I've been seeing this more often that anyone should on CTV News of late - the camera lingering endlessly on a reporter even after he or she has signed off. Anyone who has ever been on TV can tell you even five seconds of a camera staying on you after you've finished is an eternity and very awkward - there's nothing you can do and nowhere to go except sit there and smile, desperately hoping they go to something - anything - else. 

Which is exactly what happened to two different on-air types on CTV's Toronto Noon News on Tuesday. They did a debrief with Scott Hurst on FIFA tickets, and when it was over, the camera stayed on a split screen between Hurst and anchor Michelle Dube. And stayed. And stayed. And stayed. It was only about six seconds. But it felt like forever. 

Hurst sat there relatively stoic as the camera lingered on him, while Dube waited for a shot change with a fake smile frozen on her face. They were supposed to switch to co-anchor Nathan Downer with the next story but for some reason, he didn't come up soon enough. 

It got so bad that Dube finally tried to wave goodbye to Hurst as the camera stubbornly focused on both of them longer than was comfortable. 

How does this happen so often on CFTO? Is it an issue with the switcher? A camera not in place? Chaos in the control room? I just don't get it but it occurs way too often and I'm sure the on-air types are not happy being hung out to dry.