(OTTAWA) CBC/Société Radio-Canada CEO Catherine Tait has caused a stir in the crown corporation’s newsrooms following an interview she gave to The Globe and Mail, internal emails indicate.
Some executives were quick to rebut his comments.
In February, the national daily reported that Ms. Tait wanted the CBC to go entirely digital, abandoning its traditional television and radio networks in the process. However, this new direction would not come into effect for the next ten years.
The interview was also published several months after the BBC announced similar intentions.
A CBC manager indicated in an email that this would not be the case for CBC/Radio-Canada. “It’s not the reality for us,” he wrote. Even if we planned ahead and embraced digital delivery, no Canadian would be left behind. »
Ms. Tait was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CBC/Radio-Canada in July 2018 for a five-year term, which is standard for this position. His term was extended last month until early 2025.
In that Globe and Mail interview, Ms. Tait also sharply criticized Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, accusing him of wanting to attack the public broadcaster for political fundraising purposes.
Journalists “expressed concerns about Catherine [Tait]’s views on political campaigning and Canadians’ opposition to CBC funding,” an email read.
George Achi, the head of journalistic standards at the CBC, tried to reassure newsrooms by saying that management’s opinions do not influence news coverage.
“It stands to reason that we cover this story with the same accuracy, precision, balance and fact-based approach as our other stories,” he wrote.
In another email, it was noted that Ms. Tait would continue to speak about the importance of a public broadcaster with representatives from all political parties.
In 2021-22, the CBC received over $1.2 billion in government funding. The board of directors determines how this money is spent.
CBC/Radio-Canada spokesperson Leon Mar said Tait was unavailable for an interview. He added that the Crown corporation does not comment on internal employee conversations, “which are confidential in nature.”
The Globe and Mail interview also raised concerns from a union representing CBC employees.
Emails indicate that the Canadian Media Guild intended to release a statement the day after the story, but it agreed to delay the release for a day pending clarification from management.
The union was particularly concerned about the loss of jobs, the reduction of newsrooms and the increase in the workload for journalists who might remain on the job. Several members asked him if they were still going to have a job in ten years.
In another internal email, Shaun Poulter, Managing Director, Strategy, Public Affairs and Government Relations, CBC/Radio-Canada, acknowledged that the union felt “taken aback” and “betrayed” by Ms. Tait’s statements on digital.
“If anyone can talk to him, ask him to read the article and don’t get caught up in the clickbait. We’re not giving up TV and radio, for God’s sake,” Poulter asked in another email. The phrase “fucking shit” was abbreviated.