Regulatory, Telecom & Media News – CAJ, CWA Canada demand OPP retract threat against CBC reporter

The Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) and CWA Canada are demanding that Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) retract a threat to lay charges against CBC London reporter Colin Butler for harassment while performing his reporting duties. The threats were made after Butler repeatedly contacted Ontario nurse Kristal Pitter, who also works as a long term care facility inspector, after she posted a series of COVID-19 conspiracies to social media. The CAJ points out that news organizations are legally required to provide subjects with a fair opportunity to respond to any allegations. The association says this is especially important in the case of a public sector employee who has been accused of spreading misinformation related to her duties.

CAJ has launched a new 2020 mentorship program for early career journalists. Association members can apply to spend one hour every week for six weeks with one of 16 journalist mentors working in radio, television, digital and print across the country. They include CBC Ottawa’s Adrian Harewood; Andree Lau, who recently left HuffPost to assume the role of Managing Editor of Digital News for CBC; Arif Noorani, executive producer of CBC Podcasts; Emma Gilchrist, editor-in-chief at The Narwhal; Francine Compton, executive producer, APTN News; CTV senior anchor Lisa LaFlamme; past CAJ president Karyn Pugliese; Global News journalist Mike De Souza, and Omayra Issa, a multi-platform, bilingual reporter with CBC Saskatchewan, among others. Learn more here.

LISTEN: new Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) President Brent Jolly joins Broadcast Dialogue – The Podcast to talk about inheriting the presidency of the organization in a turbulent time for media, compounded by pandemic-related layoffs, and as journalism finds its credibility under attack. Listen on your favourite podcast app or here:

TELUS Q2 2020 results show consolidated operating revenue of $3.7 billion, an increase of 3.6% year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA was down 2.9%, reflecting financial impacts arising from COVID-19, primarily lower wireless roaming revenue, partly offset by growth in wireline data service margins resulting from business acquisitions, expanded services and subscriber base growth. For the quarter, net income of $315 million decreased by 39% over the same period last year and Basic earnings per share (EPS) of $0.23 decreased by 47%. In the quarter, TELUS added 151,000 new wireless, internet, TV and security customers, down 55,000 over the same quarter a year ago, while residential voice losses of 10,000 remained stable, resulting in total net additions of 141,000. The net additions included 61,000 mobile phones, 33,000 mobile connected devices, as well as 37,000 internet, 8,000 TV and 12,000 security customers.

TELUS says the vast majority of its team members will continue to work from home until at least the New Year, so staff can manage the logistics and responsibilities of their professional and personal lives through the back-to-school period and fall/early winter timeframe. 95% of TELUS team members have been working remotely since the pandemic began, including 99% of domestic call centre team members. President and CEO Darren Entwistle says the policy will be revisited towards the end of December to determine what changes might be made to the company work location model at that time. The company also continues to offer virtual installations and repairs for customers who require a technician, with in-home support only provided for emergency services.