Maclean's reprimanded by Quebec press council for "corrupt" cover story

Maclean's magazine has been reprimanded by the Quebec press council for declaring it was "the most corrupt province in Canada" in the cover story of its October 4, 2010 issue.

The council released the results of its March 18 decision Tuesday, criticizing the magazine for "lack of journalistic rigour" and for its inflammatory headline. The decision said that Maclean's journalist Martin Patriquin and columnist Andrew Coyne did not offer proof, but merely their perceptions.

"We are forced to conclude that they (the comments) reveal prejudice and are all the more condemnable under the circumstances as they carry prejudices against all Quebecers," the council wrote.

Following the appearance of the article Rogers Publishing -- but not Ken Whyte, the publisher and editor of Maclean's --  issued a tepid apology. Later, Maclean's and the Quebec winter carnival settled out of court over the use of the image of Bonhomme Carnival as an illustration of the controversial story.