The Fifth Estate (TV program) Canadian investigative documentary series
The Fifth Estate Title card since 2017
Genre Starring Country of origin Canada Original language English No. of seasons50 Executive producer Diana Swain Running time 60 minutes Production company Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Network Release September 15, 1975 (1975-09-15 ) – present
The Fifth Estate is an English-language Canadian investigative documentary series that airs on the national CBC Television network.[ 1]
The name is a reference to the term "Fourth Estate ", and was chosen to highlight the program's determination to go beyond everyday news into original journalism. The program has been on the air since 16 September 1975,[ 2] and its primary focus is on investigative journalism . The show was launched in 1975 by Ron Haggart .[ 3] It has engaged in co-productions with the BBC , The New York Times , The Globe and Mail , the Toronto Star , and often with the PBS program Frontline .
The Fifth Estate is one of two television programs (with The Twilight Zone being the first) to win an Academy Award , a prize presented to theatrical films: Just Another Missing Kid , originally a The Fifth Estate episode, was released in theatres in the United States and won the 1982 Academy Award for Documentary Feature .
Journalists
The program is currently hosted by Mark Kelley and Steven D'Souza, with Ioanna Roumeliotis slated to join the show in spring 2025,[ 4] following the retirement of longtime host Bob McKeown in fall 2024.[ 5]
Other past personalities associated with the show have included:
Episodes
News reports aired on The Fifth Estate have included investigations into and reports about:
Season 34 (2008–09)
The 2008–09 television season was the 34th season of The Fifth Estate .
Season 36 (2010–11)
The 2010–11 television season was the 36th season of The Fifth Estate .[ 10]
Episode
Title
Original air date
1
Enemies of the State
October 15, 2010
2
The Confession
October 22, 2010
3
The Fall and Rise of Theo Fleury
October 29, 2010
4
The Life and Death of Abdinasir Dirie
November 5, 2010
5
Behind the Wall
November 12, 2010
6
The Girl in the Suitcase
November 19, 2010
7
The Legacy of Brendan Burke
November 26, 2010
8
Presumed Dead
December 3, 2010
9
After the Earth Shook
January 7, 2011
10
Justice for Nadia
January 14, 2011
11
Death of the Don
January 28, 2011
12
WikiRebels
February 4, 2011
13
Death at the Olympics
February 11, 2011
14
The Devil You Know
February 18, 2011
15
You Should Have Stayed At Home
February 25, 2011
16
Missing
March 11, 2011
17
Getting Off Easy
March 18, 2011
18
My Friend the Bank Robber
March 25, 2011
19
A Question of Innocence
April 1, 2011
Season 37 (2011–12)
The 2011–12 television season was the 37th season[ 11] of The Fifth Estate .
Episode
Title
Original air date
CBC viewers
1
Truth and Lies: The Last Days of Osama bin Laden
September 9, 2011
599,000
2
Swissair 111: The Untold Story
September 16, 2011
775,000
3
Gatti-vs-Gatti
September 23, 2011
436,000
4
Mayday
September 30, 2011
482,000
5
Colonel Gadhafi: Palace of Secrets
October 7, 2011
577,000
6
True Confession
October 14, 2011
504,000
7
Scout's Honour
October 21, 2011
567,000
8
'Til Death Do Us Part
October 28, 2011
482,000
9
Stories from the River's Edge
November 4, 2011
509,000
10
Murder, he wrote
November 18, 2011
535,000
11
A Cold Case
November 25, 2011
612,000
12
Holiday Hell
December 2, 2011
722,000
13
Behind the Line
December 9, 2011
568,000
14
Escape From Justice
January 6, 2012
853,000
15
Diagnosis Murder
January 13, 2012
646,000
16
The Lies People Tell
January 20, 2012
752,000
17
Who's Killing the Rizzutos?
January 27, 2012
622,000
18
The Wreck of the Costa Concordia
February 3, 2012
1,317,000
19
The House of Shafia
February 10, 2012
470,000
20
The Lost Boys
February 17, 2012
565,000
21
Fearless
February 24, 2012
298,000
22
Fast Break
March 2, 2012
203,000
23
Time Bomb
March 9, 2012
895,000
24
Lost on the Ice
March 23, 2012
300,400
25
Kidnapped
April 6, 2012
1,200,000
Season 38 (2012–13)
The 2012–13 television season was the 38th season[ 12] of The Fifth Estate .
Episode
Title
Original air date
1
Into the Death Zone[ 13]
September 12, 2012
Death of Canadian Shriya Shah-Klorfine on Mt. Everest
2
Kingston Pen: Secrets and Lies[ 14]
September 21, 2012
Kingston Penitentiary
3
Runaway Fighter[ 15]
September 28, 2012
Purchase of the F-35 fighter jet
4
The Widow's Web[ 16]
October 5, 2012
So-called "black widow" Melissa Ann Shepard
5
The Life and Death of Gloria Taylor[ 17]
October 12, 2012
Gloria Taylor , the first Canadian to have the right to ask for a doctor's assistance in dying
6
Whistleblowers: Moment of Truth[ 18]
October 19, 2012
The fate of well-known Canadian whistleblowers
7
Lost in the Struggle: The Next Chapter[ 19]
October 26, 2012
Return to Jane and Finch, Toronto
8
Lucky 7[ 20]
November 2, 2012
The recovery of the stolen lottery win
9
The Elephant in the Room[ 21]
November 9, 2012
Retiring zoo elephants
10
Left for Dead[ 22]
November 16, 2012
Struggle for survival in icy waters near Baffin Island
11
Lance Armstrong: Master of Spin[ 23]
November 23, 2012
Lance Armstrong
12
Hunting Magnotta[ 24]
November 30, 2012
Double murderer Luka Magnotta and whether his gruesome crimes could have been prevented
13
Costa Concordia: The Captain's Tale[ 25]
December 7, 2012
Costa Concordia disaster
14
The Imperfect Spy[ 26]
April 10, 2017
What Jeffrey Delisle did and why
15
The Last Race[ 27]
January 18, 2013
Death of Canadian ski cross competitor Nick Zoricic in World Cup competition
16
Death in Paradise
January 25, 2013
Unexplained tourist deaths may be linked to pesticide use
17
Target bin Laden[ 28]
February 1, 2013
Osama bin Laden
18
Crossfire[ 29]
February 8, 2013
The National Rifle Association 's influence in the United States and Canada
19
The Unrepentant[ 30]
February 22, 2013
Canadian psychopaths Melbourne "Lightning" Lee, Russell Williams , Karla Homolka , and two young offenders
20
The Vanishing[ 31]
March 1, 2013
Disappearance of Wendy Ratté
21
Second Wave[ 32]
March 8, 2013
Debris from 2011 Japanese tsunami begins to reach Canadian coasts
22
Ironman[ 33]
March 29, 2013
Russ George 's massive iron fertilization project off of BC's west coast
23
Mission Improbable[ 34]
April 5, 2013
Cynthia Vanier, SNC-Lavalin , and an alleged plot to smuggle Saadi Gaddafi and his family into Mexico
24
Rate My Hospital[ 35]
April 12, 2013
Season 39 (2013–14)
The 2013–14 television season was the 39th season of The Fifth Estate .
Episode
Title[ 36]
Original air date
Subject
1
The Secrets of Sugar[ 37]
October 4, 2013
2
Made in Bangladesh[ 38]
October 11, 2013
Textile industry in Bangladesh , triggered by the 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse
3
The Murder and the Money Trail[ 39]
October 18, 2013
4
Elephants on Board: A Journey to Remember[ 40]
October 25, 2013
PAWS sanctuary
5
The Strange World of Julian Assange[ 41]
November 1, 2013
Julian Assange
6
The Rob Ford Story[ 42]
November 8, 2013
Rob Ford , late mayor of Toronto
7
The Sextortion of Amanda Todd[ 43]
November 15, 2013
Suicide of Amanda Todd
8
The Conspiracy Files: JFK and 9/11[ 44]
November 22, 2013
Conspiracy theories around John F. Kennedy's assassination and 9/11
9
The Last Great Escape[ 45]
November 29, 2013
10
Silence of the Labs[ 46]
January 10, 2013
11
The Man Who Hears Voices[ 47]
January 17, 2014
12
Walk the Line[ 48]
January 22, 2014
A prominent biker cop who was accused of selling secrets to the Hell's Angels
13
Voyage of the Black Dragon[ 49]
January 31, 2014
A voyage attempted by 600 Chinese migrants to sneak into Canada in 1999.
14
Rabbi of the Pure Hearts: Inside Lev Tahor[ 50]
February 28, 2014
Lev Tahor and alleged child abuse within a Jewish community.
15
The Rise and Fall of Mike Duffy[ 51]
March 7, 2014
Mike Duffy and the Canadian Senate expenses scandal
16
Return to Paradise[ 52]
March 14, 2014
Pesticides used in a tropical resort hotel room may have killed guests in Asia.
17
Dead Enough[ 53]
March 21, 2014
Canada's varying standards for declaring death affects organ transplants
18
Your Tips, Our Stories[ 54]
March 28, 2014
Stories from viewer tips: a man deceives Canadian women into supporting him financially; the Halifax death of a young blind woman is re-examined; the worst case of small-town corruption
19
Love and the Perfect Stranger[ 55]
March 28, 2014
Markus Vuorinen, a Finnish former gameshow host who promised love to at least 10 women across Canada before being arrested on assault charges
20
The Long Way Home
March 28, 2014
The Halifax death of a young blind woman, Holly Bartlett
21
Small Town Shakedown[ 56]
March 28, 2014
The worst case of small-town corruption: Rita Crundwell stealing millions from the town coffers in Dixon, Illinois .
Season 43 (2017–18)
The 2017–18 television season was the 43rd season of The Fifth Estate .
Episode
Title[ 57]
Broadcast Date
Subject
1
Murder in Cottage Country[ 58]
September 15, 2017
Decades-old mystery over the disappearance of 4 elderly people in the Muskoka region of Ontario
2
Pit Bulls Unleashed: Should They Be Banned[ 59]
September 22, 2017
3
The Truth Smugglers[ 60]
September 29, 2017
People in Syria who smuggle out photographs and pages of secret official documents
4
Jagmeet Singh: The Colour of Politics[ 61]
October 13, 2017
Jagmeet Singh
5
Motherisk: Tainted Tests & Broken Families[ 62]
October 20, 2017
Motherisk
6
Via Rail Terror Plot : The Inside Man[ 63]
October 27, 2017
7
TransCanada and Keystone XL : The Money Pipeline[ 64]
November 3, 2017
TransCanada and Keystone XL Pipelines
8
The Super Scalpersh[ 65]
November 10, 2017
A Canadian super scalper , as revealed in the Paradise Papers
9
The JFK Files: The Murder of a President[ 66]
November 17, 2017
Assassination of John F. Kennedy
10
Basil Borutski and the Wilno Murders: Circle of Fear[ 67]
November 24, 2017
An investigation into the murders of three women in Wilno , Renfrew County, Ontario , and Basil Borutski, the man on trial for those crimes.
Season 45 (2019–20)
The 2019–20 television season is the 45th season of The Fifth Estate . (Where two episodes appear in one program, a "/" is included between the episodes.)
Episode
Title[ 68]
Broadcast Date
Subject
1
Targeted /
Is Murder In Your DNA?[ 69] [ 70]
September 22, 2019
Gun lobby's fight to save assault weapons in Canada /
DNA detective technique
2
When Terror Comes Home[ 71]
September 29, 2019
Plan for de-radicalizing returning ISIS fighters
3
The Forgotten /
Havana Syndrome
Stories from several women who grew up in Quebec's youth protection system /
A new Canadian study into the Havana syndrome , looking into why an increasing number of Canadian and American diplomats have gotten sick in Cuba.
4
The Hood: Cops, Gangs, and a community in the crossfire
Indigenous gangs in Regina , in one of Canada's most dangerous neighbourhoods.
5
Dear Mr. Bissonnette
Alexandre Bissonnette , the man behind the 2017 Quebec City mosque shooting
6
My Father's Killer: Murder Mystery on Cortes Island /
Wronged: Did Ashley Smith"s death end solitary confinement?
A man's search for his father's killer and the problematic police investigation surrounding it. /
The Ashley Smith inquest
7
Muskoka Murders: Closing in on the Killers
The disappearance and presumed killing of four senior citizens—including Joan Lawrence, John Semple, John Crofts, and Ralph Grant —in Ontario's Muskoka cottage country
8
Captive: Caitlan Coleman vs. Joshua Boyle
Kidnapping of Canadian-American couple Joshua Boyle and Caitlan Coleman in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan
9
The List: The Search For Church Secrets /
Vintage Grapes: Revisiting a famous Don Cherry interview
Survivors of clergy abuse demanding that the Roman Catholic church release secret lists of credibly-accused abusers /
Revisiting an interview with Don Cherry that took place almost 3 decades ago.
10
Hockey Fight: Wives Reveal the Cost of Concussions /
Sexism in Science: The Woman Who Pioneered Giraffe Research
The wives of retired hockey enforcers demanding change from the NHL /
Anne Innis Dagg , a Canadian pioneer for women's rights and a groundbreaking scientist on the behavior of giraffes .
11
Passport Babies: The Growing Shadow Industry of Birth Tourism /
Confronting Hate: How Antifa Is Tracking the Extreme Right
Birth tourism /
The world of Antifa
12
The Autopsy Part One: What If Justice Got It Wrong? /
The Insider: Tales From Inside the Benny Hinn Ministries
Autopsy results in criminal cases in Alberta that may have led to miscarriages of justice , including wrongful convictions. /
The worldwide influence of American-Canadian evangelist Benny Hinn
13
How Boeing Crashed: The Inside Story of the 737 Max
The Boeing 737 MAX groundings
14
Runaway Train: Investigating a CP Rail Crash /
Who Are They? Reconstructing Faces of the Dead
January 26, 2020
The derailment of a Canadian Pacific train into the Kicking Horse River /
How 15 students, 1 instructor, and an RCMP officer use forensic sculpture in an effort to identify the remains of 15 men found in Canada.
15
The Priest's Confession: What the Catholic Bishops Knew /
John Connelly's Death: Family Fights for Answers
Allegations of sexual assault among Catholic clergy in Canada /
The death of University of Toronto pharmacy student John Connelly in 2001.
Season 46 (2020–21)
The 2020–21 television season is the 46th season of The Fifth Estate . (Where two episodes appear in one program, a "/" is included between the episodes.)
Episode
Title[ 72]
Broadcast Date
Subject
1
Thirteen Deadly Hours: The Nova Scotia Shooting
The April 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia by a man who went on a 13-hour crime spree in which he killed 22 people
2
Bitter Harvest: The Story of the Pandemic and the People Who Pick Our Food
Government policies for protecting farm workers that Canada imports each year from abroad to grow and harvest fruits and vegetables.
The Smartest Guy in the Room: Cameron Ortis and the RCMP Secrets Scandal
How the RCMP charged Cameron Ortis , one of their own, with leaking confidential police secrets.
4
Nygard: The Secret Videos
The December 2020 arrest of Peter Nygard , a Canadian fashion tycoon who faced charges involving sex trafficking and racketeering .
5
The Price WE Paid
The political WE Charity scandal involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the WE Charity . The episode includes an interview with WE's cofounders, Craig and Marc Kielburger .
6
Policing the Police[ 73]
February 11, 2021
How police are investigated in Canada; following the aftermath of a shooting in a small Ontario town, after one police officer shoots another.
7
Fatal Care /
Sexism Within Ottawa Police
A tragedy in an Ontario foster home, revealing problems in the for-profit child care system /
Charges of sexual misconduct in the Ottawa Police Service
8
The Missing Millions /
Black on Campus[ 74]
February 25, 2021
A massive case of financial fraud that cost investors and pensioners millions of dollars
Three Black Canadians who claim anti-Black racism to be plaguing the hallways of higher learning .
9
Treatment or Torture /
No More Tears: The Essure Legacy
Canada's Oak Ridge institution, where mentally-ill prisoners are treated each other, and other human experiments were performed. /
The fight for justice by Canadian women after having endured medical complications from Essure .
10
When Police Don't Knock /
Broken Honour
The issues with a controversial police tactic known as "dynamic entry ," which is used in search of drugs, guns, and suspects /
The Canadian military 's attempts to combat sexual violence in its ranks.
11
The Gene Hunters /
Recipe for Genius
The Toronto Police 's mining of genetic genealogy to find the killer behind cold cases , some of which are over 2 decades old /
The renewed interest in the game of chess , as well as a fascination with children who show early genius for the game.
Awards
The Fifth Estate has won many awards, including Gemini Awards —among them ten for Best Information Series—numerous domestic investigative journalism awards, many New York and Columbus awards, International Emmys , and in 2000 and 2010 the Michener Award , Canada's top journalism prize, which is open to all media and has only one annual winner. A 2003 co-production[ 75] with The New York Times and PBS's Frontline was recognized with the Pulitzer ,[ 76] Peabody ,[ 77] Polk ,[ 78] and other awards.
The Fifth Estate is one of two television programs (with The Twilight Zone being the first) to win an Academy Award , a prize presented to theatrical films: Just Another Missing Kid , originally a The Fifth Estate episode, was released in theatres in the United States and won the 1982 Academy Award for Documentary Feature .
Award
Year
Category[citation needed ]
Recipient
Result
Academy Awards
1983
Best Documentary, Features
John Zaritsky
Episode: The Fifth Estate: Just Another Missing Kid (1981)
Winner
Gemini Awards
1998
Best Photography in an Information Program or Series
Colin Allison
Nominee
1999
Best News Information Series
David Studer and Susan Teskey
Winner
Best Photography in an Information Program or Series
Colin Allison
Nominee
2002
Winner
2003
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Kelly A. Morris
Nominee
2004
Best News Information Series
David Studer and Sally Reardon
Winner
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series
Bob McKeown
Segment: "Run For Your Life"
Best Photography in an Information Program or Series
Colin Allison
Segment: "Run For Your Life"
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Loretta Hicks
Segment: "No Way Home"
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Marie Caloz
Segment: "No Way Home"
Nominee
Neil Docherty
Segment: "Dead in the Water"
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Claude Vickery
Segment: "Run For Your Life"
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series
Linden MacIntyre
Segment: "Death of a Beauty Queen"
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Leslie Steven Onody
Segment: "Dead in the Water"
Kelly A. Morris
Segment: "Run For Your Life"
Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series
Joe Passeretti and Damian Kearns
Segment: "Dead in the Water"
2005
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Oleh Rumak
Episode: "Do You Believe in Miracles?"
Winner
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series
Linden MacIntyre
Episode: "War Without Borders"
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Loretta Hicks
Episode: "Sticks and Stones"
Best News Information Series
David Studer and Sally Reardon
Nominee
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Marie Caloz
Episode: "First, Do No Harm"
Episode: "Sticks and Stones"
Kit Melamed
Episode: "Mister Nobody"
Claude Vickery
Episode: "The Girl in the Suitcase"
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series
Hana Gartner
Episode: "The Canadian"
Bob McKeown
Episode: "Sticks and Stones"
Best Photography in an Information Program or Series
Paul Seeler
Episode: "First, Do No Harm"
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Leslie Steven Onody
Episode: "War Without Borders"
Episode: "Do You Believe in Miracles?"
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
Bob McKeown
Episodes: "Bio of Dick Cheney", "Do You Believe in Miracles", and "Sticks and Stones"
Gillian Findlay
Episode: "First, Do No Harm"
2006
Best News Information Series
David Studer, Jane Mingay, Sally Reardon, and Jim Williamson
Winner
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series
Linden MacIntyre
Episode: "Hail of Bullets"
Best Science, Technology, Nature, Environment or Adventure Documentary Program
David Studer, Douglas Arrowsmith , Jane Mingay, and Jim Williamson
Episode: "Black Dawn"
Nominee
Best Sports Program or Series
David Studer, Caroline Harvey, Jane Mingay, and Jim Williamson
Episode: "On the Edge of Glory"
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
Gillian Findlay
Episode: "Failing Jeffrey"
Bob McKeown
Episode: "Rogue Agent"
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series
Gillian Findlay
Episode: "Failing Jeffrey"
2007
Best News Information Series
David Studer and Sally Reardon
Winner
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
Gillian Findlay
Episode: "Luck of the Draw"
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Tania White
Episode: "The Good Father"
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
Hana Gartner
Episode: "The Good Father"
Nominee
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Catherine Annau
Episode: "The Good Father"
Tamar Weinstein
Episode: "Lost in the Struggle"
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series
Gillian Findlay
Episode: "Luck of the Draw"
Best Photography in an Information Program or Series
Colin Allison and Jeff Cole
Episode: "Crime Pays"
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Loretta Hicks
Episode: "Lost in the Struggle"
Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series
Larry Kent, Damian Kearns, and Joe Passaretti
Episode: "Road Warriors"
2008
Best News Information Series
David Studer and Sally Reardon
Winner
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
Hana Gartner
Episode: "The Lady Vanishes"
Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series
Avi Lev
Episode: "Overboard"
Best Host or Interviewer in a News Information Program or Series
Gillian Findlay
Episode: "Overboard"
Nominee
Linden MacIntyre
Episode: "Bad Day in Barrhead"
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Marie Caloz
Episode: "Teacher's Pet"
Claude Vickery
Episode: "Overboard"
Best Writing in an Information Program or Series
Gillian Findlay
Episode: "Overboard"
Linden MacIntyre
Episode: "Brian Mulroney: The Unauthorized Chapter"
Best Photography in an Information Program or Series
Paul Seeler
Episode: "Life and Death in Kandahar"
Best Sound in an Information/Documentary Program or Series
Joe Passaretti and Damian Kearns
Episode: "Life and Death in Kandahar"
2010
Best Editorial Research
Lynette Fortune (researcher)
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (production company)
Winner
Canadian Screen Awards
2013
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Carmen Merrifield and Claude Vickery
Episode: "Truth & Lies: The Last Days of Osama bin Laden"
Winner
Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research
Angela Gilbert
Episode: "Scout's Honour"
Best Direction in a News Information Program or Series
Timothy Sawa
Episode: "Scout's Honour"
Nominee
2015
Best News or Information Program
Tarannum Kamlani, Mark Kelley, Lysanne Louter, and Aileen McBride
Episode: "Made in Bangladesh"
Winner
Best News or Information Series
Julian Sher and Jim Williamson
Best Photography in a News or Information Program, Series or Segment
John Badcock
Episode: "Made in Bangladesh"
Nominee
Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series
Gillian Findlay
2018
Best Picture Editing, Documentary
Liz Rosch
Episode: "The Disruptors"
Nominee
2019
Barbara Sears Award for Best Visual Research
Leslie Morrison
Winner
Barbara Sears Award for Best Editorial Research
Timothy Sawa, Lisa Mayor, and Zander Sherman
Nominee
Mindset Awards
Mindset Award for Workplace Mental Health Reporting[ 79]
Mark Kelley (reporter), Timothy Sawa (producer), and Kimberly Ivany (associate producer)
Episode: "Officer Down"
Winner
The Hillman Prize
2019 Canadian Hillman Prize[ 80]
Harvey Cashore, Bob McKeown, Kimberly Ivany, Aileen McBride, Saman Malik, Doug Husby, and Lisa Mayor
The Fifth Estate
Winner
Canadian Association of Journalists Awards
2020
Best Broadcast Feature[ 81]
Gillian Findlay, Linda Guerriero, Elizabeth McMillan, Lisa Mayor, and Liz Rosch
Episode: "13 Deadly Hours"
Finalist
JHR / CAJ Award for Human Rights Reporting[ 81]
Mark Kelley, Virginia Smart, Karen Wirsig, Aileen Mcbride, and Andy Hincenbergs
Episode: "Bitter Harvest"
Canadian Screen Awards
Best Picture Editing, Factual
Aileen McBride
2021
Liz Rosch
Nominee
Controversies
The Savoie scandal
In 1992, The Fifth Estate aired an expose of Inspector Claude Savoie of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, accusing him of being corrupt. On 21 December 1992, Savoie shot himself in his office at the RCMP's headquarters. Many felt that The Fifth Estate bore some responsibility for Savoie's suicide. Julian Sher of The Fifth Estate who worked on the Savoie story stated in 2022: "I didn't kill him, I didn't load the gun, I didn't put the gun to his head. He made his choices. I'm not responsible but if Dan and I had decided not to do the story, if we had not covered this stuff, would he be alive? He might have decided to kill himself when the RCMP (investigated him)...The lesson I learned from that is the consequences of our work. For many of the people we tell stories about, it's their lives and sometimes their deaths."[ 82]
Libel suit
The CBC was successfully sued for libel over an episode that aired on 27 February 1996. Two doctors were interviewed for an episode about prescription drugs. Both doctors alleged their interviews were unfairly edited to give the false impression they were involved in kickbacks, cover-ups of patient deaths and other disreputable activities. Cardiologist Martin Myers asked for an apology plus $25,000, while researcher Frans Leenen asked for an apology plus $10,000. The CBC opted to fight the charges in court. The doctors ultimately prevailed. Myers was awarded $200,000, plus interest and costs, while Leenen won $950,000, plus interest and costs that could total over $2 million, a record for Canadian libel. The CBC has no libel insurance. Judges in both cases ruled that journalists at The Fifth Estate had twisted the facts and acted with malice, with one writing in his decision; "this was sensationalistic journalism of the worst sort and should serve as an embarrassment to this so-called 'flagship' investigative programme." The episode's host Trish Wood, producer Nicholas Regush , the researcher and executive producer David Studer were assessed punitive and aggravated damages.[ 83]
Iglesia ni Cristo
The CBC and The Fifth Estate were sued in February 2019 by the Iglesia Ni Cristo after officials said one of the show's broadcasts defamed their church, calling the show "slanderous" and acting "without evidence." CBC News responded by stating they stand behind the story.[ 84]
The episode in question, "Church of Secrets", which aired on 11 November 2018 and was hosted by Bob McKeown , detailed the controversies surrounding the church , including accusations of financial irregularities, kidnapping, and the murder of a Canadian man.[ 85] [ 86] [ 87] In particular, McKeown interviewed the widow of a murder victim allegedly killed by INC members after a series of verbal altercations, as well as following the story of excommunicated ministerial worker Lowell Menorca II , who sought refugee status in Canada . The news crew also attempted for and were denied an interview with Eduardo V. Manalo after an event in Sacramento . During the attempt for an interview, their vehicle's tires were slashed, which McKeown suspected was an act of intimidation by INC, though an INC member denied the allegation.[ 87]
Notes
References
^ Sonya Bell, "The Fifth Estate" . The Canadian Encyclopedia , September 16, 2022.
^ "The story of the fifth estate" . Archived from the original on September 26, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2012 .
^ Powell, Betsy (August 28, 2011). "Ron Haggart, 84: Legendary journalist 'delighted in controversy' " . The Toronto Star. Retrieved August 7, 2023 .
^ Connie Thiessen, "Ioanna Roumeliotis to join CBC’s ‘The Fifth Estate’" . Broadcast Dialogue , January 7, 2025.
^ Connie Thiessen, "Bob McKeown to retire from CBC’s ‘The Fifth Estate’" . Broadcast Dialogue , November 19, 2024.
^ "Emmy winner joins CBC's fifth estate". Toronto Star , September 23, 2016.
^ "The Strange World of Julian Assange" . CBC News .
^ "The Fifth Estate" . TVGuide.com . Retrieved May 27, 2021 .
^ cbc.ca: Someone Got Away With Murder
^ "Season 36 Episodes online" . CBC News .
^ "Season 37 Episodes online" . CBC News .
^ "Season 38 Episodes online" . CBC News .
^ "Into the Death Zone - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "Kingston Pen: Secrets and Lies - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 27, 2013.
^ "Runaway Fighter - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "The Widow's Web - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "The Life and Death of Gloria Taylor - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "Whistleblowers: Moment of Truth - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "Lost In The Struggle: The Next Chapter - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "HOW A FRAUDULENT CLAIM TO A LOTTERY TICKET CHANGED THE RULES OF THE GAME, AND MADE A GROUP OF ORDINARY GUYS MILLIONAIRES SEVEN YEARS LATER--CBC - CBC Media Centre" .
^ "The Elephant in the Room - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 3, 2013.
^ "Left for Dead - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "Lance Armstrong : Master of Spin - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "Hunting Magnotta - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "Costa Concordia: The Captain's Tale - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "The Imperfect Spy - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "The Last Race - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "Target bin Laden - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "Crossfire - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "The Unrepentant - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 22, 2013.
^ "The Vanishing - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 22, 2013.
^ "Second Wave - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 22, 2013.
^ "Ironman - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 22, 2013.
^ "Mission Improbable - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 22, 2013.
^ "Rate My Hospital - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 22, 2013.
^ "The Fifth Estate" . TVGuide.com . Retrieved May 27, 2021 .
^ "The Secrets of Sugar - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 3, 2013.
"Welcome - TheTVDB.com" .
^ "Made in Bangladesh - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 5, 2013.
^ "The Murder and the Money Trail - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 16, 2013.
^ "Elephants on Board: A Journey to Remember - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 22, 2013.
^ "The Strange World of Julian Assange - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 21, 2013.
^ "The Rob Ford Story - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on November 9, 2013.
^ "The Sextortion of Amanda Todd - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on November 13, 2013.
^ "The Conspiracy Files: JFK and 9/11 - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on November 20, 2013.
^ "The Last Great Escape - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on November 23, 2013.
^ "Silence of the Labs - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on December 21, 2013.
^ "The Man Who Hears Voices - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on January 15, 2014.
^ "Walk the Line - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on January 18, 2014.
^ "The Voyage of the Black Dragon - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on January 26, 2014.
^ "Rabbi of the Pure Hearts: Inside Lev Tahor - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on February 28, 2014.
^ "The Rise and Fall of Mike Duffy - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on March 4, 2014.
^ "Return to Paradise - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on March 12, 2014.
^ "Dead Enough - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on March 18, 2014.
^ "Your Tips, Our Stories - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on March 22, 2014.
^ "Love and the Perfect Stranger - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on August 9, 2015.
^ "Small Town Shakedown - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on May 14, 2014.
^ "The Fifth Estate Season 43" . TVGuide.com . Retrieved May 27, 2021 .
^ "Murder in Cottage Country - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 2, 2017.
^ "Pit Bulls Unleashed: Should They Be Banned? - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 20, 2017.
^ "The Truth Smugglers: The Disappeared in Syria - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 1, 2017.
^ "Jagmeet Singh: The Colour of Politics - the fifth estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 13, 2017.
^ "Motherisk: Tainted Tests & Broken Families - The Fifth Estate" . Archived from the original on September 25, 2020.
^ "Via Rail Terror Plot : The Inside Man - the Fifth Estate" . Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2018 .
^ "TransCanada and Keystone XL : The Money Pipeline - The Fifth Estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on November 2, 2017.
^ "The Super Scalpers - The Fifth Estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on November 12, 2017.
^ "The JFK Files : The Murder of a President - The Fifth Estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on November 18, 2017.
^ "Basil Borutski and the Wilno Murders: Circle of Fear - The Fifth Estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on November 28, 2017.
^ "The Fifth Estate Season 45" . TVGuide.com . Retrieved May 27, 2021 .
^ "Targeted: Inside the gun lobby's fight to save assault weapons in Canada - The Fifth Estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on October 2, 2019.
^ "Is murder in your DNA? - The Fifth Estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 18, 2020.
^ "When terror comes home: The plan for deradicalizing returning ISIS fighters - the Fifth Estate - CBC News" . Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2019 .
^ "The Fifth Estate Season 46" . TVGuide.com . Retrieved May 27, 2021 .
^ "Policing the Police - The Fifth Estate" . Archived from the original on February 12, 2021.
^ "The Fifth Estate features Carol Sutherland during 'Black On Campus' segment" . The Eyeopener . March 9, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021 .
^ "A Dangerous Business" . PBS . January 9, 2003. Retrieved November 10, 2013 .
^ "2004 Pulitzer for Public Service" . Retrieved November 10, 2013 .
^ "2003 Peabody Award" . Retrieved November 10, 2013 .
^ "2003 Peabody Award" . Retrieved November 10, 2013 .
^ Trauma, Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and. "Fifth Estate wins the 2019 Mindset Award for Workplace Mental Health Reporting" . www.newswire.ca . Retrieved May 27, 2021 .
^ "2019 Canadian Hillman Prize Ceremony" . Hillman Foundation . April 3, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2021 .
^ a b "Canadian Association of Journalists - Awards" . caj.ca . Retrieved May 27, 2021 .
^ Kelly, Brenden (November 8, 2022). "Kings of Coke tells the tale of Montreal's infamous West End Gang" . The Montreal Gazette. Retrieved November 10, 2022 .
^ Margaret Wente (2000)
Two doctors, the CBC and a judgment , The Globe and Mail, May 13, 2000; URL accessed 11 Apr 2017
^ Dawkins, Glenn. 2019 February 8. "TERRIBLE STAIN: CBC sued by church over Fifth Estate story ." Kingston Whig Standard . Postmedia News. Retrieved 2021 May 27.
^ "Church of Secrets - Episodes - The Fifth Estate" . www.cbc.ca .
^ Sawa, Timothy; Fortune, Lynette; McKeown, Bob (November 11, 2018). "Church of secrets" . CBC . Retrieved November 7, 2019 .
^ a b How The Fifth Estate dealt with intimidation | The Investigators with Diana Swain on YouTube
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