“TV makes money and radio costs money. The concept of public broadcasting is lost.”
A CBC Radio National News reporterThe absence of public broadcasting values among CBC senior management is no more evident than in its decisions concerning CBC Radio.
Consistent with its abandonment of classical culture, CBC’s senior management appears determined to make CBC Radio News more superficial, less intelligent and even more dominated by CBC TV News when it comes to internal decision-making and resource allocation.
Why is this happening?
One CBC National Radio News reporter offers this simple and cogent explanation that goes to the heart of the mindset of the current senior management at the CBC:
“TV makes money and radio costs money. The concept of public broadcasting is lost.”
This incisive comment emerges from a recently leaked internal survey of CBC National Radio News reporters, the creative power behind some of CBC Radio’s most innovative and informative programs.
The survey was completed since CBC’s management merged the news assignment process in which the assignment desks for radio, online and television were brought together under the same structure (called the Hub) intended to coordinate and assign the news gathering process.
The survey paints a picture of a creative team demoralized by decisions that have diminished the quality of its work controlled by managers who do not understand radio. Some low lights of the survey:
81% reject the notion (52.4% strongly) that the integration of TV and radio has benefited National Radio News programming.
Reporters offered these additional comments:
“The problem is that radio news has been overwhelmed by TV and no one up there seems to realize it or, more importantly, care.”
“There are no advocates for radio, radio culture, radio ideas or radio reporters anymore. We’re totally on our own.”
“Radio is being treated as TV without pictures. A voiceover from TV played on radio fails to paint any pictures and leaves our audience with less than it deserves.”
“TV on the radio, as we are increasingly becoming, is a terrible waste of our senior service and a disservice to our listeners.”
“In fact integration has lowered the quality of radio news.”
“Radio is being dumbed down by reactionary, follow-the-paper journalism that seems to be the hallmark of TV. These days, it seems we're TV without the pictures. I also think the diversity of stories has narrowed significantly because we do so many TV-friendly stories.”
“It's all about TV.... Radio is a distant after-thought.”
Almost all (90%) think radio has its own culture that is the hallmark of CBC Radio’s success. At the same time, 90% think that culture is in a much worse state today compared to a year ago (before the Hub).
Reporters wrote these additional comments:
“Our culture is dying.”
“We've gone more to entertaining than educating or informing - I think we're losing what Canadians love the most about us and becoming more like the privates all the time. Soon they'll be saying about radio what they've said about TV for years - why fund us if we sound like everyone else? Very, very sad.”
“Again, radio culture is being washed away in this integration. We've gone from a culture that valued strong story-telling, and investigative, original stories to one in which we're pumping out content, feeding the goat. Quality, intelligence, depth no longer seem appreciated. Everything is puddle deep.”
Over 95% think CBC Radio is on the wrong course.
“I don't think radio news has a course. I think it's being swept along in the new corporate focus on ratings and profits. As Richard Stursberg has pointed out in his town-hall charts, TV makes money and radio costs money. The concept of public broadcasting is lost.”
“We are dumbing down...things are more superficial...we are not supposed to even talk with the Current ( the one long-form outlet we have left) if we want to do a story.”
“I worry very much that we are losing what makes us distinct and popular. We are increasingly being made to resemble: from programming decisions, to hosts, producers work flow and more. And this makes no sense to me, because radio has always been much more popular than TV.”
“Why would we make our popular news service resemble our unpopular one?”
Reporters were also asked for their views about changes to the morning national news program World Report.
“The changes to World Report and World at Six are a big disappointment and no one thought to talk to us.”
A CBC Radio National News reporter
“The rationale behind the dramatic changes made to World Report has never been explained to me.”
“At the end of a World Report newscast, I often feel I really don't have a clue about what's going on in the world…. It's bells and whistles, and a sense of urgency in tone, but with little real content.”
“In my opinion, World Report died when the show lost 25% of it's airtime, and hired people who can't even be called junior reporters to guide it.”
“What kind of organization cuts the most popular program on the most popular service? It was one of the worst decisions and should be reversed.”
“The need for shorter stories works against making good radio as elements such as sound and context are sacrificed for the sake of brevity.”
“World Report as a whole is now more superficial, the journalism is less accurate, respect for language and creative writing is diminished and the format is formulaic.”
“WR used to be the place to go for significant, important, original stories. Now it feels like TV-lite, or TV without the pictures.”
“The bottom line is we're giving people less. You can pretend it's more by giving people more bites, but there isn't as much food on the plate. I didn't know we needed to go on a news diet.”
Three-quarters believe CBC no longer has a strong commitment to original journalism.
“There is no commitment to original journalism. Partly because there's no time for it. And partly because the TV news culture is more about agenda journalism and not wanting to miss something the Globe and Mail or CTV has.”
“I think CBC has fallen down completely in its longstanding commitment to depth journalism.”
95.2% believe that “compared to a year ago, morale in the national news service is lower than ever during my career.”
The full survey report – a damning endictment of CBC’s current senior management – is available here.
MP — May 15, 2010 - 04:35 am MT
I cut my teeth listening to CBC radio. Over the years I found that it was one place I could listen, learn about the world, be entertained and carry on with my life. I woke up to it, worked with it and went sleep listening to it. When we raised our children they were exposed to a large dose of CBC radio. We were worried about Government killing CBC but it seems that it is strangling itself. Hmmm, are we sure CBC management is not working for Harper? The last few years a lot of the national programmes have sunk to a shameful position with the language content. The so called informed guests can't seem to put a sentence together without profanity. What would happen if someone showed up at the CBC presidents or the programme directors house and talked like this. I'm quite sure that person would be asked to leave. When these guests come into my space with this language I ask them to leave by changing radio stations. I find I am spending more time on these other sites and miss the loved local broadcasts. These public servants can't seem to serve a glass of water let alone intelligent information.
Dawn — May 15, 2010 - 01:37 am MT
I am 58 now and have been a lifelong listener of CBC radio. Wherever I've been in Canada, I could always count on intelligent, layered and careful discussion and reporting. Corporatism and the culture of money doesn't encourage Canadians to be thinkers, to pay attention to patterns or to connect the dots... and corporatism has ruined CBC radio. Soundbite thinking and distraction have been mandated into the programming and I can't stand it. CBC radio used to be something that one aspired to---it was something one grew into and grew up intellectually nourished by. Most of my friends have turned CBC radio off---the Q host's glib misogyny, "Afcanada" and the marked loss of quality news are just too much..... What a terrible loss for Canada...as CBC radio goes, so goes our society. All of our sad American friends think that we're utterly mad for allowing this to happen.
Anonymous — May 15, 2010 - 05:14 pm MT
While I too am dismayed at the downslide of CBC radio, I have to say, I wouldn't have used Jian Ghomeshi as an example of that. I have never once thought of Jian as a misogynist! I've always found him unfailingly - sometimes even to my irritation, e.g. good old Billy Bob, who needed to be told off - courteous and egalitarian and an intelligent interviewer. And Afghanada is utterly gripping. Raw, yes, but sometimes there is a place for that. They do give warnings before it comes on so one just needs to act accordingly. Alas, in all other aspects, I totally agree..... a very sad downward turn in what has always been excellent, intelligent, informative programming.
Dave Higgins — May 14, 2010 - 02:04 pm MT
I'm only in my 50's but I've been a loyal CBC-AM/Radio-1 listener for over 30 years. My all-time favourite show was Morningside and I went out of my way to be able to listen to the whole thing as often as possible for a working person. It was a gem that made me feel connected to every other person in this country. It covered just about everything that a thinking person could ask for. I believe Morningside did more for Canadian unity than all other national institutions put together. Today we have nothing remotely like it. "Q", in the same time slot, is a good show in its own right but focused as it is on arts and pop culture, it's pretty much pure fluff by comparison. CBC Radio News has also been excellent and I vote to keep it from being "dumbed-down". Other great CBC shows are The Debaters, Age of Persuasion, and Randy Bachman's Vinyl Tap. These are the essence of what I look to CBC radio to provide.
Janice Williamson — May 14, 2010 - 01:45 am MT
Who is in charge of these changes? If it is Richard Stursberg, he should be fired! I listen to less and less CBC Radio and it used to be on all the time as so much of it was wonderful. Now here in Edmonton, we have nonstop conversation between CBC anchors who sound like they are arrested in their development as adolescent sportscasters. Lost now is Peter Brown on CBC-AM in Edmonton. He was smart and funny and interested in theatre and ideas. Now the Arts in Edmonton, the Universities, and the thoughtful reflective people who participate as artists and educators and thinkers in various areas of our city and region are all repudiated by this dumbing down of the CBC. I have been a lifelong fan of the CBC. I still care about a few of the programmes that remain strong but soon I will care not a whit about what happens to CBC Radio. Please fire Mr Stursberg and let the radio people do what they did so well --create an audio space for us all to grow and learn and take pleasure in what we share...our fascinating and diverse creative culture....
Anonymous — May 13, 2010 - 05:56 pm MT
Here I go again! Is anybody listening? I have written pleas for preserving the cultural connections for which I have always counted on CBC Radio. I have urged the government, stood on the street with placards, written other messages like this. Is anybody listening apart from the converted? And who can sway the intransigent Mr. Harper and Co.?
zelda — May 13, 2010 - 03:46 pm MT
I have listened to CBC radio for years. My children grew up on it and now it is a preset on all their radios. I can't imagine a Canada without CBC. It is our common denominator. It is what makes and reminds us that we are Canadians. I have laughed, I have cried, I have been angry, I have been driven to donate, volunteer, write letters... because of the people who have made CBC what it has been and what it is. Please leave our CBC radio alone.
Anonymous — May 12, 2010 - 11:57 am MT
CBC RADIO has been with me my whole life, morning, noon ( when I am not at work), and night. However, I find myself tuning away from CBC more and more often. 'Business' minded executives at the CBC have consistently been nibbling away at this wonderful institution like termites for at least two decades and they have reached the core. That it took this long for real, potentially irreversible structural damage to occur speaks to the excellence and hard work of the individuals at the working level, many of whom are likely reaching retirement age in the near future. The collapse of CBC RADIO's infrastructure is in my view in grave and immediate danger of collapsing given on top of everything else,, this demographic pressure and it will be a huge loss to many loyal listeners. New shows that are good and in keeping with CBC RADIO culture and keeping this country together - White Coat/Black Art, The Age of Persusaion, Q, Big City Small World, C'est la vie and Dispatches, the Debaters. New shows that don't work and make me turn off the radio - the whining of wiretap, the inanity of GO!, DNTO, the superficiality of the Current. In my house these do not attract any new listeners. Old shows that were great and are good - Ideas!, As it Happens (with Barbara Budd),Sunday morning (twenty years ago when there was in depth coverage from global correspondents), The House (when it used to be independent and critical), Quirks and Quarks, Tapestry, Wachtel. I never watch or listen to TV news on any station - it is vacuous and sensationalist; I listen to CBC radio news less and less as there is less to listen to. You truly will and should lose taxpayer support if CBC RADIO ceases to distinguish itself from commercial radio by providing excellent, thought provoking, informative, and culturally supportive programs.
Anonymous — May 12, 2010 - 10:05 pm MT
Bunk, These programs make me smile, frown ,change my perpestives on issues and generally keeps me informed in an intelligent way. Without CBC radio would be a day without having something and someone to get up to in the morning,I bought a BOSE radio to get better sound .I do miss Sheila Rogers though..keep up the good programming.. Thanks
S Maitland — May 12, 2010 - 11:42 am MT
I am not and rarely have been a 'consumer' of newspapers. Gearing your coverage to respond to what the papers are doing is irrelevant to me. I similarly rarely pay any attention to the TV news. I've never wanted the news during my supper hour and I really rarely want the tough news just before bed. I'm a radio listener. Less frequently now. In part, that has been because I , until recently was in a remote area. That meant no Radio Two and sometimes limits to radio one. Reception. That was the issue. But when I listen, it's not hard to hear that you've been working with much less than you had before. If I had my say, the Current would not be first thing in the morning. Their contents is sometimes too much for a 'non-morning' person. I'd ask for less of the ping-pong effect in going 'to Afghanisthan and then to....' with a chance to think or comment on what I just heard. Remember how you were during 9/11. CBC was invaluable when our other sources of information might have been from the shocked and reeling States themselves. We needed our own way to tell the story to our own people. We want to have a reliable source of news, free from the bottom line and free from the feel of propaganda that a public broadcaster could easily become. The almighty dollar rules too much of our lives. We don't want waste but neither do we want to pinch every penny until it squeals. If one is so concerned about the cost/ minute of ones work, then the tendency could be to be seen to be busy at all times. Thinking quietly for some time would no doubt produce a great deal more value over time.