From the Globe and Mail:

Global Television in British Columbia paid $5,000 to a charity to interview Graham McMynn, the son of a wealthy businessman, who was held in captivity for eight days.

Most Canadian media outlets refuse to pay for interviews, although British tabloids and broadsheets pay significant sums. A financial relationship between a news organization and those who are interviewed could affect public perception of the media's independence and objectivity, media ethics professor Stephen Ward said.

Bob McMynn, Graham's father who acted as his son's agent in negotiations with the Vancouver station in the CanWest television network, said yesterday he came up with the idea of donating to charity.

Print, radio and television outlets were hounding his son for an interview, Mr. McMynn said. U.S. stations had offered "significant dollars," Mr. McMynn said, adding that he was "not at liberty" to reveal how much was offered. ...

Ian Haysom, Global British Columbia's news director, said the news outlet was offered an interview for money. "We said we do not pay for interviews. However, as we negotiated this, one of the suggestions made was we make a donation on our behalf to the Vancouver Police Foundation," Mr. Hayson said. "By giving it to a charity, we don't feel we are enriching anybody's pocket. We're doing something here for the good of the community. In the end, it was an interview we felt was in the public interest to get ... our hands are clean."

Mr. Haysom said he could not recall another occasion when Global B.C. had paid for an interview, although the news organization has done so for news tips.