CBC’s plan to reinvigorate local TV news is promising. Canadians rate local news as their favourite kind of TV programming, although it is in decline in many Canadian cities because of recent cuts announced at private stations.

The Canadian Media Guild understands that the CBC plan hinges upon the redeployment of existing staff and resources, and the further integration of radio, TV and internet reporting. With proper training and real protections against excessive workload, the intiative could provide good opportunities for our members and a quality local news service for Canadians.

“We’re happy the CBC is getting back into local news on television,” says Lise Lareau, national president of the Guild. “But I am very concerned that no new money is being devoted to the expanded local programs. Despite everyone’s best intentions, you have to wonder whether it will be possible to do this right.”

The Guild will monitor how the initiative affects the workload of our members. The union is also monitoring the impact of integration that is already under way in the French-language services.

We are therefore creating a new e-mail address: workload@cmg.ca . If you have any concerns or observations about changes in workload due to integration and the local news initiative, please send us the details, including your work location. Messages received by the Guild will remain confidential.

For more information, contact the Guild (info@cmg.ca) at 416-591-5333 or 1-800-465-4149.