The Globe and Mail's public editor Sylvia Stead responded in a recent blog post to reader concerns that the Canadian newspaper isn't devoting enough Olympic coverage to Canadian athletes. "Several readers thought that emphasis was wrong and we should be celebrating our own athletes more and the world Olympics news less," she explained.

Stead argued that the newspaper has run numerous photos of Canadian athletes, but stories on other international athletes, including American Michael Phelps, have been newsworthy.  She wrote:

"That news is important and I think most readers want to know about international stories as well, even though they may not always agree with our front -page emphasis....While we clearly focus on our Canadian athletes, our editors are also driven by news decisions about the Games. And part of the news is showing the athletes in the midst of difficult routines."