Canadian Broadcast Corp.
CBC Network TV News: P.O. Box 500,
Station A, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5W1E6
Editor's Note: Everyday, Canadian Broadcast Corp. TV is the source of news for millions across the globe and because of that, it's an immense operation, to which it's not easy to gain entree. We encountered every kind of barrier - from being put on hold for 10 minutes by customer service to calling an editor at the exact time we were told to phone, only to be told he picked up a call on his portable phone. We advise you to come armed with a lot of patience.
| SECTIONS | EDITOR | DAYS TO CONTACT/ DAYS TO AVOID | METHODS | COMMENTS |
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Domestic News Even though the emphasis is breaking news that focuses on issues affecting Canada, that doesn't mean that an international or American tie-in precludes you from getting coverage. What CBC's network TV news journalists weave together has a very serious slant (health/ social/ political debates and issues). There are other formats, such as Life Signs and Future World that are more feature-based. |
Domestic Assignment Producer David Gollob Fax: 416/205-7459 |
Finding a good or bad day or a good or bad time is about as easy as taking the French influence out of Canada. Generally, the early part of Gollob's day is filled with gelling show content, and his afternoons are filled with troubleshooting. He deals with hundreds of reporters, producers and editors at multiple sites. | You'll want to send faxes and you won't want to pitch a story over the phone. "I don't like to be pitched out of the blue," says Gollob. "But that doesn't mean I want PR people to stop sending us faxes. We may not have an immediate need for something but later on we may want to know that Company A exists if we're doing a story on electronic data interfaces." | Brevity and swiftness count for a lot, but what matters the most is that you're schooled about CBC's programs. Don't send a fluff piece to the hard-news hunters or send a financial blurb to those who are interested in healthcare breakthroughs. (That may seem like simple advice, but CBC execs indicate that some PR pros aren't doing the background work that's needed to be an asset, not an encroacher.) Remember, CBC is a decentralized operation and you should spend some time tracking down the right people. |
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Documentaries, "The National" Magazine According to descriptions by CBC execs, this program is similar to "Nightline" and addresses issues in a news, not entertainment, format. Recent coverage includes (or will include) the Japanese economy and the Pope's visit to Cuba. |
Senior Editor (Documen- taries) Michael Claydon Fax: 416/205-6759 |
Everyday's a toss-up in planning and managing news flow. This is a daily news magazine and a flagship program for CBC, and it's a crap-shoot when it comes to predicting what production problems they'll be troubleshooting and what schedule constraints might surface. | Send faxes, but Claydon cautions to make sure you're forwarding the right news to the right producers and editors. They do, however, adhere to the protocol of passing things on. | "It's a big waste of my time to be spending it on the phone with follow-up calls," says Claydon. "Most of the faxes that are sent to me should be specific to a story" - and not unsolicited. Unless, of course, it's really juicy stuff and you're sure they can't live without it. We promise you: there's nothing worse than making a busy editor or harried producer carve out a moment to hear what you have to say (or scan over a pitch) and then have them learn that your idea wasn't time-sensitive. |
Editorial Contacts At Canadian Broadcast Corporation
Main Number - 416/205-6300
Domestic Assignment Producer - David Gollob 416/205-6301, Fax: 416/205-7459
Foreign Assignment Editor - Brien Christie 416/205-6301, Fax: 416/205-7459
Executive Producer of News Gathering, CBC Main Channel - George Hoff, 416/205-6300
Executive Producer of CBC Newsworld - Jay Mowat, 416/205-6300
Executive Producer of CBC Newsworld International Satellite Channel - Sandy McKean, 416/205-6300
Senior Producer, "The National" (News) - Cynthia Kinch, 416/205-6300
Executive Producer, "The National" (Magazine) - Jim Williamson, 416/205-6300
Senior Producer, "The National" (Magazine) - Jon Whitten, 416/205-6300
Senior Editor, "The National" (Magazine) - Michael Claydon, 416/205-6300
Senior Producer, "Saturday Reporter" & "Sunday Report" - Hedy Korbee, 416/205-6300
Executive Producer, "The Health Show" - Sophia Hadzipetros, 416/205-2301
Producer, "Life Signs", Newsworld - Lorna Sandberg, 403/521-6030
Producer, "Future World," Newsworld - Andrew Johnson, 416/205-8891
Executive Producer, "Street Sense," CBC Halifax - Barbara Kennedy, 902/420-4166