Seaside Communications and Rogers Communications have announced a joint agreement that would see Rogers acquire the Sydney, NS-based, locally-operated telecommunications company. Serving Cape Breton and Northern Nova Scotia since 1975, Rogers says the acquisition will offer Seaside additional support and resources to continue investing in the communities it serves while expanding its networks to connect more residents and businesses. Seaside will continue to lead the day-to-day business with the same brand and local presence, with plans to introduce faster internet speed options and additional services like Rogers Ignite TV over the next few months.
CBC News has released data from a “cultural census” it has undertaken ahead of the anticipated fall release of the Canadian Newsroom Diversity Survey, led by the Canadian Association of Journalists (CAJ). Based on employee self-declarations, the data’s findings (as of Dec. 2020) include that CBC newsrooms skew female at all levels: senior leadership is 54% female vs. 46% male, while journalists are 56% female and 44% male, supervisors 59% female and 41% male, and part-time staff 60% female and 40% male. Of senior newsroom leaders in management positions, 22% are people of colour or Indigenous. Read more here.
Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is working with UNIFOR, World Press Freedom Canada, PEN Canada, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Canadian Afghan Lawyers Association, the International Women’s Media Foundation, CAJ, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a local network of Afghan journalists and a network of humanitarian organizations to get affiliated Afghan journalists, women journalists and writers, human rights defenders, humanitarians and staff evacuated. JHR is attempting to raise $125,000 to assist with evacuation costs, saying the situation on the ground at Kabul airport remains extremely volatile. Executive Director Rachel Pulfer says all journalists and fixers who have worked in a visible way with Western organizations are targets, as are female journalists and journalists’ family members.
The Ontario Association of Broadcasters (OAB) is inviting all Ontario member stations to enter their best station and staff work to be considered for one of four OAB Awards: Best In Class Sales Award, which recognizes an individual salesperson who shows their ability to speak to the needs, wants and wishes of a new client with a successful radio campaign; Creative Award, presented to the writer/producer who creates the best 30 or 60 radio ad that inspires action, evokes emotion and produces results for the client; Community Service Campaign(s) Award, presented to the station for outstanding contribution to worthwhile organizations in its community, and the Promotion Award, awarded to the station that best promotes itself. The deadline for entries is Friday, Oct. 8.
