Heads up Breaking News Desk!

Is Diana Swain, Gemini award winning host and pint sized cutie jumping to Global? Perhaps to fill the soon to be vacated Kevin Newman chair or maybe she’s just sick of the shit.

The long suffering CBC Toronto Local show and its ability to generate ulcers for any and all involved may be the biggest factor to consider.

Except be original of course.

I don’t pride myself on stomping on an idea before its even totally evolved. I would like to ask Mr. Lacroix where and when do you intend to include input from staff. From the little I know of this project it is already looking like another CBCNN fiasco. Management and consultants channel surfing and saying ” We wanna be like them”.

I’ve got almost 15 years of news production  just here at the Corpse. I know what I’m doing. I know what works and what doesn’t. I also know that there is a depth of experience all around this building and country begging management to please hand us a bucket and let us bail some water outta this ship. The Captain and the Pilot are too busy looking at the charts dreaming of their destination while the crew is banging on the cabin door trying to warn them of the dangerous waters ahead.

CBC was once known for its production quality. Its crews were innovative before that became a consultants $1000 buzz word. This talent still exists. Use it. Its whats going to make the difference. More of a difference then blow hard town hall meetings and a badly executed  mangement wish lists.

I’m not telling not trust your Senior Bureaucrat I mean Management team but In my time here I have not seen many initiatives that included a basic consideration of  how things are really working below decks. I fear your process is corrupted by the agendas of your team. A fresh point of view will be a benefit to you in this project. I’m not ignorant to the fact that CBC is as much a political organization as a media corporation. Still times are bad really bad. Its time to be bold.

I heard you speak once.You shared an insight about your love of running. You said that its always on a mental level tougher to finish a race that passes the comfort of your hotel room then a race where your room is at the beginning or end of the course. The struggle being that one is  tempted to quit and go and relax. Well I fear some of those closest to you want you to go back to your room. They don’t want you to struggle. They don’t want to work hard.  They don’t want you to be bold.  They want you be content. They want you to think that staff are bereft of ideas and entrenched in a culture of rejection and need to be dealt with and not talked to. Its better to pay money out to consulatants. Cuz thats what the big players do. These ideas and people will be the ruin of all of us.

Consider these points of view or not but the simple act of  having your crew represented a the table will be the start of something good.

JFM

Oww! I shot myself in the poon!

http://www.marketingmag.ca/english/news/awards/article.jsp?content=20091210_112723_5256

I’ll give him credit for understanding, more than any other CBCNN Skype contributor, that it’s a visual medium.

If I could give some advice to you “Kevy baby” or ” O Man” or whatever they call you at your private club? It would be this. You are obviously a smart man and that’s what people are interested in. I do enjoy LOL X, more for Amanda of course but you have a great schtick when its controlled. You lose that control in the a.m.. Driving around in limos, playing raquetball and having fireside chats. It  just looks douchey!

We know you’re a success.  It looks as if you’re trying to convince yourself. Tone it down. TV is an amplifier. You’re already plenty loud.

Producers with carpal issues, crammed on the 4^th floor,
While visions of Geminis and Peabodys went out the door.
With supervisors in their office, management at the pub,
Calamity and indecision continued through the Hub!

When onthe Op. Ed. pages there arose such a clatter,
VP Rich was quoted “I don’t see what’s the matter.”
There’s economic uncertainty, we’ve got no cash,
”Hey if you’re leaving, do you mind hauling some trash?”

”Its tough to get things done” Hubert just didn’t know,
The snap of his fingers didn’t mean things would go.
While all the while, us employees have to wait,
For Execs to see that for every 1 of them we’re just 8.

With Battle of the Blades and Erica a fad,
Magazines have Rich saying ”See. We’re not so bad”.
With millions still not watching, we could be dead,
Maybe after Dragons Den we could schedule Herman’s Head?

“Now Hubert! Now Maryse! Now George, and Sylvain!
On, Pierre! On, Michel! On Raymond, Will and Steven!
Now lay off more staff! Now turn Toronto in to a mall!
Take cash away! Take cash away! Take cash away from all!”

No money for parking, No perks left to spare
When faced with an obstacle, no more make up and hair.
Still up to the Gastineaus the crust did fly,
Toasting champagne with no real explanation why.

And then, in a twinkle, Newsworld was gone
turns out the whole time it was being done wrong.
Chairs are dated, and the monitors were small,
Why send a camera crew, when you can Skype in the hall?

Tired and frustrated, employees are feeling unwell,
”If you’re planning on being sick we expect it on A/L”.
With staff like a skeleton and some having the flu,
Tell mom you’ll be late on Christmas, cause your work is times 2.

George got a Gemini. I thought his show was a flop!
”He’s the Stewart of Canada” Krstine must be on top! (of the world)
His droll little mouth has him cute as can be,
”Shit ratings! I didn’t know anyone watched me”.

And all the while Peter and Fred could only watch,
Remember the good ol’ days, news with cigars and scotch!
No one watches at 10, how could we do more?
Now we’ve got some nerd telling us to be in by 4!

The more we innovate the more ratings drop like a stone.
Maybe it would be best to leave it alone!
Give the crews a break, let us catch our breath,
Let the shows get traction before you manage it to death.

Rich spoke not a word, but kept straight to his work,
”Don’t tell me what to do you lil’ fuckin’ jerk!”
And lifting up his finger in front of his chest,
And giving it a thrust, up to us, the rest!

He stays in his office, his team happy to exalt,
”We need to book meetings, we need to assign fault.”
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out away,
“Happy Christmas! Just be glad for your job anyway!”

Merry Christmas Happy Holidays Everyone!
- JFM

Forget choppers crashing in Montreal we’ve got roller skating babys and stoned dental patients.

CBC News Now in the morning misses the mark again. By using its Breaking News ‘cough!’ Desk to playback a countdown of ’09s top viewed You Tube Vids.

As if fate was sticking News Now in the eye a chopper crash occurs in Montreal and Heather is forced to by pass Melanie Nagy at the B.N.D. and take a phoner from Dan Halton in order to get details.

BTW that ugly singing broad was viewed the most.

 Looks Orange            Looks like a dork      Looks like a hostage

Click here to view the embedded video.

Lights? Camera? Make up? Fuck it!

 These were the Skypes I was able to snap a screen shot of. 

I missed Kevin O’leary broadcasting live from his ego’s reading room and  Colleen Jones gabbing with b.f.f. Heather Live from her Halifax kitchen of exhile. Perhaps the only kitchen in Halifax I’ve ever seen without a party in it.

Anyway it all looks like crap. Hope its worth the cost savings cuz I’m sure we’re losing more than money.