Connie Walker and the Gimlet Media team behind Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s have been awarded a Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting. An exploration of the impact of abuse at St. Michael’s Indian Residential School in Duck Lake, SK, which Walker’s own father attended, Stolen also picked up a Peabody Award this week “for its tenacious reporting and continued commitment to recognizing the full history of the Indigenous community.” Read more here.
The CRTC will hold a virtual hearing on July 6 to consider two AM to FM conversions, and new licences for Winnipeg, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, and Oromocto, NB. Maritime Broadcasting System (MBS) has applied for a broadcasting licence to operate an English-language commercial FM station in Sussex to replace 590 CJCW Sussex. The station would retain its “hits of yesterday and today” format. Stingray Radio has also applied for an FM licence in Drumheller to replace CKDQ Drumheller, saying conversion is necessary due to failing, legacy equipment and infrastructure, in addition to declining revenues. Real Country 910 currently carries a Country format. New licence applications include Gospel Music Radio Inc., which seeks to operate an English-language commercial specialty (Religious music) FM in Oromocto. Tsi Tyónnheht Onkwawén:na Language and Cultural Centre has applied for a broadcast licence to operate an Indigenous (Type B Native) FM radio station in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, east of Belleville, ON, while Winnipeg-based community media outlet U Multicultural has applied for both TV and radio licences to operate a community FM radio station, with a focus on ethnic programming, and a multilingual community television station. Read more here.
The CRTC is collecting comments until May 17 on Harvard Media’s application to drop its condition of licence for 95.7 CRUZ FM (CKEA-FM) Edmonton, devoting a minimum of 15% of all musical selections to music drawn from content subcategory 3 (Special Interest Music). Harvard says the requirement hinders CKEA-FM from offering an optimal mix of programming to its target audience and has contributed to the station’s poor financial performance since it launched in 2010. It also notes that no other mainstream commercial stations in the market are subject to the requirement.
UCB Canada’s first station in Regina is on the air. CIUC 95.9 FM launched last weekend with a sold out event at Regina Apostolic Church featuring local performer Corey Lueck and Mac Powell, former lead singer of the band Third Day. The 18,800-watt station is Regina’s first Christian music station and United Christian Broadcasters’ 12th as it continues its expansion across Canada.
Evanov Communications’ Winnipeg stations – Energy 106 (CHWE-FM), HOT 100.5 (CFJL-FM), and 92.7 FM CKJS – teamed up with KIDTHINK Children’s Mental Health Centre for the third annual KIDTHINK Radiothon for Kids Mental Health. The Radiothon was broadcast live Friday, May 5, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Energy 106’s Wheeler in the Morning (Dave Wheeler, Jasmin Laine, Tyler Carr) along with HOT 100.5’s Mark & Dilly in the Morning (Mark Morris, Sean Dilworth) were on the air for 12 hours of music, prizes, auctions, and information on how to improve mental health for kids. Hosts from CKJS Good Morning Philippines (Chester Pangan, Donna Natividad-Arenas) and Afternoon Pasada (Lucille Nolasco-Garrido) also supported the Radiothon throughout the day. The event raised $145,000 for funded care programs and free ConnectCare psycho-educational content. KIDTHINK is a mental health treatment centre and outreach program that focuses on child therapy and well-being for kids aged 12 and under in Manitoba.
JAZZ.FM91 (CJRT-FM) Toronto has announced the launch of the JAZZ.FM91 Alumni Association. The new artist outreach project will provide professional development resources to early-career jazz artists through the help of a $150,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant awarded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2022. The grant has been used by JAZZ.FM91 to target two key strategic areas: investment in digital redevelopment, and support for early-career artists. The new JAZZ.FM91 website was launched in late March, while a dedicated networking platform where early-career artists can access information, workshops, and resources will launch by early 2024. JAZZ.FM91 says it’s working closely with early-career artists to identify their needs and develop resources to help them build sustainable careers.
Mark Hebscher has retired his Hebsy on Sports podcast after five years and 331 episodes. Hebscher, 67, is best known for co-hosting Sportsline on Global and CHCH-TV, in addition to serving as sports director of Q107 (CILQ-FM) and AM 640 (CFIQ-AM) Toronto. The podcast was produced by Mike Boon aka Toronto Mike. Toronto Mike’d has now hit the 1,250 episode mark, recently hosting Mike Stafford in-studio, the veteran talk host’s first time behind a mic since his release from AM 640 in June 2021.
LISTEN: Hawkeye of Hawkeye in the Morning on New Country 96.3 (KSCS-FM) Dallas is on the latest Sound Off Podcast. In this episode, he and Matt Cundill discuss what makes Dallas a great place to do radio, what it takes to have a successful show in the market, and why consultants can help grow your career. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:
