Christie Blatchford

Christie Blatchford (1951-2020) was a prominent Canadian newspaper columnist, journalist and author known for her coverage of crime, courts and social issues. Her career spanned over 40 years writing for major Canadian publications including the Toronto Sun, The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and National Post. Blatchford established herself as one of Canada's most influential voices in journalism through her direct, unflinching style and dedication to covering high-profile criminal cases and trials. She won a National Newspaper Award for her columns and was inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame in 2019. Her books include "Fifteen Days: Stories of Bravery, Friendship, Life and Death from Inside the New Canadian Army" (2007), which won the Governor General's Literary Award, and "Life Sentence: Stories from Four Decades of Court Reporting - Or, How I Fell Out of Love with the Canadian Justice System" (2016). Both works demonstrated her characteristic blend of detailed reporting and strong personal perspective. Throughout her career, Blatchford maintained a reputation for controversial stances and sharp criticism of what she viewed as political correctness and social justice movements. Her final role was as a columnist for the National Post, where she continued writing until shortly before her death from lung cancer in 2020.

Readers consistently note Blatchford's direct writing style and thorough research, particularly in her coverage of criminal cases and military affairs. Reviews frequently mention her ability to humanize complex legal proceedings and tell stories from multiple perspectives. What readers liked: - Detailed firsthand accounts in "Fifteen Days" - Clear explanation of legal processes in "Life Sentence" - Personal connections with interview subjects - Raw, unfiltered reporting style What readers disliked: - Strong political opinions that some found alienating - Repetitive writing in longer works - Perceived bias in coverage of certain social issues - Combative tone in opinion pieces Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - "Fifteen Days": 4.0/5 (300+ ratings) - "Life Sentence": 3.8/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon.ca: - "Fifteen Days": 4.2/5 (50+ reviews) - "Life Sentence": 4.0/5 (40+ reviews) One reader noted: "She gets to the heart of stories others miss." Another countered: "Her personal views sometimes overshadow the reporting."

Fifteen Days: Stories of Bravery, Friendship, Life and Death from Inside the New Canadian Army (2007) Chronicles Canadian soldiers serving in Kandahar, Afghanistan through firsthand accounts and observations gathered during Blatchford's own time embedded with troops.

Life Sentence: Stories from Four Decades of Court Reporting - Or, How I Fell Out of Love with the Canadian Justice System (2016) Examines notable Canadian criminal cases and the evolution of the justice system based on Blatchford's extensive career as a court reporter.

Spectator Sport (1986) Documents key moments in Canadian sports history and profiles significant athletes through collected newspaper columns and extended commentary.

Close Encounters (1988) Presents personality profiles and interviews with notable Canadian figures from politics, sports, and entertainment gathered from Blatchford's journalism career.

The Black Hand: The Bloody Rise and Redemption of "Boxer" Enriquez, a Mexican Mob Killer (2008) Details the life story of Rene "Boxer" Enriquez, examining his time in the Mexican Mafia and subsequent cooperation with law enforcement.

Margaret Wente writes newspaper columns about Canadian politics and social issues from a conservative perspective. She shares Blatchford's direct writing style and focus on controversial topics.

Rex Murphy covers Canadian current events and politics with commentary pieces in the National Post. His columns examine cultural shifts and societal changes with a similar skeptical lens as Blatchford.

Barbara Kay writes about gender issues, free speech, and political correctness in Canadian society. She approaches sensitive topics with the same unflinching analysis that characterized Blatchford's work.

Mark Steyn reports on politics, culture and society with an emphasis on free speech and western values. His investigative journalism and commentary pieces mirror Blatchford's approach to complex social issues.

Jan Wong combines personal narrative with reporting on Canadian social and political topics. Her work as a newspaper columnist tackles difficult subjects with the same forthright approach Blatchford was known for.