VI news stations need rules to ensure independence: Telus

GATINEAU, Que. — The question of whether news stations owned by vertically-integrated (VI) companies need safeguards for journalistic independence came up at the CRTC’s English-language TV licence renewal hearing Wednesday, with the commission chairman floating the idea of implementing rules codifying independence. CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais asked Telus Corp. representatives whether codifying “principles of independence” as a condition of licence would solve concerns they identified in their opening statement Wednesday. Telus had argued that VI companies are making “invisible” competing companies’ “soft news” items, such as charitable initiatives, on their broadcasts. It used the example of Telus Days of Giving, which was regularly covered by local news stations before its competitors purchased those stations, according to a written copy of its opening statement. Telus vice-president of broadcast policy and regulatory affairs Ann Mainville-Neeson said in her appearance before the commission on the third day of licence renewal hearings that a condition of licence would be a move in the right direction, but may not address all of the issues related to how companies promote competing news items. It was a question Blais also raised with BCE Inc.-owned CTV news president Wendy Freeman in her appearance a day earlier, who told the CRTC that because of an independence code established by the company, “no one can influence what we do and we have complete independence.” That code was introduced following a controversy last year over then-Bell Media CEO Kevin Crull, who reportedly instructed staff not to show footage of Blais following an announcement by the CRTC to unbundle TV packages. In response to a question by Blais whether she would be “comforted” if the independence was “protected by a condition of licence,” Freeman responded: “Sure…I would not have a problem with that,” according to transcripts. Mainville-Neeson said that “the condition of licence ultimately is seen by regulatory people and the various people within the Bell organization, but it doesn’t necessarily go down to that local station that Bell Media licence." "Therefore, I think it’s appropriate to have some type of program that ensures that there is more of an awareness campaign within the companies and certainly an awareness campaign for consumers. ” She said consumers would be the best suited to monitor the news. The CRTC could establish “campaigns that ensure that the public and their own employees are well aware of their commitment to journalistic … it’s about the trickle down effect. To make sure that consumers and that local employee in that local news station is aware that there will be no negative repercussions if they allow some charity to talk about the great funding they got” from a competitior. She said such rules should apply to all VI companies that offer news, such as Rogers Communications Inc. and Corus Entertainment Inc. “They have a vested interest in promoting their own distribution services,” she said. —With reporting by Ahmad Hathout at ahathout@thewirereport.ca and editing by Anja Karadeglija at akarad@thewirereport.ca

VI news stations need rules to ensure independence: Telus

News | December 1, 2016

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VI news stations need rules to ensure independence: Telus

News | December 1, 2016

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