CBC North Reverses Course On Plan To Merge Local Morning Radio Newscasts

About Face

The CBC has reversed its decision to consolidate its CBC NORTH radio morning newscasts into a single newscast based in YELLOWKNIFE. The network had announced MONDAY that it planned to eliminate local morning newscasts in YUKON, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES, and NUNAVUT in favor of the single networked program.

In an email to staff reported by CBC.CA, CBC NORTH Managing Director JANICE STEIN noted public and staff resistance, saying that the decision to merge the newscasts was made with the "best of intentions" but added that "The communication of our plan was poorly executed. We need to start at the beginning, which is consulting with our staff." The plan had also been criticized by politicians, including YUKON Premier SANDY SILVER, who had asked NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Premier CAROLINE COCHRANE and NUNAVUT Premier JOE SAVIKATAAQ to co-write a letter to CBC President CATHERINE TAIT to urge a reversal of course.

CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF JOURNALISTS Pres. KARYN PUGLIESE said, "Reversing this plan to merge newscasts in the NORTH is heartening. It recognizes that our national public broadcaster has a special role to play in bridging the many cultural and regional differences that exist in CANADA's NORTH.

"We hope the broadcaster continues to remember its commitments to accurately represent northern stories and Indigenous stories to northerners as well as the entirety of CANADA."

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