Appendix #1

Steps taken by Toronto Star to get Mayor Rob Fords side of the story on Thursday May 16 prior to publication of crack cocaine video story
The Gawker website published online at 8:28 pm on Thursday May 16 an account of how its editor, John Cook, saw the Mayor Ford crack video the previous week. Toronto Star editor Michael Cooke quickly assembled a group of reporters and editors in the newsroom, including Kevin Donovan and Robyn Doolittle, who had seen the video a month before and had been trying to obtain the video ever since. During that phase, the Star had promised the source who was trying to sell the video that it would not reveal the sources identity or the fact that a video existed without permission of the source. The Star was released from that promise that evening. In addition, the Star learned that day that the source had attempted to sell the video to not only the Star, but Gawker and CNN. Following is a summary of Toronto Star attempts to contact Mayor Rob Ford that evening to ask him about the video and the attempts by individuals to sell the video. Please note that Mayor Ford and his staff, for more than a year at that time, had refused to respond to any verbal, emailed or hand delivered letters seeking comment on numerous other stories the Star was preparing. Thursday evening: 9:04 pm: Robyn Doolittle both called and sent a text message to Fords chief of Staff Mark Towhey and press secretary George Christopolous asking them to comment on allegation that Mayor Ford was videotaped smoking crack and that people were trying to sell a video of this. Neither responded. 9:15-10 pm: Kevin Donovan called Fords city hall line and his home line several times. There was no answer. Messages left for Ford asked him to comment on the Gawker story and also informed him that Star reporters had seen the video and requested comment on that. Donovan also called George Christopolous, press secretary. Christopolous did not respond to requests for comment.

9:30-10:30 pm: City Hall reporter Paul Moloney and photographer Tara Walton drove to Mayor Fords house in Etobicoke and knocked on door, seeking comment. There was no answer. Moloney rang the bell and knocked several times. Moloney wrote a note asking Mayor Ford to comment on the issue involving the crack video. Moloney put the note through the mail slot on Fords door. A man appeared who seemed to be acting as security for the Ford house. He told Moloney and Walton to move along. Moloney and Walton then drove a short distance to Councillor Doug Fords house, knocked and received no answer. Moloney wrote a similar note and put it in the mail box at the councillors home. Moloney and Walton returned to Mayor Fords house and again received no response. 9:45 pm: Robyn Doolittle spoke to Dennis Morris, Mayor Fords lawyer. Doolittle explained the story the Star was working on and said she was seeking comment from Mayor Ford and if not, his lawyer. Morris said to Doolittle how can you know what he is smoking. Doolittle noted that Gawker had, that evening, quoted Morris saying that the Gawker account of the video was false and defamatory. Morris confirmed to Doolittle he had made that comment. 9:45-10 pm: Reporter Dave Rider reached Ford Chief of Staff Mark Towhey at his home. Rider explained the story the Star was working on and Towhey abruptly hung up on the Star reporter. 10 pm: Kevin Donovan called lawyer Dennis Morris to go over his comments and ask, again, if Mayor Ford would comment. Morris said he would speak on behalf of the mayor as his lawyer. Morris told Donovan that by viewing a video how can you indicate what the person is actually doing or smoking. Morris repeated his claim that the allegations against Mayor Ford were false and defamatory. The Star continued to try and get Mayor Ford to comment about the video that evening, on Friday and on successive days. Mayor Ford and his staff have ignored all attempts by the Star to interview them on the crack video matter.