Actually, what the headline on the CBC was Oust Liberals over sponsorship scandal, Canadians say. Must be the conclusion of a statistically valid poll, right? Wrong!

Here's a screencap:

This was CBC Online's top news story.

I'm all for giving readers voice. This is a great time for a message board and various other interactive devices to allow CBC Online's readers to express themselves. It's one of the strengths of the online medium.

But those who email in on almost anything tend to be angrier than those who don't. There's nothing random about such an opinion sample.

To imply all Canadians share that view might be true, but it might also very well be untrue.

In my personal opinion, the media should only tie claims about what "Canadians think" on an issue to a properly-conducted poll by a reputable polling firm.

And news of the actual event in question (the Gomery inquiry, in this case) should still trump letters to the editor.

But that's just me. I stand to be convinced otherwise.

BTW, I once worked for CBC.ca as a casual and am currently a staff writer for CTV News Online, but I'm speaking for myself, not my employer.