Editorial – YouTube Censors Unbiased Reporting of Victoria Hall Protests

Pete Fisher
3 years ago
• Categories: Editorial

Editorial News is about unbiased reporting.

At least that is what Today’s Northumberland has always strived to be.

Unless it’s an editorial, then it becomes opinion.

With the protests in front of Victoria Hall in Cobourg since the pandemic began last year, we have been the only media to cover it extensively.

Not to give anyone’s particular side. But because it’s news.

As stated before, we have not reported on it weekly, until the current lockdown.

So when it looks as though things could happen and there would be possibly charges, yes, we have covered it every Saturday.

When covering a story, it’s paramount to give both sides – whether you agree with either side or not. It’s about balanced journalism.

It’s not about our opinion when covering a story. It’s about getting the people involved to speak. To tell their side. And let the reader educate themselves, or decide what opinions they have on the subject.

Which comes to our point in this editorial.

YouTube as far as we know is a business. And like any business it can choose what it wants displayed and what it doesn’t want displayed.

Today’s Northumberland has always tried to post videos with the story. Words are great, but video (especially when you’re no where near as gifted as many writers) tells the story.

Previously when we interviewed members of the group at Victoria Hall, YouTube removed our video and gave us a “warning.”

One Saturday, April 17, 2021 they removed another video.

Stating, “Our team has reviewed your content, and, unfortunately, we think it violates our medical misinformation policy. We’ve removed the following content from YouTube
We know that this might be disappointing, but it’s important to us that YouTube is a safe place for all. If content breaks our rules, we remove it. If you think we’ve made a mistake, you can appeal and we’ll take another look. Keep reading for more details. “

We did appeal, but YouTube insisted that we broke their “medical misinformation policy,” stating in a following email:
“We have reviewed your appeal for the following content:
We reviewed your content carefully, and have confirmed that it violates our medical misinformation policy. We know this is probably disappointing news, but it’s our job to make sure that YouTube is a safe place for all.
How this affects your channel
We won’t be putting your content back up on YouTube.
If your appeal was for a warning, you will not be given another warning in the future.
If your appeal was for a strike, the strike will remain on your channel. You can find more information about warnings and strikes at the YouTube Help Center.
Sincerely,
The YouTube Team

In that video that was removed it shows police officers giving tickets to the protestors who are demonstrating in front of Victoria Hall. There is also an interview with one of the protestors.

It may not be what most people agree with, but Canada at least we are a free country.
Let me be clear. We are not siding with the protestors.

When YouTube shows extreme violent videos, police shootings, riots and millions other very controversial videos there is no way that censoring a viewpoint from people who are peacefully protesting should be removed.

Today’s Northumberland is looking to other avenues to once again post the video in its entirety.

Not for promoting their cause – but to inform the public.

UPDATE: Today’s Northumberland has reposted the video (link below) on Rumble that was removed from YouTube

https://rumble.com/vfte2h-covid-19-anti-lockdown-protest.html