My name is Andy Clarke. I’ve just recently left the CBC where I used to run the local newsroom in Ottawa. I like to think I fought the good fight against the dumbification of CBC News — something now on full display thanks to the changes unveiled on October 26th. It cost me my career, but at least I get a full nights’ sleep most nights. My intention in this spot is to write about the deliberate dumbing down of the CBC, and what it is costing us all. I’ll write about other media matters as well. But mostly it will be about the CBC. There’s lots to say. I’d like to hear what you have to say as well.
November 1, 2009 at 9:23 pm |
Thanks for starting this blog. Loved your article in the Citizen. I’m damn angry that my hard earned tax dollars are being used in this cavalier way to appease the egos of the in-charge folks desperately needing to “put their stamp” on programming. Yikes – where’s the accountability?
There is soooooo much wrong with the production of these show that it looks like kids who dropped out of DeVry are running the show. Then there is the journalism…or should I say Entertainment Tonight attempts to be compelling…its not about content, intelligent, thought-provoking, investigative, topical, factual reporting – by any stretch of the imagination. Why not bring Mary Hart or Cheryl Hickey to give the stale, limp, hollow news – the ratings would definitely go up, but probably as entertainment rather news.
What can we Canadians, who own the CBC, do about it?
November 2, 2009 at 1:42 am |
THANK YOU Andy – I heard about your article and blog from some friends on Facebook. My husband and I have switched to watching BBC for world news and CTV for a less biased and more even-handed reporting of Canadian news, but it just doesn’t ‘feel’ right. Newsworld, The National, and the local Calgary news all reflect this ‘dumbing down’ of the news and reporting standards by CBC. The blatant posturing and political editorializatin of a certain National Anchor has reached new lows recently. I applaud you for taking a stand.
November 4, 2009 at 3:04 am |
The consultants just tell a client what they want to hear. They sell a magic potion to newsroom managers that gets audience ratings without worrying about journalism. Their clients are lazy and love a flat-line life. Let’s go to work and have no surprises. Let’s not cause ripples in the community. Let’s not offend anyone. Let’s get the cheap and easy news such as crime events and other forms of low hanging fruit.
That is what managers want so the consultants tell them “Yes! You are on the right track” – Kaching!
Meanwhile the audience fades away migrating to other forms of content. It has become tiresome to be fed a strict diet of people constantly talking at them – anchors, live reports, politicians, and CEO’s. Notice that there are no real people! Where is the affected party?
“In a democracy it is the duty of the people to be informed” Well they won’t get a diversity of opinion on the CBC anymore – veneer anyone?