Michael Melling won’t be returning to the helm of CTV News following an independent investigation sparked by Lisa LaFlamme’s unceremonious exit from the network over the summer.
More than three months after Richard Gray replaced him as Interim Head of CTV News, Bell Media has confirmed Melling has been reassigned within the company.
“Today, we shared with our CTV National News team members the results of the independent third-party review of the newsroom,” a Bell Media spokesperson told Broadcast Dialogue via email. “We had very high participation from team members and we thank them for their willingness to participate and their candour. We are committed to the action plan shared with employees that seeks to address the issues raised, and look forward to working together on creating a better, more inclusive and positive work environment.”
“We can confirm Michael Melling has been reassigned to VP Shared Services, and will not be returning to any of CTV’s News operations. Richard Gray, interim VP, News, is taking on the role on a permanent basis.”
Melling, who had only been in the VP, News role since January, found himself at the centre of a firestorm of public backlash following the mid-August announcement of LaFlamme’s early release from her contract after 35 years with the network.
Bell Media announced just days later it was launching an “independent third-party internal workplace review” of the newsroom as insinuations abounded on social media about the role sexism and ageism may have played in the Chief Anchor and Senior News Editor’s firing, including suggestions Melling had taken issue with a move by LaFlamme, 58, to go grey during the pandemic. Melling had been on leave since the launch of that investigation.
Gray has been with CTV for more than 15 years, most recently as Regional General Manager, Radio/TV, Eastern Region. His background includes serving as News Director at The New RO (CHRO-TV) Ottawa and A Channel on Vancouver Island, as well as Regional VP and General Manager for Bell Media’s properties in Northern and Eastern Ontario and the Maritimes.
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