Canadian Radio 680
35 Victoria Street
Toronto, Ontario M5C 1H3
www.680news.com
Like National Public Radio, Canada's own all-news station, Canadian 680, churns out the news every hour, twice or more on the hour. The show combines live sound clips with news to give it a "3-D" effect, according to Rudy Blair, the entertainment editor and sound editor.
Although the radio show is trying to reach out to a wider range of listeners, it is mostly heard by 18-to 45-year-old white males. But female listenership is on the upswing, so don't limit your pitches to males only.
HOW IT WORKS
The station follows a basic news format, updating headline news and sports twice hourly. Traffic is updated every 10 minutes and features air several times a day. The station delivers hard news, accompanied by trends and entertainment. More and more, content is tailored to meet the need of the increasing female listenership.
"We're always trying to pick up the latest trends and what's interesting to listeners," says Blair, who just finished an interview with singer/songwriter Natalie Merchant, to air sometime this week. "We try to get ahead - develop things going on."
WHAT TO PITCH
Pitches need not be limited to hard news. About 20 percent of the show's content is feature stories and human interest content.
While important issues such as health-related pitches might take precedence, anything goes.
For example, a story on how to pick up somebody at a club might interest listeners, and it gives the show's content developers a chance to add clips of dance music to make the story more appealing.
Even seemingly mundane news items can have great potential, if you pitch them right. Blair says a story about the Canadian Transit System's seat size shrinkage (or butt size increase) was a recent feature.
WHO TO CONTACT
Pitch news stories, trends and the like to Stephanie Smyth, news director. Faxed pitches to 416/363-2387 are preferred. Or call 416/872-6397, if it's a pressing, current topic.
COMMENTS
Content developers in the news department meet three times a day to brainstorm the show's ongoing content.
If you're not familiar with what goes on north of the border and are hesitant about pitching our red-leaf neighbor, don't worry.
Blair says listeners (and show developers) see Canada as just another state and are very interested in what goes on our side of the turf.
680 News is the only station in Toronto affiliated with CNN, which contributes good scoops.