We utilize this editor’s blog to elucidate our journalism standards and the current developments at CBC News. For more blogs, you can explore additional content on our website.
Our steadfast belief has always been in the importance of staying close to you — near your residence, your content consumption habits, your interests, your thought process, and your informational needs to ensure our relevance to Canadians. Proximity forms the cornerstone of our commitment to the audience at CBC News: “We are by your side every day, navigating our world together.”
Proximity is the avenue through which we establish trust and foster connections with you, our audience, even with those with whom our links may be limited. It serves as the catalyst for uncovering compelling narratives that demand attention and for facilitating a deeper comprehension of the Canadian landscape.
But what does this proximity entail at CBC News?
Firstly, we have expanded our digital presence to get closer to Canadians by engaging with the evolving platforms they use for local, national, and global news and current affairs. This ambition has steered our local streaming channel expansion and FAST strategy, our activities on YouTube, our array of local and national podcasts, our digital content dissemination, the significance of Gem, TikTok, and the integration of local Radio One streams on the news app, among other initiatives.
Secondly, we ensure our presence when it matters most. The authenticity of our commitment to proximity is tested during times of crisis that impact communities. Whether it’s snowstorms, wildfires, floods, or hurricanes, we stand in solidarity with the communities we serve, aiding them in comprehending unfolding events.
Thirdly, we manifest our presence physically and in real-life interactions. We are intensifying our community outreach, activations, and listening sessions. We are extending our program reach to all corners of Canada, exemplified by recent broadcasts such as The Current in Iqaluit and Morning Live with Heather Hiscox from various locations in Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec, and Ontario. Additionally, The Signal broadcasted live from the southern Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In January, we unveiled a significant expansion plan for local reporting, aiming to deliver enhanced coverage for communities deserving more attention from CBC and other media outlets, with a special focus on Western Canada. The fruition of this local service expansion is tangible today, with staff appointments, office rentals, and the production of compelling stories in progress.
Our objective with proximity is to genuinely serve these communities, fostering local connections and trust, one journalist and one story at a time.