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Former CHCH News V.P. Decries Shrinking Sources Of Local News
John Best ran the newsroom at CHCH for 14 years. In a year-end lookback, he worries about the future of local news with the loss of the Metroland Newspapers, the decline in radio, such as CHML, and the feeling that his old stomping ground, Channel 11, should be doing more to fill the gap - if it can.
"CHML, which still operates a solid local newsroom, nonetheless also lost local coverage capabilities with the replacement of the Bill Kelly show—a strong local meeting place of ideas, until it was forced to also cater to a London audience a couple of years ago; now with a show based in Toronto that has to make itself relevant to all three Markets served by Corus—Toronto, Hamilton and London. The loss is offset partially by a strong locally focused morning show on ML."
My take: Local news took a big hit in Hamilton and the GTA in 2023
- Carl Patrick
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Re: Former CHCH News V.P. Decries Shrinking Sources Of Local News
While the tsunami of consolidation has left a scarred earth in its wake, technological change, the lifting of market ownership restrictions, and the end to the Fairness Doctrine, among other things, made those changes inevitable. It is truly sad that many of my former colleagues have had their lives upended in its wake but as we all know, the industry not driven by those with any kind of altruistic vision. The reality is the "good old days" are gone and it's pointless to lament their passing. Adapt or die. If you want change, start lobbying for it. Every individual has the power to change things. Whether we use it is completely up to us.