OpinionCOLEMAN: Winners Keeping Promises Aren’t “Doubling Down”

We journalists need to strive toward accuracy and fairness in straight-news stories.

This week, I read two straight-news stories that described newly elected political leaders as “doubling down” on promises made during the campaign.

In British Columbia, the new Conservative premier is “doubling down” on his party’s promise to repeal B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA). This was a central promise made by that political party, which won a supermajority (63 of 93 seats) following the October 24 provincial election.

Here in Hamilton, The Hamilton Spectator wrote: “Just hours after the ballots were counted, mayor-elect Keanin Loomis is doubling down on a much-debated campaign promise — namely, reversing a decision to build affordable housing on a Stoney Creek parking lot amid an unprecedented housing crisis.”

Loomis won with 41.8 per cent of the vote. Runner-up Rob Cooper, who made the same promise, received 31.9 per cent. Together, the two candidates who pledged to cancel the project received 73.7 per cent of the votes cast.

Keeping a promise is not “doubling down.”

My concern is that when an article uses “doubling down” in this context, it creates the appearance of bias. “Doubling down” carries a connotation of defiance of popular opinion or morality.

It suggests the journalist is inserting their own worldview. Neutral verbs such as “reaffirmed” or “reiterated” are better choices.

A journalist’s job is to give people the context to make their own determinations.

News stories should include interviews and information that enable readers to understand why these decisions are contentious and to weigh the differing viewpoints.

The CityNews piece included comment from opponents of the repeal. The Spectator’s did not quotes from those opposed to Loomis’ decision.

Commentary Has Its Place in Journalism

I was immeasurably fortunate to begin my journalism career in 2007 in a large newsroom with some of the best editors in Canada. I was hired as a “digital native” (a term not yet in common use) and was permitted to write opinion, straight news, and daily “with voice” news summaries.

This freedom to express opinion grounded in fact made my news reporting better. Because readers knew I also wrote opinion, they scrutinized my news reporting more closely, and so did my editors.

Most importantly, I had excellent editors who “doubled down” on standards.

Yes, I used “doubled down” on purpose because it works great in opinion pieces.

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Published: October 30, 2026
Last updated: October 30, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman

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