TORONTO – Mark Starowicz has been appointed to the new position of executive director of documentary programming for CBC Television, the Corp announced today. 
In his new role, Starowicz (left), an acclaimed documentarian (he made Canada: A People’s History) will have overall responsibility for the development, commissioning, production and co-production of documentary programming, including science programming. CBC Television will continue to offer a mix of independent and in-house documentaries on all of its platforms.
“We have seen in recent years an exponential growth of interest in documentary and factual programming among television audiences,” said Richard Stursberg, executive vice-president, CBC Television, in a press release. “I’m delighted to institute a new senior position that will continue and expand CBC’s tradition of excellence in this genre-and I’m especially pleased that the first person to occupy this position is one of our finest programmers and most distinguished public broadcasters.”
“This is an exciting time for documentaries worldwide,” added Starowicz. “I’m pleased CBC Television is embracing that with this new position, and I’m honoured to be given the challenge.”
Starowicz’s creations include As It Happens, Sunday Morning and The Journal. The Dawn of the Eye, his six-hour history of newsreels and TV news, "is a staple in every journalism school in North America," adds the release. He and his team also nurtured many independent filmmakers while with the Current Affairs department, through series like Witness and Life and Times and many award-winning specials.
His most recent work is the epic documentary China Rises, shot in HDTV, and combining the journalistic and cinematic talents of CBC, New York Times Television and other international broadcasters to chronicle how the monumental changes unfolding in China are reshaping our world. Currently in production, under Starowicz’s leadership, is the greatly anticipated Hockey: A People’s History, a 10-part bilingual series about the game that has shaped Canada, set to air this fall.
Starowicz was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in May 2004, has multiple honorary degrees and seven Gemini Awards. He has been honoured by the Canadian Club as Canadian of the Year, and has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Canadian Journalism Foundation.
His appointment is effective immediately.
