Two years in the making, and now the news can be told.
CBC News has unveiled a significant and much anticipated transformation of its news programming, just days before the line-up goes live to air, on Monday, October 26.
With new content and programming across all media platforms, flagship program The National, specialty service Newsworld and radio program World Report all are undergoing major changes, starting with new work processes and internal journalistic structures.
Newsgathering is being transformed at the CBC through a multi-platform assignment desk called The Hub, where all reporting resources – whether for radio, TV, online or mobile – are assigned and coordinated. Content units focus on news, entertainment, health, business, sports, and environment. Two other units, investigative and consumer, are managed by specific programs, the fifth estate and Marketplace.
“These are the most significant changes ever undertaken by CBC News,” said Richard Stursberg, Executive Vice President, English Services, CBC/Radio-Canada. “The new CBC News is the result of the single, biggest audience research project ever undertaken by CBC – Canadians told us what they wanted and we listened.”
In his remarks at the CBC News unveiling, he referred to comprehensive audience research conducted for the CBC, asking Canadians what they want from their public broadcaster. As a result, Stursberg said, the CBC is going through the most sweeping re-organization in its history, adding that some 1,000 staff have been re-assigned, all new sets and on-air graphics created, and a new program schedule developed as part of the re-launch.
“The people we surveyed said they want a more transparent and ‘open’ CBC so we’re bringing the news closer to our audiences, in our presentation and by allowing audiences access to the news gathering process,” said Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor-in-chief, CBC News. “We are going to pull back the curtain,” McGuire said at the press event. "People want us to tell them what we know, and when we know it, but also what we don’t know.”
She spoke of timely accessible information across all platforms: television, radio and online.
The National with Peter Mansbridge will make use of all those delivery options. The program remains in its 10: 00 pm timeslot, now seven days a week (not including repeat airings).
In addition to an enhanced program website, The National will now have on-demand and mobile versions available by 6 p.m. ET., which will also soon be customizable and available in different languages.
Local news, too, gets a boost – not only from recent expansions to 90 minutes, but from new features and content, as well.
CBC Toronto’s local news footprint, for example, will be bigger than ever with the addition of CBC News Toronto Late Night, a new 10-minute local newscast at 10:55 p.m. anchored by Aaron Saltzman following The National.
“The 10-minute local newscast gives viewers in the Greater Toronto Area a fast-paced wrap up of the day’s important local news and weather,” said Val Boser, Managing Director of Toronto Television.
Award winning news anchor Diana Swain continues to host CBC News Toronto at 5 & 6 pm.
CBC Toronto’s local news will also have more online coverage and more local radio newscasts with an update at 6:30 p.m. and a new newscast at 7 p.m. on CBC Radio One 99.1 FM.
Nationally, CBC Radio’s World Report is launching with a new format and new host, veteran foreign correspondent Peter Armstrong, while adding an extra newscast to its daily line-up.
As well, CBC Newsworld has a new schedule, format and a new name – CBC News Network (CBC NN).
For more Mediacaster Magazine coverage of this topic, please see:
Blogster Extraordinaire Covers News for CBC in Ottawa
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?aid=1000343572&PC=
CBC, National Post Will Share Content Online, In Print
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?aid=1000342789&PC=
Facing Online Petition, CBC Denies The National is Moving
http://www.mediacastermagazine.com/issues/ISarticle.asp?aid=1000341678&PC=
Here are more details announced by CBC News:
THE NATIONAL
· Hosted by Peter Mansbridge, CBC News Chief Correspondent
· Peter Mansbridge joined by 14 correspondents
· Adrienne Arsenault (based in London)
· Neil MacDonald (Washington)
· Nahlah Ayed (Montreal)
· Terry Milewski (Ottawa)
· Wendy Mesley (with a provocative new program segment)
· Amanda Lang (Senior Business correspondent)
· Gillian Findlay (Investigative correspondent)
· Rex Murphy (returning with his unique point-of-view)
· Susan Ormiston (Toronto)
· Mellissa Fung (Toronto)
· Reg Sherrin (Winnipeg)
· Kim Brunhuber (Calgary)
· Duncan McCue (Vancouver)
· Krista Erickson (Consumer Affairs correspondent)
· New format – including a new feature several times a week with Wendy Mesley seeking answers to the provocative question of the day
· Program wraps with local news coverage
CBC NEWS NETWORK
· Formerly CBC Newsworld
· Seven days a week, 24 hours a day
· Dayside on the network is known as CBC News Now, showcasing the best of CBC journalism with more live coverage from CBC bureaus across Canada and around the world
· CBC News Now with Heather Hiscox from 6-9 a.m. ET
· CBC News Now with Anne-Marie Mediwake from 9-11 a.m. ET
· CBC News Now with Suhana Meharchand from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. ET
· CBC News Now with Carole MacNeil from 2-4:30 p.m. ET
· The Lang & O'Leary Exchange
· Hosted by Amanda Lang, joined by Kevin O’Leary
· Monday-Friday, 4:30-5 p.m. ET
· CBC NN’s new business show bringing the day’s breaking business news, complemented by astute analysis, lively debates and key interviews
· Power & Politics with Evan Solomon
· Hosted by Evan Solomon
· Monday-Friday, 5-7 p.m. ET
· CBC NN’s new political show from Ottawa covering stories of policy, power and the people who make Canada run, both on the Hill and across the country
· Connect with Mark Kelley
· Hosted by Mark Kelley
· Joining Mark will be Reshmi Nair, formerly with CFTO-TV (CTV) in Toronto
· Monday-Friday, 7-9 p.m. ET (repeats at midnight PT)
· CBC NN’s new news talk show covering breaking events in Canada and around the world – the show takes a personal perspective on the news and looks at stories through people
· Weekend daytime programming has the same emphasis on live coverage on breaking news stories
· Weekend anchors are Nancy Wilson, Dianne Buckner and Jacquie Perrin
CBC NEWS WORLD REPORT, CBC Radio One
· Hosted by Peter Armstrong
· Monday-Friday at 5, 6, 7 and 8 a.m. ET
· Saturday at 6, 7, 8 and 9 a.m. ET
· An additional national report has been added for a total of four 10-minute live morning newscasts that cover breaking news and updates and developing stories in Canada and around the world
CBC LOCAL NEWS
- On August 31 supper hours were expanded to 90 minutes
- The local news footprint is expanding with more online coverage and more local radio newscasts – an update at 6:30 p.m. and a newscast at 7 p.m. on CBC Radio One
- CBC News Late Night – a 10 minute newscast following The National will begin on October 26
CBCNews.ca
- A new political portal will launch on October 26 and will include blogging by Kady O'Malley, and others including well-known veteran Ottawa journalist Don Newman
- A new website for The National also launches on October 26 and will offer viewers additional opportunities to get the program online
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. With 28 services offered on Radio, Television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital audio, as well as through its record and music distribution service and wireless WAP and SMS messaging services, CBC/Radio-Canada is available how, where, and when Canadians want it.