The timing of this is simply amazing to me. The reason: it was less than a week ago that I was having a conversation with an old colleague of mine about this very newscaster. He works for a major wire service and is generally appalled by what David McKee is allowed to get away with. I have to admit that I’m of the same opinion on most occasions. (And no, neither of us filed this gripe, in case you were wondering.)
 
That’s why this coincidence stopped me in my tracks. While I don’t disagree with McKee’s opinion about U.S. streaming services being forced by the government to air CanCon, I do concur it didn’t belong in his newscast. If you take the time to read the decision, which makes for a fascinating few minutes, you can see how badly CFRB bungled this entire complaint.
 
They first got the time of the newscast in question wrong, hoping it would get them off the hook by claiming the 6 PM half hour was clearly labelled "news and views." When that didn’t work and the complainant pointed out it was the 5 PM full newscast he was talking about, they had the nerve to say McKee’s sarcastic comment wasn’t actually part of the newscast, and he was just setting up a voicer by someone else. That’s a leap of logic that only one of our non-answering politicians in Ottawa could love.
 
Still, 'RB lost the appeal and will have to air the following announcement four times, including at least once in prime time.
 
“The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has found that CFRB breached the Canadian Association of Broadcasters’ Code of Ethics and the Radio Television Digital News Association of Canada’s Code of Journalistic Ethics. In a newscast on December 17, 2019 at 5:00pm, the newsreader inserted his editorial opinion into a news report without identifying it as such. This is contrary to Clause 5 of the CAB Code and Article 2 of the RTNDA Code.”
 
So is this the end of Mr. High Hilarity's high jinks? Unlikely. It costs 'RB nothing to air this mea culpa and from what I’ve heard, the PD brought McKee to Toronto from CJAD when he left Montreal because he liked his style. So expect no apologies beyond the above text and the same irreverence to continue.
 
Jack Dennett must be turning over in his grave. Ontario’s Authoritative News Voice, indeed.   

Tickle Trunk wrote:

But it has me listening. And after all, that's what the PD wants. Mission accomplished.

Bread and circuses.

RadioActive wrote:

Tickle Trunk wrote:

maybe the millennials and their target audience actually likes this.

I'm honestly not sure how many millennials are tuning into CFRB on a regular basis, but hey, anything's possible.

We need to dial back the stereotypes here. That age is more informed than you think. Granted some of this influx of data comes from other sources but you'd be surprised.

Let's face it RB isn't targetted at most here. Frankly I'm not sure anyone actually likes any radio here after reading the ongoing vitriol. Sure Roger's oldie show captured some attention in its first couple of weeks and then, the critical dissection began.

But if yelling at the clouds helped anything . . . . . .

RadioAaron wrote:

The oldest millennials will be turning 40 next year.

Still, CFRB's path to growth in the short to medium term is staying relevant to 40-55 year olds.

Exactly. That's a minimum of 30-40 years younger than most here. 👴👵😉

Just heard the announcement required by the CBSC. It ran, appropriately enough, right after McKee's 5 PM news on Thursday. 

Chrisphen wrote:

while ignoring the bigger issue

What is "the bigger issue"? The fact that some garage dwelling troll is wasting the toothless CBSC's time or the fact that fogies want to relive Walter Cronkite's boring and staid delivery style?

You are more than welcome to do a 10 minute or more comedy act at my funeral. In fact, I'd like several people to tell jokes at my service. I want the drinks to be flowing as well. I want to kick off on a high note 🚬 and have people falling over with laughter. "He died as he lived". That's how I roll -- with a smirk on my face and not taking... Every. Damn. Thing. So. Seriously. I would put a picture of a clown here, but they scare every last hair from my armpits. 🤡