tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095Sun, 20 May 2012 14:49:12 +0000federal electionmedia commentaryHarvardmediacutsCMGprivatizationSun TV NewsOntario electionreportersCorusvoyouRussell WilliamsCKX-TVmedia crisisGreensOpenMedia.caorganizingLocal 1join a unionCRTCConservativesfunding cutsunionShawHamiltonSylvain LafranceAir Canadaonline newsCBCQuebecorcanadian broadcasting corporationlocal programmingCanadian Media Guildindependent mediaartificial intelligencefederal budgetlicence renewalsHillman AwardsCity-tvPTSDlocal mediaCTVLisa Raittfinancial crisisTVOTV licence renewalscommunity TVCanwestmedia ownershipradio expansionunionsLiberalsBloc QuebecoisNDPnewspapersCarmel Smythworkloadnew modelsRadio-Canadaflight attendantsPierre Karl PeladeauCHCHlocal TVdigital transitionlabour lawsPostmediacrisisfree TVDean Del MastroG20journalismOccupy Wall Street- from the front lines of Canada's media -http://newsshift.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)Blogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-2732260269763956635Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:54:00 +00002012-01-05T14:11:14.485-05:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2012/01/great-journalism-deserves-award.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Great journalists we want you! In an effort to reward good journalism and to encourage more and better coverage of labour and social justice issues CMG and our parent union CWA-SCA Canada have teamed up with the esteemed Canadian Association of Journalists to offer one thousand dollars (and our gratitude) to a winning Journalist. Deadline to apply Jan 31, 2012. Apply at caj.ca. Good luck!tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-1300516497180731497Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:15:00 +00002012-01-05T13:29:18.384-05:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2012/01/workers-unite.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0If you are in a union, you have a say in how you are treated at work because you have a set of rules that the company and the union have agreed to, basically a collective agreement. It sets out things like salary, working hours, shifts, annual leave and other practical information. Having this in writing gives staff a sense of confidence that everyone knows the rules and will be treated equally. It has taken years to get to the stage where we can hammer out these productive mutual agreements...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-5842965586848703588Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:52:00 +00002012-01-05T13:00:28.274-05:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2012/01/good-luck-canadian-press.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0A century ago a handful of intrepid journalists and like-minded citizens strung up telegraph lines across the country and started sharing the news. The Canadian Press has been telling Canadians what's happening since 1917. More than 200 journalists across the country now send copy, photos, video, and radio audio to Radio, TV, newspapers, and online media across Canada. On top of being historically significant, CP is one of the largest single original sources of news (because so many media use...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-8940835163222150019Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:52:00 +00002012-01-05T10:18:15.888-05:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2012/01/shameful-relocation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Sad news over the holidays, as media giant (55 thousand staff worldwide) Thomson Reuters cut 22 jobs at its Toronto office; relocating the mostly IT work to India. Even more disappointing is the company is owned by the Toronto based Thomson family. How is that for a lump of coal in your stocking! Many of us worry about the declining quality of journalism as companies downsize and find ways to move work to developing countries where labour is cheaper. On top of all of all of this new studies...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-3458182385136440287Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:05:00 +00002011-12-06T11:28:14.459-05:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/12/cbc-smackdown.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)069% of Canadians support stable or increased funding for the CBC. A recent poll shows the level of support for the national network remains high. Three quarters of Canadians give the CBC high marks for fulfilling its mandate, and a majority want to see funding increased or maintained. The report by a Ryerson and U of Toronto professors shows viewers from all political parties believe the government should be supporting the CBC. The recent speculation around budget cuts has lead one group, to...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-2919177578240045526Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:50:00 +00002011-10-31T14:52:57.991-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/running-for-cause.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0A shout out to all union members running the New York City marathon this weekend. Thousands of union members are runners, and thousands of runners are union members.....so it must be good for you! tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-6635410476349208708Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:19:00 +00002011-10-31T14:49:00.809-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/journalism-quality.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0When journalists get together these days the declining quality of news is always on the agenda, everyone is doing more with less; there are fewer working journalists, therefore fewer original stories, (not counting citizen journalists and personal blogs). Now a TV reporter may have to also file a radio or web story; print reporters are filing for multiple sources and everyone is taking photos. This multi-skilling means fewer bodies researching difficult stories because no one has time. What...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-1428983672543622992Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:27:00 +00002011-10-24T18:31:43.083-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/hearts-of-gold_24.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Congrats! Big hugs to dedicated members who spend their blood and tears helping colleagues and improving our work lives. The CMG at CBC handed its top prize to long time volunteer and former President Lise Lareau. (Lise stepped down as President last year) and is now back in the newsroom, assigning news all day, and run ragged all evening volunteering as Vice-President. Honourable mentions include National Treasurer Jonathan Spence, and executive member Bob Sharpe from St.John's....tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-6613240425799429381Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:49:00 +00002011-10-20T14:25:44.272-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/pen-pals.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Quebecor owner Pierre Karl Peladeau has send a dozen letters to the Prime Minister and others in government COMPLAINING that CBC Radio-Canada does NOT spend enough advertising in his newspapers. Meanwhile his papers have spent the last three years criticizing the CBC over things most readers might not consider newsworthy. Both parties appear today at a parliamentary Ethics committee hearings. Radio Canada is Quebecors' biggest competitor in Quebec where the media giant owns dozens of newspapers...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-8543265657168140325Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:11:00 +00002011-10-18T15:27:26.802-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/fighting-for-better-care.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0It's not just the kids anymore, many of us are struggling to take care of older parents. The papers are full of complaints about access to home care, when your dad has alzheimer's who helps your mom? This weekend a group of dedicated retired union members from across the country met to discuss how to persuade Ottawa to improve the lives of EVERY Canadian senior with better pensions and home care. (Details at CURC: Congress of Union Retirees of Canada.) tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-338842545247662946Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:42:00 +00002011-10-18T15:10:54.514-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/pain-and-persistance.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Congrats to CMG national treasurer Jonathan Spence for finishing Toronto's biggest marathon in 3:41. CBC had great coverage on the weekend, it was an exciting race with Canadian Reid Coolsaet finishing third in 2:10:55...seconds from breaking the Canadian record (2:10:08 by Jerome Drayton in 1975.)Last year CMG had a team running the Scotiabank Media Challange. Let's do it again next year.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-2445721137701297332Fri, 14 Oct 2011 14:55:00 +00002011-10-14T11:05:03.912-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/hands-off-our-cbc.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Wow, the Liberals have found a voice, (and a heart) and are shouting out to save the CBC. I quote "The Conservatives are over-reading their mandate. We need to send a strong message: CBC funding didn't cause your Conservative deficit; so don't try to fix that problem on the back of the CBC!". Hey I could have written that! The Libs even have a petition to sign. What a golden opportunity for ALL CBC fans, friends, staff and families to post their John Henry. Positive change doesn't just happen,...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-4675628807616822007Wed, 12 Oct 2011 17:21:00 +00002011-10-12T14:26:43.646-04:00Air CanadaOccupy Wall Streetflight attendantslabour lawsLisa Raitthttp://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/what-is-lisa-raitt-in-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0[Guest post from karenatcmg] Has federal labour minister Lisa Raitt thought about what she may be in for as her government forces its way into the middle of collective bargaining in Canada? The phrase "class warfare" entered the lexicon again this summer south of the border. Sure, it started out as conservative bluster but then the 99% set up camp on Wall Street. In the midst of all this, Air Canada flight attendants voted down not one, but two tentative agreements. Some of them created a...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-6866897844854398479Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:50:00 +00002011-10-11T16:17:00.136-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/little-sympathy-goes-long-way.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Young men out of work for more than 6 months are 40 times more likely to committ suicide. How is that for a sobering statistic and proof that work is actually good for you. There are no end of studies showing people with jobs are happier, and that goes for people with mental health issues too. Only in addition to the usual stresses at work they also suffer the slings and slights of unsympathetic colleagues. The experts suggest calling it a stress injury to remove the stigma. This is just part...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-127807579293331951Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:26:00 +00002011-10-07T15:14:17.115-04:00journalismRussell WilliamsPTSDhttp://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/reporters-suffer-gruesome-overload.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Like his news stories, his personal account of the post traumatic stress effects of covering the "killing colonel" story is riveting. CBC Radio reporter Dave Seglins exposes his soul and the impact of sitting through grueling testimony for weeks covering Canada's most shocking serial sex offender-murder trail. He knows more about Colonel Russell Williams than you ever want to know. No surprise it is sickening. An enlightening read on the Canadian Journalism Project.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-5708017709332114033Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:55:00 +00002011-10-07T15:12:01.793-04:00Occupy Wall Streetunionshttp://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupying-wall-street.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Who says idealism is dead? I follow with admiration the wall street protests, working class parents and college kids fuming at the unfairness of a world where the rich get richer and the middle class more oppressed daily. As in Canada we have an educated generation that can't find decent jobs, that's the oppressive fog that lead to unions in the first place. It used to be unions led this kind of demonstration, but this has a searing spontaneity that unions are recognizing and embracing. We...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-8160238517367488516Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:25:00 +00002011-10-03T15:09:14.937-04:00unionsOntario electionhttp://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/speaking-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0I know you don't need a lecture on all the things unions have done to help Canadians, (fighting to increase minimum wage, better pensions for seniors, same sex benefits, paid parental leave, 5- day workweeks, smaller class size, subsidized daycare). There are many examples, but the bottom line is unions work to improve EVERYONE'S quality of life & work. So it's bizarre to see Ontario Conservatives campaigning on a platform that includes "bringing public sector pay cheques in line with...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-799568110679186672Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:01:00 +00002011-10-03T13:21:47.876-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/10/friends-and-fans.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Thanks to all volunteers handing out supportive flyers at CBC's OPEN HOUSE this weekend. As we hear more Conservative musings about cutting the budget, we appreciate the support of CBC's friends and fans, and why not support a mandate to promote Canadian talent! The Huffington Post says Heritage Minister James Moore wants to "slash CBC's budget by 10%", just the latest in an increasing slew of anti-public broadcasting comments by prominent Conservatives.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-4687950906626548955Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:58:00 +00002011-09-29T14:45:34.648-04:00funding cutsConservativesTVOCBChttp://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/09/election-questions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0(Updated) I was surprised to see this week that several prominent Conservatives floated the question of CBC funding. One survey asked whether the money Ottawa spends on CBC was "good"or"bad" value. It's a troubling question for anyone who supports public broadcasting. Small surveys by renegade politicians might not support the official party line, but when our office sent a questionnaire on support for the provincial public broadcasters TVO & TFO to candidates in the provincial election,...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-246097228274537082Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:51:00 +00002011-09-27T13:58:31.824-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/09/speaking-out.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0Thousands of people protested at Toronto city hall to oppose proposed cuts to programs and services. I'm amazed at the vigor and enthusiasm of people who showed up to fight for a more progressive city. It is inspiring.tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-9071096971021657812Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:17:00 +00002011-09-19T17:40:04.915-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/09/taxes-and-other-misunderstoodings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0There are good kids, and there is bad behavior. That's the way I feel about taxes. Why is it a clown can get elected promising "no taxes"; it doesn't even make sense. Anyone who has traveled knows there are hundreds of places where "no taxes" means living in squalor, with no schools for your children, no decent roads, hospitals or dependable public services. Are any of us really against taxes that pay for good schools, hospitals, highways, garbage pickup, recycling, even public pools. Why is it...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-7451594661564563978Fri, 16 Sep 2011 18:27:00 +00002011-09-16T15:14:11.050-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/09/we-can-all-dream.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0An insightful and sobering read from the US President written long before he was in the Oval office. Its not about politics, just the story of a young man trying to find his place in the world, and tracking down his absent fathers' family. There are millions of stories like it. The difference?His clear and perceptive observations on race and how the colour of your skin can affect everything from confidence to lifetime income. Its an inspiration for activists everywhere. None of us will ever...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-7618806731425498489Tue, 13 Sep 2011 21:27:00 +00002011-09-14T12:30:03.681-04:00Quebecormedia ownershipCBCmedia commentaryhttp://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/09/cbc-bashing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)3Quebecor has been throwing $$ away for months foaming about the CBC's real and imagined slights, it has made an industry of rampant rivalry that rational minds try to ignore. This Monday a calm response from a CBC VP to a vexing Montreal Gazette editorial puts it in perspective. Marvel at how much ink a jealous rival used to calling the shots can spill inventing a scandal just because he can. Quebecor's owner can afford to print whatever he likes in his newspapers (and he owns MANY). This is...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-4252742167006135351Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:40:00 +00002011-09-06T17:08:40.677-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/09/something-to-celebrate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0We had a great turn out from CBC, The Canadian Press, TVO, tfo, Shaw Television, Thomson Reuters,and Zoomer TV for the Labour Day Parade in Toronto. And no wonder. These are difficult times for anyone who works for a living and belongs to a union. Which is odd because at its core we are just a group helping each other and trying to help all working class people improve their lives. How can that be bad. Its unfortunate instead of inspiring others to work for similar goals, (we can help) it has...tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8663684148828902095.post-2861778451380771632Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:34:00 +00002011-08-30T14:49:47.994-04:00http://newsshift.blogspot.com/2011/08/ciao-bella.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Carmel Smyth)0This week we celebrated the long career of a favorite staff rep. Kathy Viner fought for better pay, pensions,benefits and working conditions for CMG members for nearly 30 years. (And loved every minute of it! ahh) So she says. Union work can be both satisfying and frustrating. Satisfying in that you really do make the world a better place, and frustrating because there is so much to do. Many of us start off as volunteers helping colleagues through a bureaucratic maze, but working for a union...