Letter: Self-education – more important than it has ever been

By Letter to the Editor on February 18, 2026.

Dear editor,

I find the furor over the upcoming Rebel News Panel at Medicine Hat College both curious and unsettling. “Thou doth protest too much, methinks.” I think so much of modern-day protest is just too over-the-top. What is the phrase? Too excessive to be credible?

I am compelled to monitor the impending local media coverage, too. Platforms we grew up with across Canada that still exist no longer provide the same level of research and reporting many of us came to expect and trust. What the media is capable of within our knowledge system today has changed immensely. Many publications and broadcasters simply do not have the resources to keep up. I can’t imagine how frustrating the challenges associated with editorial meetings must be today.

When I worked as a sportswriter during the summer of 1982 at the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, I was hired to provide “relief” for a department that consisted of eight reporters. That was for the sports department alone. That department had to add a body from May to September during the summer months while the full-time personnel took their vacations? Indeed, times change.

How does my experience compare to staffing levels today? To me, it is the difference between being able to provide incredibly robust and extensive coverage or simply striving to exceed a bare minimum. Perhaps the true answer falls somewhere in the middle? Subsequently, the world wide web has become home to many so-called, non-traditional media platforms. Rebel News is one such provider, among others. Whether we like it or not, these providers are here to stay. Thankfully, none require funding through tax dollars.

I do not believe separation is the best route for the province. However, those invested in the concept do not appear to be breaking any laws. They are entitled to promote their message. If they adhere to the rule of law, I do not see a problem. Democratic process, right?

I certainly hope for a united Canada moving forward. It is pretty much all I’ve ever known. I am not sure any other iteration would compare favourably. If spending $20 and a couple of hours at Medicine Hat College on Feb.27 provides me with any new information of real substance, the time and investment might seem worthy. These days, I choose to base my trust – and subsequent opinions – on opportunities to practice self-education.

Glen Erickson

Medicine Hat

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