TORONTO – Mega-popular web site CANOE and newspaper The Toronto Sun are still more popular than television channel SUN TV, so it only makes sense the corporation is using all of its assets in the launch of a new current affairs show on the broadcast station.
"A new media experience" begins tomorrow with the launch in Toronto of CANOE Live, says the press release, "integrating print, TV and on-line media in a format that will encourage Canadians to send in content and participate in a new dialogue on current affairs issues." While the web component will launch tomorrow, the new show will hit the airwaves on Monday, May 15.
As described by cartt.ca, CANOE Live is the brand new show coming to SUN TV which will feature strong links to the web site, newspaper – and plans to rely heavily on viewer-submitted material, too.
"We’re challenging people in Toronto to find interesting ways to express themselves and create an enriched dialogue about current affairs through CANOE Live," said Kin-Man Lee, executive vice-president of Sun Media and publisher of the Toronto Sun.
The Sun, SUN TV and Canoe are all owned by Quebecor Media, which first alluded to this new multi-media thrust here. The TV station has struggled mightily since its launch as Toronto 1, owned by Craig Media, in 2003. Quebecor purchased the station in 2005 and has made several moves, many cost-cutting exercises, to make the station work in a very crowded media marketplace.
"You send it, the world gets it" is the philosophy of CANOE Live, adds the release. Canadians, and particularly Torontonians, can contribute photos, videos, comments and ideas through the Canoelive.ca web site, which also launches Tuesday. CANOE Live will use as much of this material as possible through Canoe.ca, free commuter newspaper, 24 hours, the Toronto Sun and the new current affairs broadcast on SUN TV.
"News and current affairs content have traditionally been the exclusive domains of journalists and editors," said Lee. "New technologies, including digital cameras and camera phones, have created the possibility for the public to have a much greater say about issues and, in the process, create new dialogues and new directions for coverage. People are better informed today than ever before, communities are more global than ever, and we believe it is time to use technology to reach out for their ideas about current affairs issues."
CANOE Live will encourage people to contribute video, digital photos, e-mail, SMS text as well as ideas for new topics and angles or to put new emphasis on some subjects. "If someone really cares a lot about community sports, child care, clean streets, parking tickets, taxes or virtually any subject, CANOE Live will try to use the content from the public for its on-line, TV and print coverage of current affairs issues," says the release.
Beginning Tuesday, CANOE Live will operate in "beta" mode, open to the public through the Canoelive.ca web site. The initial experiences with the public in the coming months will test concepts as the project evolves.
"As a fundamental principle, we recognize that we don’t have all the answers," added Lee. "We think there are a lot of subjects and perspectives that people want to see covered. There will be a particular focus on current affairs in Toronto, but there are many national and international issues that are important to individuals and communities here."
