Will bring Corus Radio newsrooms, Global TV, closer
TORONTO – Global News announced Tuesday it has cancelled its award-winning newsmagazine show 16X9 and announced some other news changes as well.
The cancellation of 16X9 “was purely a business decision and not a reflection of the great work done by this dedicated team,” said Troy Reeb, Corus Entertainment’s SVP news, radio and station operations, in a memo to staff, a copy of which was obtained by Cartt.ca.
The show was the first high definition newsmagazine show in Canada and took its name from the 16×9 screen size of HDTV sets. “Over its eight seasons, it broke ground editorially and visually – winning countless awards and international recognition. The program, and its team, has made lasting contributions to the field of investigative journalism, and we are committed to continuing to invest in this area,” reads Reeb’s memo.
Global will now establish a new investigations unit which will work with local teams across all platforms, including radio. 16X9 host Carolyn Jarvis will take on the role of chief investigative correspondent.
Reeb also said in his memo the company is moving forward with what it calls “The Hub” which is a single, coordinated assignment system for all stations, all programs and all platforms. “The goal is to provide instant insight into all newsgathering efforts across the country, and free up our journalists to create more original material than ever. We plan to operate this desk around the clock from both Toronto and Vancouver, but decisions about which stories to cover, and how, will still be made locally,” reads the memo.
Managing editors/assignment editors will work directly with The Hub to reduce overlap in story selection between stations and platforms, and provide resources to support enterprise storytelling. All reporters, cameras and video-journalists will now report directly into their local managing editors.
The Hub will also take over assignment duties for Global National.
Reeb also noted the broadcaster’s morning shows have shifted to become more focused on news “and plan to continue with this format in the Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario and the prairies,” says the memo.
That also means the company will continue to build its connections between the TV side and the 39 Corus Radio stations across the country, several of which are news/talk formats.
“As audiences adjust to new ways of consuming information, we are confident the new structure being introduced will ensure the long-term sustainability of Global News and our local station brands,” reads the start of Reeb’s memo “We want to acknowledge that some valued members of our team have been impacted by today’s changes, and thank them for their contributions to our company and dedication to our audience.”
Toronto morning show host Liza Fromer’s contract was also not renewed, it was announced yesterday.
“Over the past number of years, we have solidified our place as Canada’s most innovative and future-ready news organization. Change is rarely easy, but we have risen to its challenge before, and I look forward to working with all of you in shaping our future success,” added Reeb.
