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Long-serving CTV Vancouver staff caught up in latest round of layoffs

CTV Vancouver has experienced another round of layoffs resulting in the loss of several long-serving behind-the-scenes employees.

Bell Media communications confirmed the job cuts without disclosing how many employees or which departments were affected.

CTV News is expanding its digital operations to ensure we remain a leader across both digital and linear platforms,” reads a statement provided to Broadcast Dialogue. “While some traditional roles have been impacted by the expansion, we are also creating a substantial number of new digital news positions.”

Murray Titus

Among those impacted are ENG/SNG flight camera operator Murray Titus, who had been with CTV since 1997. In addition to working in News Gathering Helicopter Operations with CTV Vancouver, Titus had worked with CTV Olympic Consortium Helicopter Operations for the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin. More recently, he led SNG Operations for CTV Network coverage of the Southern Alberta floods.

“Well ol’ Choppermurman has taken his last flight,” Titus wrote in a Twitter post. “It’s been an honour and although it stings just a bit at the moment, I choose to celebrate a career that gave me 15 years of flight chasing news. Murman Out.”

David Alexander

David Alexander, who had been ENG Operations Manager since 1998, was also a casualty of the layoffs, in addition to crew chief/floor director Jim Walsh, who had been with CTV for more than 21 years. In total, about a dozen staff were let go, primarily in editing and camera positions.

According to Unifor, which represents local TV news staff across the CTV chain, Bell told journalists and field technicians back in May to expect a mix of retraining, layoffs, and new digital jobs, with a net reduction in staffing. At that time, the union said cameramen and reporters were told they must reapply for new classifications involving a mix of duties, or take severance packages (reportedly equivalent to 66 weeks). Editors and cameramen in other bureaus were issued layoff notices or severance packages.


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Connie Thiessen
Connie Thiessenhttps://broadcastdialogue.com
Connie has worked coast-to-coast as a reporter, editor, anchor and host at CKNW and News 1130 in Vancouver, News 95.7 and CBC in Halifax, and CFCW Edmonton, among other stations. With a passion for music, film and community service, she led News 95.7 to a 2013 Atlantic Journalism Award and regional RTDNA award for Best Radio Newscast. More recently, she was nominated for Music Journalist of the Year at Canadian Music Week 2019. To report a typo or error please email - [email protected]

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