From the NYT:

Although quite a few journalists in Canada have worked for Mr. Black at some point, Maclean’s (which Mr. Black never owned) has two important connections with him that complicate its role as an impartial chronicler of his predicament.

Mr. Black’s wife of 15 years, Barbara Amiel, is a well-known conservative columnist who has worked for Maclean’s for 30 years, and Ken Whyte, Maclean’s publisher and editor in chief, is a former employee of Mr. Black’s who remains a close friend. ...

Mr. Whyte said that readers of Maclean’s were informed of the potential conflicts. “When I decided to answer the subpoena I disclosed to our readers that I would appear as a witness in my capacity as a former Black employee,” Mr. Whyte said. “Ms. Amiel’s relations to the defendant have been abundantly disclosed, as has Mr. Steyn’s former employment in the Black empire.” ...

Mr. Whyte said that Maclean’s had not given Mr. Black any special treatment. “In the pretrial period,” he said, “Mr. Black sued me and Maclean’s over coverage he considered unfavorable. In fact, he’s sued two of my columnists over our coverage of his affairs.”