TORONTO — CBC News announced Friday the appointment of Mervin Brass (above left) as senior director for CBC North and Ruth Zowdu as senior director for CBC’s Ontario region, effective October 19.
“With a longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, Indigenous reflection and deepening CBC’s community connections,” Brass has been managing editor for CBC North for four years, says the CBC press release. In his new role he will continue to be based in Yellowknife, overseeing all local programming for stations in Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.
“This move to create a senior managing director position for the North speaks directly to CBC’s collective commitment to the region and its diverse and unique perspectives, languages and culture,” said Susan Marjetti, general manager, CBC News, Current Affairs and Local, in the release.
Ruth Zowdu, currently the managing editor of CBC Ottawa, started her career at CBC Ottawa as a researcher. She rose through the ranks, serving as executive producer of radio/current affairs before becoming the first woman of colour to run a local newsroom as CBC Ottawa’s managing editor. “Zowdu’s successes include #CBCStreetTalk, a way of surfacing election issues at all levels through the voices and experiences of voters, and, in partnership with the Ontario Public Library, the Ontario Human Library project,” says the release.
“Ruth’s successes are guided by an audience-first philosophy, and her dedication to strengthening an authentic and ongoing connection to the people CBC serves,” said Marjetti. “I have no doubt that the Ontario region will continue to flourish under Ruth’s thoughtful and dedicated leadership.”
Zowdu will continue to be based in Ottawa, overseeing all local programming for stations in Ontario: Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Ottawa, Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Toronto, and Windsor.
