'Blatch' never bleached the truth. We need more like her

National Post, 12 February 2020

The talents of Christie Blatchford cannot easily be matched. But what made her truly admirable was her courage.

Our hearts are heavy at the National Post on the occasion of the death of Christie Blatchford, perhaps our most celebrated contributor. She was truly unique in the profession, the best reporter we had and a superlative columnist, too.

The talents of “Blatch” cannot easily be matched. But what made her truly admirable can be emulated, which was her courage. She told the truth in a profession where that should be the default position. Instead, too many journalists are inclined bleach their copy until it is comfortably bland. Blatch never bleached.

The first time I met her in the Post newsroom, she was clearly delighted to offer her irreverent and provocative — a good description of her columns, come to think of it — sense of humour to the local clergyman. She had returned from some trip and was submitting her expenses that day.

(In those happier days, the Post authorized rather generous expenses. Remember when Blatch flew the Concorde soon after the Paris crash of July 2000, to report on how the fleet was recovering?)

She announced loudly that she had covered the expenses of the young male photographer along for the trip and faux-lamented — for my sake especially — that he did not reciprocate in, what in previous times might have been the, er, customary manner.

“He was perfectly chaste!” roared Blatch in my direction, challenging me to respond. “What do you think of that?”

“On chastity, I am in favour,” was the best I could reply.

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