KATHY PORTER; Public Editor: Ljonny32@gmail.com, who are you really?. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/public_editor/2015/10/16/ljonny32gmailcom-who-are-you-really-public-editor.html “An embarrassing apology in the Star underscores the need for journalists to be skeptical when verifying identities of online sources”. Yes. Indeed. The Star has done it again. The last major faux pas was “My daughter's run-in with Ezra Levant at her first protest: Porter; The Star, July 6/15”; where a Star columnist Catherine Porter got caught on camera, and had to apologize; as did The Star; for a blatantly mendacious article that also was not properly vetted by the editors, who relied on the veracity of a known columnist. http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/07/06/my-daughters-run-in-with-ezra-levant-at-her-first-protest-porter.html At the time, I wrote to you about this matter; but as usual; critical comments are ignored; no matter how factual and fair. Here it is again, for your edification and usual disregard: I don’t normally read Catherine Porter’s columns; and I only read this one out of curiosity after reading Ezra Levant’s letter in today’s Star. I am no fan of Ezra Levant –he is far to rightwing for my liking –but this time he got it right. His video interviewing some of the lesser intellects demonstrating, shone a light on the general hypocrisy of these part-time self-important phonies; though he seems to have managed to pick the most inarticulate and stupid participants. They surely do no good service to sincere environmentalists and their agenda. Catherine Porter and her daughter was but a small part of their video; and it appears that Ms. Porter thrust herself into the picture; manipulating and directing her poor daughter’s questions to Mr. Levant; and then, dishonestly, recasting it to suit her in her own agenda in her Star column. Involving her young daughter in such travesty does not reflect positively on Ms. Porter. She is lucky that Mr. Levant has not chosen to sue her for libel in civil court. I must give credit to The Star for giving Mr. Levant the lead letter in today’s Letters section; and for making a notation on your web page version of her column about Mr. Levant’s explanatory letter ( Note – July 8, 2015: See Ezra Levant’s response to this column, “Ezra Levant begs to differ.” ). I would expect no less from my favourite newspaper. There are many excellent freelance reporters available for The Star’s reader’s benefit. Ms. Porter is not one of them. Sigmund Roseth I don’t know if it is the dire straits of newspapers in our digital economy that causes a fine publication like the Star to take shortcuts in their editing process; but editing for facts is important, even online. I expect better from my Star. Sigmund Roseth