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April 25, 2024 9:28 am  #1


If you've got some time on your hands...

Take a minute to listen to this interview with Dean Blundell and Lochlin Cross of Crier Media, speaking with Wendy Gray, who formerly oversaw the newsrooms at 34 Vista Radio stations across the country. The interesting stuff begins at around the 30:00 mark. Among the highlights:

- Wendy talks about the early days of the pandemic, when Vista asked her to move to Barry's Bay, presumably so she'd be less likely to be affected by COVID-19, should her services be needed across the whole network.
- She received death threats for Vista's coverage of the Freedumb Convoy and stations across the country had to deal with bomb threats and other forms of intimidation during that time.
- The convoy coverage, coupled with the onset of the Israel-Gaza conflict, put incredible stress on her and in December 2023, she voluntarily quit her job. She says she was subsequently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Unfortunately, the interview is dotted with several largely pointless interventions from both Cross and Blundell and the language may offend some PG-13 viewers/listeners. However, Gray offers some good insights into the state of radio today and her thoughts on what's happening to small media outlets across the country are worth considering.

 

April 25, 2024 9:44 am  #2


Re: If you've got some time on your hands...

Wendy Gray is always worth your time. A journalist with integrity...a rare commodity these days.