Scenes from the media scene during COVID-19
Discover more from Twelve Thirty Six
Microphones attached to hockey sticks seem to be a thing at CTV, as old-school newscasts appear to be in demand again. Self-isolated Global anchor Farah Nasser has been broadcasting from her backyard. But with nothing much for the sports channels to show live for a while, the entire Raptors championship run is getting re-rolled.
Can’t stop a CBC controversy
Local newscasts are largely on pause at CBC Television, in favour of a wider simulcast of CBC News Network programming. The public broadcaster defended the decision, partly due to “much stricter newsgathering protocols” at CBCNN. Retired reporter Neil Macdonald views the move as CBC using COVID-19 to ultimately kill local TV news.
Halifax’s alt-weekly says COVID-19 has pushed it to stop the presses. The Coast has halted a 27-year print run and laid off nearly 20 people, but hopes to maintain a website. Meanwhile, the cover of Toronto’s Now Magazine, about the psychology of panic shopping, originated from Vancouver, via its newly co-owned Georgia Straight.
Scarfing social distances down
Toronto’s chief medical officer, Eileen de Villa, laid down her definition of social distancing: no coffee invitations or child play dates, let alone inviting friends over for dinner. It’s also made somebody on Twitter restless enough to create this account:
Finally, wrestling with reality
Vice has put its nightly news show on hiatus, delaying the effort to have its journalism taken more seriously—a pivot from the original Viceland channel concept. But one series that prevailed from its Canadian studio, Dark Side of the Ring, is coming back sooner, with a two-hour special on the tragic story of Canadian wrestler Chris Benoit: