The Canadian Broadcasting Company gets government funding. Last time they got any kind of increase was when Mulroney was Prime Minister. Ever since then, funding has been maintained- until Mr. Harper’s majority government started chopping off limbs. Now, over 800 CBC employees have been/are getting laid off and the budget is being cut by 10% so far. Transmission sites across the Nation are getting shut down, and the content we get will come from either Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal. Friends of Canadian Broadcasting sent me an email this morning, asking for my opinion. Here’s what I wrote:
In my perfect world, the CBC would localize. With the attitude of our majority government, and the direction they are trying to take our country, fostering campus and community radio stations should come first. Canada is a huge nation! Localizing content would mean more relevant topics and less need for additional advertising. Television by way of cable/digital subscription is on it’s way out and trends are migrating to the internet. Not only would the CBC become alleviated from harmful additional advertising, a focus on building and funding small local community stations across Canada can be easily executed- especially if there was a utilization of existing community stations (www.ncra.ca). The CBC should shift funding, support, and volunteer training into these existing initiatives. Non-profit models reign as stewards of truth, relevance, and democracy…three qualities missing in the Canadian political climate. If Canada is to remain a progressive and healthy nation, there should be funded community medias that operate in a non-profit model.
What do you think? Express your opinion here: http://www.friends.ca/TheCBCWeWant/
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