Bell/CTV cuts ‘devastating’ for local journalism

It is another devastating day to be in local broadcasting and journalism.

By cutting nearly 4800 jobs across the country, BCE Inc., the parent company of Bell Media, has once again brought the hatchet down on local news, while at the same time announcing an increase in shareholder dividends for the last year.

While the impact is minimal for Ottawa Newspaper Guild members, these cuts send a strong message: money and the bottom line are what are valued the most – not the workers and the community they serve. Bell Media is paying a severe disservice to the people of Ottawa and other small towns and cities across eastern Ontario and the country who depend on CTV News for reliable and trustworthy news and information. 

By Bell’s own admission, the company’s news departments are the “most-watched network of local TV stations … yet it continues to incur over $40 million in annual operating losses.” Perhaps it is time for Bell executives to look in the mirror, including top 50 executive in Canada CEO Mirko Bibic, instead of making workers pay the price. 

CWA Canada and ONG will continue to fight to protect local news and media workers in our community. Staff at Newstalk 580 CFRA, who recently joined the union , are now in negotiations with management of Bell Media Ottawa. Thankfully, none of those workers were affected by the current layoffs.