TORONTO – CBC English Services unwrapped its new organizational structure, “bringing radio, television and digital platforms into alignment under one integrated management framework,” says the companys internal memo to staff.
“This new model has been designed to allow English Services to better support the creation and distribution of all its programming content,” said Richard Stursberg, executive vice president of English Services. “The structure itself – and the teams which will bring it to life – recognize the unique characteristics and demands of each platform while bringing an improved focus to how each is supported in meeting audience programming requirements.
“To emphasize — this is not about a change in vision or direction for each service — their respective strategies stay the same,” Stursberg added. “We will continue to make programming that Canadians want and foster discussion about living in this country, providing multiple platforms for the expression of Canadian voices.”
The changes announced today focus on five key areas, reads the memo:
* Overall structure
* News
* Radio
* Production and Resources
* The Regions
The revised organizational structure is meant to provide the best support for creating programming across the CBC’s different media lines – radio, television and digital – while each continues to pursue its existing strategies.
Also part of the newly announced structure is a revised management committee, designed to facilitate close and regular conversation and ensure members are making “fully integrated” decisions, said Stursberg.
Changes will take effect immediately.
“When the first integration meetings for employees were held last November, both Stursberg and Jennifer McGuire, executive director, English Radio, were clear that integration did not signal a change in Radio values, strategy or direction – a fact both affirmed during today’s announcement,” reads the memo – which was crafted like a news story.
“Overall, Radio is in very good shape,” says McGuire. “In December, we released the results of the fall BBMs, under the headline “CBC Radio Shatters Ratings Records,” she added, commenting on the media line’s winning formula for success. “At the time, combined Radio One and Radio 2’s share of tuning was the highest it had ever been.”
Anticipating the move into the next and final phase of the Radio 2 programming strategy, McGuire stressed that changes made to Radio 2 over the past year have been built on several key factors. “We wanted to broaden our service musically to better fulfill our mandate, and increase the numbers of those using and valuing the service,” she said. “At the same time, our goal was to ‘root’ the service in the regions throughout the country,” continues the memo.
This work was based on the most comprehensive study undertaken to date across Canada on the question of arts and culture, says the Corp.
While it is true that two senior members of the Radio leadership team will be assuming key new assignments, they will be going to an integrated news organization that includes Radio, said Stursberg.
“The core strength of Radio remains with its gifted team. Jennifer will continue in her role as Executive Director, English Radio, until a new leader is in place, in addition to taking on her new role. We will begin the search immediately for a new executive director of radio. Our intention is to search internally, as we need someone who can hit the ground running and understands the radio service.”
Larry O’Brien will take on the role of Senior Director, Radio Production and Resources on an interim basis; CBC plans to fill the position for the integrated organization within six months, says the memo.
As for CBC News, under John Cruickshank’s leadership, it will be organized into its two main areas: programming and newsgathering. Programming will be led by McGuire, who will become Executive Director of News Programming and Deputy Head of News. In her new role, she will define the mandate, voice and tone of News programs across all platforms – radio, television, Newsworld and CBC.ca.
Todd Spencer will join News as the Executive Director of News Content. His “extensive experience in this role while in CNN’s Asia bureau will bring insights to his team and to News generally,” says the release.
The merging of Radio and Television production and resources is a natural outcome of moving to an integrated organization, added Stursberg. Fred Mattocks will be in the position of Executive Director of Production and Resources and “has a remarkable capacity to work in the present while keeping the future on his radar screen,” said Stursberg. “These will be important and significant qualities going forward because of the pivotal role production and resources will play in supporting programmers and delivering content to audiences.”
“The media landscape and how people use media is changing dramatically,” said Mattocks. “We need an infrastructure that will help programmers act quickly to meet audiences where they choose to be. Our first objective is to be in a position to anticipate the needs of programmers and their programs.”
The memo also addressed the regions and said the CBC will hire an Executive Director of Regions who will work with the Regional Directors and co-ordinate and support the regional strategy which will be developed through a collaborative process that involves the Regional Directors, the Executive Director of Regions, the Executive Director of Radio, the Publisher of CBC News, the Television Network Programming Office and the Executive Director of Production and Resources.
Jill Troyer will be interim Executive Director of Regions and the position will be posted shortly.
