OTTAWA, Nov. 28, 2012 /CNW/ - Esther Enkin, currently Executive Editor
of CBC News, has been appointed as the Corporation's new Ombudsman for
English services, effective January 1, 2013. Ms. Enkin was unanimously
selected for the job by an expert selection committee with internal and
external representation. Ms. Enkin succeeds Kirk LaPointe, who will
remain in the position in the interim.
"Accuracy, integrity, impartiality, fairness and balance in journalism
are key to the credibilty of any news organisation, and credibilty is
the essential currency of a public broadcaster," said Hubert T.
Lacroix, president and CEO of CBC/Radio-Canada. "The Ombudsman is
responsible for holding us accountable to those principles on behalf of
Canadians. I can't overstate the importance of this job. Esther Enkin
has spectacular credentials and a superlative track record in
journalism. She's got everything it takes to assume this key role for
us. "
"For the past five years, I have worked with CBC journalists to improve
the quality and standards of their work. Taking on the role of the
Ombudsman is another way to contribute to that quality. But now first
and foremost, I represent the interests and concerns of our audience."
said Ms. Enkin.
Ms. Enkin has over 25 years of journalism experience with CBC News. As
Executive Editor, she is today responsible for the quality and
standards of CBC journalism, overseeing the development of policy and
ensuring CBC's journalistic standards are met nationally and
regionally, on all platforms. She was responsible in 2010 for the
rewriting and redevelopment of CBC's Journalistic Standards and
Practices, which are held up as a model around the world. She is
widely recognized in Canada and abroad for her knowledge and leadership
in the field of journalistic ethics, theory and practice.
Ms. Enkin's brings with her extensive editorial management experience,
awareness and understanding of the impact that social media is having
on the journalistic process, and a reputation for strategic thinking,
credibility and integrity, all attributes necessary and important to
the fulfilling the role of Ombudsman.
"I want to thank Kirk LaPointe for his contribution as Ombudsman in a
very eventful period for journalism and particularly for his work in
reducing the turnaround time for reviews," said Mr. Lacroix. "Kirk has
agreed to act as special advisor to the Office of the Ombudsman
throughout Esther's transition period."
The mandate of Ombudsman was revised in 2011 by an independent Committee
to update and modernize the mandate to better reflect the current
realities of the public broadcaster. The Ombudsman acts as an appeal
authority for complainants who are dissatisfied with responses from CBC
information or program management to determine whether the journalistic
process of the broadcast involved in a complaint violated the
Corporation's Journalistic Standards and Practices. The Ombudsman is
completely independent of CBC program staff and management, reporting
directly to the President of CBC and, through the President, to the
Corporation's Board of Directors. Under Ms. Enkin, the Office of the
Ombudsman will be relocated back to Toronto after having been in
Vancouver since Mr. LaPointe's appointment in October 2010.
For further information on the role, responsibility and mandate of the
CBC Ombudsman, please visit http://www.cbc.ca/ombudsman/
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its
largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching
Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio,
television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in
the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer
diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight
Aboriginal languages.
SOURCE: CBC/RADIO-CANADA