A poll conducted by Ipsos, on behalf of RTDNA Canada, found that despite the proliferation of social media, fake news, and alternative facts, seven in 10 (69 per cent) of Canadians continue to trust traditional news media – unchanged since 2008. The poll also found that traditional news sources are trusted more often than online or social media sources, led by broadcast TV news and print newspapers. Despite the closure of many local news sources and existing local news platforms using more national/international content for their stories, Canadians polled said nearly half (45 per cent) of all their news is consumed from local sources.
RTDNA Canada handed out its National and Network awards May 27 in Toronto. CTV News Toronto: CTV News at Six won the national award for Best TV Newscast (Large Market) while 660 NEWS (CFFR-AM) Calgary won the award for Best Radio Newscast. Best News Information Program went to Global Regina: Focus Saskatchewan. In the Network category, CBC News Manitoba was honoured with the Data Storytelling Award; CBC News swept the Radio awards with NewsTalk 1010 (CFRB-AM) Toronto winning a lone award for Best News Information Program; CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme took home the network award for Best Television Newscast, while CTV’s W5 was honoured with three awards in the Television category. Global National also secured two nods for Fort McMurray wildfire coverage.
Calgary-based VOIS telecom is facing repercussions from the CRTC after failing to rejoin the Commission for Complaints for Telecommunications Services (CCTS). The CRTC fined VOIS $15,000 in April after it was expelled from the CCTS last August for failing to address six different customer complaints. The CRTC also ordered VOIS to rejoin the CCTS, mandatory for all telecoms, within 30 days and announced a public proceeding to consider additional penalties against its director Harpreet Randhawa.
The CRTC has launched a series of animated web videos to educate Canadians about phone, TV and internet issues called Meet the Martels, featuring a Canadian family who love their tech. Part of the CRTC’s digital first approach to communicating with Canadians, the commission says the campaign is also intended to position it as a trusted source for information.
Bell Canada is working to establish the Bell MTS brand following its acquisition of Manitoba Telecom Services (MTS) in March. MTS Centre, home ice to the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose, has been redubbed Bell MTS Place, while the hockey training facility was renamed Bell MTS Iceplex. Bell Media is also a major media partner with True North Sports + Entertainment, owning the regional Jets broadcast rights on TSN in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northwestern Ontario.
