You know Pumpkins, what’s happening is really not your fault. It is the CBC management, that has proved to be about as flexible as a concrete block. There is a way out of this, but I am not sure they have what it takes—and subsequently none of you have what it takes to turn this thing around for CBC TV.

Here’s an escape for route you all.

Get out of local television. We are experiencing the great media shift. It means many things for the way all of us do our work, but for the CBC is means getting out of local TV. To survive in local TV the news programming (and that’s why it exists) must be intensely local in every aspect. It has to be daily and closely involved with the community and CBC local is not. It parachutes anchors and reporters and weather people in from anywhere but there. That means that the people doing the programming don’t have a deep connection to place where they work. They are just there temporarily. Successful stations put up home grown talent that the community is proud of and often have deep roots in local organizations, sports teams etc. CBC is just not in that game on a local level. They don’t even do weekend newsgathering in most cases.

Secondly, most markets are already served by CTV and Global and in some cases a third station – there is no need for a CBC local station.

Thirdly, CBC is competing with other stations for advertising dollars. No need for that either.

So, what’s to be done. Sell all the CBC local real estate (lets start with Regina) – and set up small newsgathering bureaus EVERYWHERE across the country – that feed into Newsworld ALL THE TIME. Use those resources to actually cover the country instead of leaving large swathes of territory that never SEE a CBC crew.

Make Newsworld a Powerhouse
And lets kill the National. It is over baby. It is boring, turgid, overproduced and out of date. Maybe Pete will take a package eh? Or you can give him a few hours on Newsworld. Bring the talent to Newsworld. That’s where the future is.

Now, what about all of you and your jobs. Well there is lots going on out there. You’re journalists remember – and skilled trades people. There is lots to do. You may not get $75K a year, but most people don’t. Or take a job in Brandon or London Ontario or Yarmouth. At least you’ll be writing stories about Canada instead of kevetching yourselves sick in Toronto and Vancouver.