TORONTO — Faced with the daunting decision of how to replace The National’s recently retired, venerable host Peter Mansbridge, CBC News has opted to go with a four-host format as it prepares to reset and relaunch its nightly news program this fall.
When the new National launches Monday, November 6, it will be hosted by a collaborative team of four award-winning journalists: political reporter and host Rosemary Barton, based in Ottawa; CBC Vancouver host Andrew Chang, based in Vancouver; senior correspondent Adrienne Arsenault, based in Toronto; and veteran host and reporter Ian Hanomansing, who will also be based in Toronto.
“Each of these award-winning journalists bring distinct strengths and expertise to the program. They will report as an integrated team, across broadcast and digital, to deliver depth and context on the stories that matter to Canadians,” said Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor-in-chief of CBC News, in a press release announcing the new hosts of The National.
Bringing Canadians a new kind of evening news, the new National will offer a unique proposition for audiences live across all six time zones, with the ability to update throughout the evening until 2 a.m. ET and originate from anywhere in the country depending on the news of the day, the CBC News release said. The new inter-platform format will feature robust digital content for multiple platforms throughout the day, culminating in the evening news program, CBC News said.
“Today is an exciting day for The National, for CBC News and for the country,” McGuire said in a prepared statement. “As you know, we are building on the rich legacy of a program that represents the very best of CBC News and public service journalism. This will be a team that sets the agenda, sets the record straight, and sets the standard for the best visual journalism in Canada.
“We want it to be a place for innovation in how we tell stories, and what stories we tell,” McGuire continued. “It’s still an hour and still at 10 p.m., but we’ll be pushing the agenda forward with new angles, new ways of telling stories. The National will be all day long, on social and digital. From permanent hosts and studios in Vancouver, Ottawa and Toronto, the show will be nimble and flexible as well as trusted and true.”
The new National will launch Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. ET on CBC News Network and at 10 p.m. (10:30 NT) in all time zones on CBC’s main network.
