The CRTC is launching two public consultations, as it continues implementation of the Online Streaming Act, to help ensure broadcasters and online streaming services offer programming accessible to persons with disabilities. The CRTC is seeking feedback on how broadcasters and online streaming services can better meet the needs of Canadians who use closed captioning and described video services to enjoy programming. The commission is now accepting comments until Aug. 19 and Aug. 26, respectively.
The Racial Equity Media Collective (REMC) says it’s been told a CBC employee has been moved to a non-editorial role outside the documentary team after the group lodged a formal complaint. The complaint, which dates back to February, was referenced in an open letter published by REMC and the Documentary Organization of Canada earlier this month “to address an apparent pattern of anti-Palestinian bias, Islamophobia, and anti-Palestinian racism within the corporation’s news and documentary culture.” The letter alleged a documentary production executive had, between last October and March of this year, posted numerous discriminatory posts to social media about Muslims, Palestine, and Palestinians, in contravention of CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices. It was signed by more than 500 producers and filmmakers – including Sarah Polley, Frances-Anne Solomon, Avi Lewis, Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers and Jasmin Mozaffari, among many others. Read more here.
Han Dong, who has sat as an Independent Member of Parliament since March 2023, continues to call for a retraction of a series of Global News reports from early last year, alleging he advised the Chinese consul general in Toronto against the release of Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig. An Ontario Superior Court judge has found no documented evidence to support the allegations made against the former Liberal MP, rejecting an application from Corus Entertainment to throw out Dong’s $15M defamation suit against the network, saying it is in the public interest to hear the case. Among other concerns, the judge noted the Global reporter did not keep all of the notes used during the reporting process.
Pattison Media has awarded six Prairie Equity Scholarships, valued at $2,500 each, to students enrolled in journalism and/or broadcast studies at a Western Canadian institution. The successful recipients are: Minaal Adnan, Mount Royal College, School of Broadcast/Journalism; Marina Fries, SAIT, Broadcast Studies; Karla Jubaily, UBC School of Journalism; Solana Pasqual, UBC School of Journalism; Rebecca-Lynn Reeves, Grant MacEwan University School of Journalism; and Bridget Stringer-Holden, UBC School of Journalism.
RTDNA Canada is inviting nominations for the Emerging Journalist Award, recognizing the achievements and work of Canadian journalists who are at the beginning stages of their career. Inductees will include new leaders who are shaping the future, innovators who enhance news gathering, and people who maintain the highest standards of our craft. The deadline for submissions is Aug. 20. Find the nomination form and criteria here.
