Ward Smith is being honoured with RTDNA Canada’s 2023 President’s Award, the organization’s highest honour recognizing those who have brought distinction to electronic and digital journalism in Canada.
Smith, the Senior Vice-President of Global News, oversees news operations across the Corus Entertainment network, including 15 local TV news stations, five national news programs, and news programming across the Corus Radio talk network. He celebrated his 30th anniversary with Global News in 2020.
“Smith is a champion of change, seeking new ways to produce and distribute news content to different audiences on multiple platforms, while maintaining core business,” the association said in its President’s Award announcement. “Along with being focused on new product and revenue development in a rapidly changing media landscape, Smith is invested in ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are boosted across the division. Being a big believer in leadership fundamentals Smith is committed to recruiting diverse, compassionate, and experienced journalists to lead Global News teams.”
Prior to his current title, Smith held the position of Vice- President, News, and Information for Eastern Canada, overseeing Global Halifax and New Brunswick, Global Montreal, Global Kingston, Global Peterborough, Global Durham, Global Toronto, 980 CFPL London, 900 CHML Hamilton, 640 (CFIQ-AM) Toronto, as well as The Morning Show and the Global News Multi-Market Content team.
Before that, he served as Senior Director, News and Station Operations for the Eastern Region for four years, in addition to roles as Managing Editor, News Director and Station Manager of Global News Toronto; Senior Producer, Assistant News Director and Director of News and Information for Global News Montreal; and National Correspondent in Halifax.
The Canadian Press was the recipient of the 2022 President’s Award, with past honourees also including APTN News, Kevin Newman, Peter Mansbridge, Craig Oliver, Pamela Wallin, and the late Stuart McLean, among many others.
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