The Independent's editorial page is full of CBC-related material; some of it may be posted online later in the week. Brian Dobbin, the publisher of the St. John's weekly, follows up on his "Die CBC die" column from last week:
I apologize if I offended, but the way I see it, the only difference from my taking offence at some of the CBC pieces over the years and my giving offense (sic), is that I paid for the right to say what I said, and I paid for the right to say what they said ... thank goodness we live in a such a strong social democracy.
Independent editor Ryan Cleary responds to last week's column, with both praise and criticism for the CBC. The criticism is pretty strong stuff:
Personally, I don't wish the CBC dead. I'd be satisified with having it beaten to within an inch of its pompous life and left to die in a ditch.
... There's always another side to the story (isn't there always): while private industry can provide the same service as the CBC - it generally doesn't. The quality just isn't there.
Cleary references (but does not identify) locked-out CBC reporter David Cochrane, who wrote a report that was featured on the Independent's front page last week, and who has declined to write again for the paper. Cleary writes:
[The article and publisher's column] didn't go over well on the picket line and the journalist won't be writing for the paper again any time soon. Neither will any other locked-out CBC employee - or so they've been told.
[Really? News to me. And I still have my subscription, too.]
Meanwhile, there are two letters on the editorial page: one from Mack Furlong, a CBC Radio contributor who takes issue with Dobbin's column, and another from Larry Small, which extols CBC regional programming.
From the table ...
From the CBC's negotiations updates:
CBC and CMG continued discussions today on the outstanding issues. We reached agreement on another issue today: Producer's Authority. Negotiations will continue tomorrow.
In other news ...
Tory senator Marjory LeBreton, a former deputy chief of staff in the Mulroney administration, is arguing for a long lockout - in order to help Conservative chances in the election, the Canadian Press reports:
In a letter to an Ottawa newspaper, she cited poll numbers that suggested NDP and Liberal supporters missed regular CBC coverage the most.
“The lockout has deprived them of their biggest cheerleaders on the national scene,” Ms. LeBreton wrote in a letter published in the Sept. 12 edition of the Hill Times newspaper.
A brief in the Globe says locked-out workers will be demonstrating Monday at NHL training camps, as the start date for Hockey Night in Canada approaches.
In another brief from the Globe, the CBC says British Columbia labour laws are preventing it from airing a Sept. 17 game involving the B.C. Lions and the Montreal Alouettes.
Shelagh Rogers & Co. have made it to Saskatoon. Plenty to see and hear.
In Charlottetown, locked-out CBC types are collaborating with community organizations for a Hurricane Katrina fundraiser for the Red Cross.
Finally ... this - a mock ransom note - to brighten your day.
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