawker was first to publish this image of Mayor Rob Ford with three men. Screenshot / Gawker

TORONTO — Since Toronto Police confirmed it has a video of Toronto’s mayor smoking what appears to be crack cocaine, one of the publications that kicked off the controversy has been loudly trumpeting its journalism.

In a piece published Friday, Toronto Star publisher John Cruickshank argued the revelation is a testament to the Star‘s “extraordinary reporting.”

READ MORE: Mayor Rob Ford admits to smoking crack cocaine

He also provided similar comments to Global News.

Cruickshank’s comments resulted in a Twitter tirade by Gawker’s editor John Cook, who initially broke the story of the crack video last spring.

Story continues below advertisement

Cook argued it was Gawker, and not the Star, that sparked the police investigation:

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303517356281856

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303563715928064

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303638844297217

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303699523280896

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303737515294720

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303794159357952

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303846013554688

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303881333792769

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303921607475200

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396303973549740032

https://twitter.com/johnjcook/status/396304015048204288

So, who is right?

Well, technically, both publications. On page 9 of the Information to Obtain document, police credit both sources:

Both Gawker and the Toronto Star are referenced in the ITO provided by Toronto Police.

Sponsored content

AdChoices