When a striking scene travels from one screen to another, the basic questions can get lost. What is observable in the photograph? Where did the original image come from? Which parts of the surrounding account have been independently checked?
Begin with the evidence
Explain what people say they want, how others respond and which details can be checked independently. An image can show a crowd and a setting, but it cannot alone establish every participant's view, the reason for the gathering or an outcome. Those claims need reporting beyond the frame.
Look for an original publication, context from people with direct knowledge and records relevant to the place and event. If those are unavailable, a careful description can simply say that the context has not been verified.
The Department of Justice explanation of peaceful assembly covers the Charter context. It is not a substitute for advice about a particular situation.
Avoid the easy shorthand
Crowds are not a single voice. Quote and attribute distinct perspectives instead of assigning one view to everyone. For stories about gatherings, ask which claims come from an organizer, an authority, a witness or an independent reporter. Label those sources clearly instead of blending them into one voice.
The photographs on this site are illustrations. They are deliberately not dated or assigned to a particular Canadian city or real gathering.
Where to go next
Use the reading guide to evaluate a caption, and contact the editorial desk if you spot a sentence that needs a correction.