The Last Post

You may have noticed that my contributions to MediaMelon have slipped appreciably in the past two weeks.  I’ve been preoccupied with several matters both personally and professionally.

I have just accepted a Communications Consultant job with the Department of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour, Government of Saskatchewan.  The work begins on June 1. I will no longer have time to blog nor would it be appropriate to comment on media, now that my working relationship with journalists will be different.

I would like to thank the thousands of people who have stopped by MediaMelon and the hundreds who have posted thoughtful, passionate, often amusing observations about the media and journalism.  Thanks to my journalist friends who have contributed mightily with insightful commentary on their work. I sincerely hope your careers are sheltered from the turmoil sweeping the industry.

This modest entry into the blogosphere began as a way to keep in touch with writer friends, students in my media class and with listeners to my radio show.   Unfortunately, the radio show must sign off. Also, I will wrap up my teaching after this current semester.  I simply do not have  time to do it all.  However, I will eventually return because I’ve had too much legal fun! And when I do, a reincarnated blog may also surface! MediaMelon 2?

Stay Calm, Be Brave, Wait for the Signs
Bill

The Way Things Are Going

Hanoi Traffic

Friend and former colleague John Baker is hanging out temporarily in the Far East.  The respected TV and radio journalist who was known for his great sense of fun and humour, is penning articles for various newspapers and magazines.

“The first sound I hear is a woman singing.  The voice is lovely.  Operatic.  I look at my watch.  It’s just after 7 a.m.  The soothing female voice is soon replaced by a harsh sounding male.  He isn’t singing.  His voice has a staccato sharpness which quickly fires up my synapses.  When I arrived at the hotel last night, I noticed loudspeakers on some of the heavily-laden telephone poles.  I wondered what they were for, and now I have my answer.

The man is speaking Vietnamese, a language I don’t understand. While his voice continues, it is being consumed, by a new language. It’s the language of the streets as they awaken and fill with people and vehicles.  It’s a language I do understand as people begin communicating with shouts, bicycle bells, and horns. The traffic noise is louder than any I have heard before: louder than New York, or Bangkok, or Hong Kong.  Relentless and overwhelming, it is the sound of Hanoi.

CBC Radio La Ronge Lives On!

CBC has reversed an earlier decision to close its bureau in La Ronge as part of the network’s cost-cutting measures.  CBC Saskatchewan’s Acting Regional Director Debbie Carpentier, in a note to staff, announced today that both the bureau and its long-serving broadcaster Tom Roberts would remain as part of the ‘CBC Saskatchewan family.’

Carpentier disclosed that the public broadcaster ended the fiscal year with a ‘modest surplus, some of which is being redirected into the La Ronge operations but that the financial outlook for fiscal 2009-2010 remains unchanged.  She added,  “A program will continue to originate from La Ronge, however, as we are doing with all of our Radio One regional offerings, we will evaluate what the program looks like.”

After the CBC’s initial announcement in March, Roberts said he was ‘anticipating a retirement package,’ something that is unlikely a consideration any more.

The CBC Board also reversed an earlier decision to close the bureau in Thompson, Manitoba.

Brian

Photo Coverup

So much for President  Obama’s posturing for greater government transparency! In a clear reversal of previous positions, Obama says he would fight the release of photos showing the abuse of terrorism suspects.

The American Civil Liberties Union has expressed outrage with the Obama decision.

Dan Froomkin in the Washington Post deconstructs the many excuses put forth by the Government including ‘there’s nothing to see,’ ‘these are isolated acts,’ ‘no good will come from the public display of these pictures,’ and ‘we must protect the troops.’

The bottom line is that none of these excuses pass the smell test!

Mulroney’s Disdain for the Media

After watching a couple of hours of Brian Mulroney at the Oliphant Inquiry, I’m reminded of his legendary pomposity and arrogance while Prime Minister.  He is never at loss to talk about how great he was, and is!

Mulroney’s media team is tracking the inquiry through an online blog. Yesterday, it reported that he struggled to compose himself during an emotional moment of testimony. “He looked out into the audience and saw the producer of the Fifth Estate (CBC-TV), Harvey Cashore and Globe and Mail reporter, Greg McArthur laughing–laughing–at his testimony. It was that sight–not captured by the cameras–that caused Mr. Mulroney to break down.”

CTV reports that both members of the media denied the claim.

Hockey Play

Don’t hold your breath as long as Gary Bettman presides over the NHL!

A New Host at CBC Saskatchewan

Journalist and broadcaster Michelle Hugli, a member of the Yellow Quill First Nation, left Rawlco Radio last fall after a year and a half as a talk show host at its Regina station.  Her plan was to travel for a year but first she took some temporary work with CBC Saskatchewan.  Now, it’s turned into a permanent gig with Hugli’s appointment as the new host of CBC Radio’s Afternoon Edition.  She replaces long time host Colin Grewar who retired from CBC and moved to Victoria, B.C.

CBC has taken a low-key approach to its newest hire.  Staff were advised last week of the appointment but otherwise, there has been no public announcement, no media release.  That’s because the Corporation has been dealing with the fallout of a significant cut in its budget and the prospect of hundreds of employee layoffs.  The extent of layoffs will be known in the next week or so but I’m told Hugli’s position will not be affected by any union bumping steps.

Beynon Talks About Accident

CTV Regina News co-anchor Carla Beynon was in the news today instead of delivering it.  Speaking at a local event, Beynon recounted how she was struck by a vehicle while working on a highway construction crew in 2004.

She was seriously injured.  Her back was broken, an injury that usually causes paralysis. Beynon recovered and considers herself quite lucky.  She hopes her message will make drivers more aware of driving slowly through construction zones.