Presents a point of view reflecting the company’s progressive values on an issue of public interest. Editorials are written by staff within the Star’s editorial board, which is independent of the newsroom.
CBC shouldn’t shut local news shows in a time of crisis
‘What on earth could CBC management have been thinking this week when it closed its local newscasts just as Canadians in every region were hungry for information about the coronavirus crisis?’
It’s at times like this that people turn most eagerly to their trusted news sources. And, astoundingly, it’s just this time that the CBC chose to shut down local news shows across the country.
The corporation’s line is that it’s about “pooling our resources” into “one core news offering.” There are suggestions, too, that the coronavirus has strained the CBC’s ability to produce local programs.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
But everyone’s finding ways to carry on. At the Star, journalists aren’t going to the office anymore to maintain “social distancing”; our print and digital content is being produced almost entirely remotely. You do what you have to do in times like this.
But the CBC, our national public broadcaster, the biggest news operation in the land, decided to bail on local communities across the country.
The biggest push-back is coming from the Atlantic region, where local CBC shows are widely watched. The premier of Prince Edward Island, Dennis King, says he’s “incredibly disappointed” that the only daily news show on the island, Compass, has been suspended.
People in other cities should be disappointed as well. Sure, there are other local news sources in cities like Toronto and Vancouver, but that’s no reason for the national broadcaster to walk away.
Many CBC journalists are doing fine coverage of the crisis under difficult circumstances, as one would expect. But the national picture isn’t the complete picture.
People everywhere are looking for a deeper dive into the stories in their own communities. And it’s a shame that the CBC decided to shut that down at this crucial moment.
The Star Editorial Board is responsible for the editorial and op-ed pages, as well as content on the Opinion section of thestar.com. That includes editorials, letters to the editor, columns, opinion articles by guest commentators and multi-media features on thestar.com Opinion section.
