Lisa LaFlamme hosts an episode of CTV National News on May 14, 2020.CTV
Lisa LaFlamme was let loose as anchor of CTV National News after 35 years at the network in a decision that the veteran reporter said blindsided her and that shocked colleagues and viewers.
CTV’s parent company, Bell Media, said the removal of Ms. LaFlamme was a business decision it was intended to cater to the changing habits of viewers, although it did not elaborate.
Ms. LaFlamme, who has been the face of CTV’s national broadcast since 2011, posted a two-minute video on Twitter Monday in which he said he was told June 29 that the network was terminating his contract. He said he was told to keep quiet until the details of the departure were finalized.
“I’m still shocked and saddened,” he said. “At 58, I still thought I would have much more time to tell more of the stories that affect our daily lives. Instead, I leave CTV humbled by the people who trust me to tell their story.”
The longtime anchor and foreign correspondent spent her career reporting on some of Canada’s and the world’s biggest stories, including the Iraq War and other conflicts, natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and global spectacles such as the Olympic Games and Queen’s. Diamond Jubilee More recently, Ms. LaFlamme covered Russia’s war on Ukraine and the Pope’s historic apology for the Catholic Church’s role in Canada’s residential school system.
Bell Media announced her departure in a press release on Monday, saying Omar Sachedina will replace Ms. LaFlamme on September 5. Mr. Sachedina is a national affairs correspondent for CTV News who joined the network in 2009.
“Recognizing changes in viewer habits, CTV recently informed LaFlamme that it had made a business decision to move its acclaimed news program, CTV National News, and the role of its lead news anchor in a different direction,” said the company.
Bell Media did not make anyone available for an interview to explain the decision and instead referred The Globe and Mail to company press releases.
At the beginning of this year, Ms. LaFlamme was named Best National News Anchor at the Canadian Screen Awards, having also won the previous year. In 2019, she was appointed to the Order of Canada and has many other honors attached to her name.
She took over the role of main news anchor in 2011 when Lloyd Robertson retired aged 77. He had spent more than four decades as a national news anchor and recalled a storied career before signing off for the last time during a newscast on Sept. 1. course
In her Twitter video, Ms. LaFlamme thanked her colleagues, viewers and loved ones for their “unwavering support” and said the video was likely her official CTV signature. “While it is overwhelming to leave CTV National News in a way that is not my choice, please know that reporting to you has truly been the greatest honor of my life,” he said.
Her exit from the network sparked outrage on social media from industry colleagues and supporters, with some questioning whether gender discrimination played a role in her ouster. Jeffrey Dvorkin, former director of the University of Toronto’s journalism program, said it’s a fair criticism and one that Bell Media will have to take into account.
“I think they’re looking for a younger, different demographic and Omar Sachedina delivers,” said Mr. Dvorkin. “But I think Bell Media may not have properly appreciated the kind of loyalty that people have to radio and television audiences. There is a real intimacy in television journalism.”
Shari Graydon, CEO and catalyst for Informed Opinions, an organization that advocates for women’s voices in the media, called Ms. LaFlamme’s treatment “deeply troubling.”
“When you contrast Lloyd Robertson leaving at age 77 and Lisa LaFlamme being essentially two decades younger than that, the optics are very bad,” he said in an interview, noting that Mr. Robertson had the opportunity to say goodbye to the network, as opposed to social media.
Ms. Graydon also emphasized the importance of the previous role of Ms. LaFlamme in public perception, both for women and girls considering the aspirations they can achieve, but also for boys and men, showing them that “women are as capable, as authorities, as knowledgeable like their male counterparts.”
Concerns about discrimination against live journalists are not new. Almost 40 years ago, US TV presenter Christine Craft won a high-profile case against her Kansas City station, claiming it demoted her for being “too old, unattractive and not deferential enough to men”. . In 2019, five female anchors sued the parent company of NY1, a well-known New York station, alleging gender and age discrimination. The presenters, who were aged between 40 and 61 at the time, settled their suit in 2020.
Robert Hurst, former president of CTV News, said in an interview Monday that he was surprised by the announcement. about Ms. LaFlamme, but has no knowledge of what led to the decision. She declined to comment on the optics of her departure, but spoke fondly of her career, having hired her at CTV many years ago.
“She was just a fabulous reporter who traveled the country and the world for us and when it came time for Lloyd Robertson to step down, she was the obvious choice. Obviously, I was a big fan when we put Lisa in the chair of anchor,” said Mr. Hurst. “Journalism was in his blood.”
Ian Hanomansing, who co-hosts CBC News’ national broadcast The National, said on Twitter that LaFlamme’s departure left him speechless. “Lisa is one of the best at what she does. I know some incredibly arbitrary decisions can be made in this business, but Lisa, you deserve better than this. Much better,” he wrote on Twitter.
Global National similarity anchor Dawna Friesen expressed shock. “Since we started working together years ago at CTV, I’ve watched you work your ass off and earn the respect of your peers, competitors and viewers. None of us last forever at these gigs, but I think you deserve better than this.”
Current and former politicians also sounded on social media that Ms. LaFlamme was shown the door. Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley called her “a massive voice in the Canadian media.” Former Liberal MP Catherine McKenna called the move to terminate her contract a “terribly poor way to treat an incredible journalist”.
Former NDP MP Peggy Nash on Twitter that Ms. LaFlamme deserved respect and appreciation for his many years of hard work and success. “Instead you have received disrespect and dismissal,” Ms Nash wrote.
In a video posted via Twitter on Monday, CTV National News anchor Lisa LaFlamme said Bell Media informed her on June 29 of the “business decision” to terminate her contract. LaFlamme had worked for the network for 35 years.
The Globe and Mail
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