I have some news... pic.twitter.com/lTe3Rs0kOA
— Lisa LaFlamme (@LisaLaFlamme_) August 15, 2022
Lisa LaFlamme, the CTV chief news anchor and senior editor since September 2011, did not have her contract renewed by the parent company Bell Media. LaFlamme, in a statement in the above video, said she was told this was a "business decision" on June 29. The time between then and yesterday was that she was asked to not talk about the decision until matters were settled.
LaFlamme cited her 35 years of news experience with Bell Media, most of that time with CTV. She started on the national level as a weekend anchor/reporter in 1997 for CTV News Network.
"At 58, I still thought I had a lot more time to tell more of the stories that impact our daily lives." LaFlamme said in the video.
We would normally not give a person's age in a story. LaFlamme mentioned she is 58. The idea of a "business decision" will likely lead to a younger and cheaper replacement at a sacrifice to the news audience at CTV. The experience in covering elections is crucial.
Bell Media was proud of LaFlamme earlier this year for winning her second straight Canadian Screen Award for Best News Anchor, National.
Omar Sachedina, CTV News national affairs correspondent who joined the network in 2009, will be the new top anchor as of September 5.
The Bell Media release language is that LaFlamme is "departing the network." Given that LaFlamme noted "I was blindsided" makes this a one-sided decision.
"Recognizing changing viewer habits, CTV recently advised LaFlamme that it had made the business decision to move its acclaimed news show, CTV National News, and the role of its Chief News Anchor in a different direction."
Who knows what that means in English.
Canadian journalism notebook: CBC News will launch a streaming channel
Canada has been rather remarkable in that the nightly news anchors have been female. Adrienne Arsenault has anchored with Andrew Chang Mondays-Thursdays on The National and will be the solo anchor in the fall. Dawna Freisen has been the Global News anchor since 2010.
I'm at a loss for words. Lisa is among the very best at what she does. I know surprisingly arbitrary decisions can be made in this business but Lisa, you deserve better than this. Way better. https://t.co/VlpseimCbk
— Ian Hanomansing (@ianhanomansing) August 15, 2022
Lloyd Robertson had been co-anchoring (1976-1984) or anchoring (1984-2011) the CTV nightly news for a very long time. He anchored The National on CBC from 1970-1976. There was a significant transition time between Robertson and LaFlamme.
Tim and Sid as well as Jay and Dan are separating
Bell Media and Rogers (owners of CityTV, which doesn't have a national newscast) have gone back and forth laying off sports personalities on TV and radio during the pandemic as "business decisions."
This decision feels worse in that news is more important than sports (sorry, sports fans) and that credibility is really important in news delivery.
Canada will join U.S. in having two nightly female anchors
CanadianCrossing.com CTV coverage
CanadianCrossing.com journalism coverage
CBC News gave Wendy Mesley a Sunday morning show before she bounced out of her journalism career. That could be a good spot for LaFlamme at CBC.
We would watch CBC over CTV in Canada yet recognising that LaFlamme was very good at her job. CBC or even Global would be smart to hire LaFlamme in some role. If CityTV wants to run a national newscast, which is doubtful, she would be a good choice.
Editor's note: Canadaland weighed on this story. Worth reading.
Twitter captures: @LisaLaFlamme_; @ianhanomansing
photo credit: CTV News
Wow very sad I have watch you a long time going to miss you hope you find a better place to work
Posted by: Darlene Massie | August 16, 2022 at 04:25 PM