Source : CBC News

TORONTO – The CBC has appointed a new head for its radio service. Jane Chalmers will replace Alex Frame who is retiring as vice-president of CBC Radio, effective the first of November.

Chalmers is the current director of current affairs and weekly programs for CBC Television. One of her primary focuses during her career has been the integration of the CBC's radio and television services.

CBC Radio is in the middle of bringing in the biggest changes listeners have heard in 30 years. There are two new flagship national morning shows and a greater focus on regional radio.

Chalmers says she backs the changes, adding they'll make CBC radio stronger. And she says another way to do that is to introduce more integration between CBC radio and television.

But she says that doesn't mean resources will be cut.

"This is not about trying to put television on radio, or trying to put radio on television. This is about increasing the amount of material for any given program producer."

But some advocates of public broadcasting are worried.

"There is, of course, a danger in trying to achieve synergies between TV and radio, because they're very different media," said Ian Morrison, head of the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting.

But Morrison says that at a time when it looks like funding for the CBC is stable, Chalmers looks like a creative vice-president who will strengthen and protect the radio service.

© Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

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CBC Radio report by Derek Stoffel (RealAudio format)