Corus Entertainment has released an overview of the findings of a diversity review undertaken earlier this year following allegations of a workplace culture of racism and micro-aggressions. Conducted by Toronto-based intercultural trainers and consultants, DiversiPro, among the review’s findings was that some managers did lack intercultural awareness with not enough accountability measures in place to ensure diversity and inclusion goals were being met. DiversiPro also concluded that a lack of diversity within company leadership has had a negative effect on the overall workforce. In addition to evidence of what the overview cites as “negative experiences, including micro-aggressions,” employees who identified as BIPOC, LGBTQ or with a disability, had less of a sense of inclusion than other staff. A lack of trust in internal harassment complaint procedures was also noted. Read more here.
Ernest Tucker, the CBC’s first Black journalist, will be inducted into the CBC News Hall of Fame next month. Born in Bermuda, Tucker was the first Black graduate of the journalism program at Ryerson University in 1954. Unable to find work, he entered Sir George Williams College (now Concordia University) and upon his graduation in 1958, returned to Bermuda, working as a freelance writer for The Royal Gazette as its first Black journalist, before coming back to Toronto when one of his pieces caught the attention of an editor at the Toronto Telegram. He joined the CBC Toronto newsroom in October 1961 and was famously on the desk alone when John F. Kennedy was shot in 1963, writing and producing the breaking story that went to air. He later moved to CBC Montreal before retiring in the mid-1990s. Tucker died at age 87 on Jan. 3, 2019. Read more here.
The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) says broadcasters must disclose their ownership interest following a complaint that CTV Toronto promoted Crave series Canada’s Drag Race during a newscast, without disclosing they are both owned by Bell Media. A viewer complained that the segment during the July 4 edition of CTV News at Six was effectively an advertisement for Crave and that broadcasters shouldn’t be allowed to use their newscasts for this type of self-promotion. The CBSC’s English-Language Panel found that CTV should have disclosed its relationship to Crave to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest and should have ensured that the phrasing of the report’s introduction distinguished news content from advertising as required by the code. Read more here.
TELUS has released its 2020 Indigenous Connectivity Report, which highlights partnerships between TELUS and Indigenous communities throughout B.C. that have brought high-speed internet to approximately 18,500 homes, businesses, and community hubs. By the numbers, 178 Indigenous communities are now serviced by TELUS, with 56 of those connected to TELUS PureFibre.
SaskTel has released its 2019/20 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, detailing the company’s efforts in the areas of environmental stewardship, ethical leadership, inclusiveness, diversity, and community support. Highlights include SaskTel’s contribution of just under $2.9 million to 957 non-profit and charitable organizations, community associations, venues, events and partnerships in more than 233 communities across the province
