Regulatory, Telecom & Media News – CBSC says talk host was entitled to express opinion on Israel-Palestine conflict

The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC) has determined that a Kamloops, BC talk show host was entitled to express his opinion on the Israel-Palestine conflict during an interview last October. During the segment on NL Newsday with Brett Mineer on CHNL, a representative from a local mosque was invited to discuss the conflict in the Middle East as many members of the community have family in Gaza. The conversation then shifted, with the host and guest disagreeing over the use of terminology like “war,” “genocide,” and “terrorist group” when referring to Hamas. The conversation was eventually ended by Mineer over disagreement about how the events of Oct. 7, in which Israeli civilians were allegedly beheaded by the organization, had taken place. The CBSC received over 100 complaints about the broadcast, many alleging the segment had been discriminatory towards the guest, and Palestinians in general, by implying that they supported terrorism, in addition to expressing disappointment that the host cut off the guest before she could fully clarify her points. Read more here.

The CRTC is launching a public consultation to gather views on the regulatory framework for the Online News Act (formerly Bill C-18). The consultation follows the Dec. 15 publication of regulations by the Department of Canadian Heritage on the application of the Act, intended to help Canadian news organizations reach fair commercial agreements with the largest online platforms. The CRTC is consulting on how to set up the bargaining process and handle complaints about unfair treatment. Comments will be accepted until April 12.

Accessible Media Inc. (AMI) has filed an application with the CRTC requesting that the regulator hike the rate broadcasters pay to carry its programming temporarily until the next licence renewal period in August 2026. While the channel has mandatory carriage, AMI said in its application that it cannot sustain its operations until the next renewal period – even after restructuring its business. It’s seeking one and two cent increases, respectively, per subscriber per month for AMI-tv and AMI-tele, until August 2026, on top of the current rates of 20 and 28 cents. AMI expects those rate increases to generate approximately $1.33 million and $1.29 million, respectively, in the two years leading up to the licence renewal.

Women in Communications and Technology (WCT) has announced the recipients of their annual Leadership Excellence Awards, which recognize people and organizations committed to equity and diversity in Canada’s digital economy. This year’s recipients include Company of the Year winner, Cogeco; Rising Star recipient Shantay Parson, Digital Project Manager, Corus; and Trailblazer honouree: Sharon Hinds, Manager, ALL IN, Rogers Sports and Media. Find the full list of winners here. They’ll be recognized at the WCT Annual Awards Gala on April 29 in Toronto.

The Canadian Journalism Foundation (CJF) has announced the six inaugural recipients of the CJF-Narcity News Creator Fellowships offered in partnership with Narcity Media Group. The first recipients of the six-week paid fellowships, open to recent grads of Canadian post-secondary journalism programs, are: Jessica Barile of Montreal; Corinne Boyer of Montreal; Rachel Ruth Pabiona Guanlao of Toronto; Brahim Ait Ouzineb of Ottawa; Tharsha Ravichakaravarthy of Toronto; and Amber Sandhu of Vancouver. Supported by YouTube Canada and the Google News Initiative, fellows will receive training and mentorship from Narcity editors and journalists, focusing on the creation of local news videos for publication on the creator’s social channels as well as Narcity platforms. 

The Delegation of the European Union to Canada and the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ) has opened submissions for the 2024 edition of the European Union-Canada Young Journalist Fellowship. The fellowship recognizes outstanding journalistic talent with three candidates selected every year to participate in a week-long study tour to experience the EU institutions, the Canadian Mission to the EU, and media outlets in Brussels. The deadline to apply is May 6.

CHEK News journalist Tchadas Leo’s sign off in Ayajuthem, the traditional Indigenous language of the northernmost Salish First Nations of the Homalco, Klahoose, Sliammon (Tla’amin) and K’omoks, following his first time anchoring on Feb. 15 has gone viral, securing more than 22-thousand impressions on X alone. A member of the Hamalko First Nation, Leo is believed to be the first Coast Salish journalist to anchor a news program on Coast Salish territory. Leo, 33, has been with the independent Victoria station since late 2020 and the launch of award-winning CHEK podcast Our Native Land, which explores all things Indigenous and First Nations on Vancouver Island.