Lisa LaFlamme, CTV Information, and Unhealthy Govt Selections

There can be no bittersweet on-air goodbye for (now former) CTV nationwide information anchor Lisa LaFlamme, no ceremonial passing of the baton to the subsequent era, no broadcast retrospectives lionizing a journalist with a storied and award-winning profession. As LaFlamme introduced yesterday, CTV’s dad or mum firm, Bell Media, has determined to unilaterally finish her contract. (See additionally the CBC’s reporting of the story right here.)

Whereas LaFlamme herself doesn’t make this declare, there was in fact quick hypothesis that the community’s determination has one thing to do with the truth that LaFlamme is a lady of a sure age. LaFlamme is 58, which by TV requirements isn’t precisely younger — besides if you evaluate it to the age at which standard males who proceeded her have left their respective anchor’s chairs: contemplate Peter Mansbridge (who was 69), and Lloyd Robertson (who was 77).

However an much more sinister principle is now afoot: moderately than mere, shallow misogyny, proof has arisen of not simply sexism, however sexism conjoined with company interference in newscasting. Two evils for the worth of 1! LaFlamme was fired, says journalist Jesse Brown, “as a result of she pushed again towards one Bell Media govt.” Brown experiences insiders as claiming that Michael Melling, vice chairman of reports at Bell Media, has bumped heads with LaFlamme a lot of instances, and has a historical past of interfering with information protection. Brown additional experiences that “Melling has constantly demonstrated an absence of respect for girls in senior roles within the newsroom.”

For sure, even when a private grudge plus sexism clarify what’s occurring, right here, it nonetheless will appear to most as a “silly determination,” one positive to trigger the corporate complications. Now, I make it a coverage to not query the enterprise savvy of skilled executives in industries I don’t know nicely. And I counsel my college students to not leap to the conclusion that “that was a dumb determination” simply because it’s one they don’t perceive. However nonetheless, in 2022, it’s exhausting to think about that the corporate (or Melling extra particularly) didn’t see that there can be blowback on this case. It’s one factor to have disagreements, nevertheless it’s one other to unceremoniously dump a beloved and award-winning lady anchor. And it’s weird {that a} senior govt at a information group would assume that the reality wouldn’t come out, provided that, in any case, he’s surrounded by individuals whose job, and private dedication, is to report the information.

And it’s exhausting to not suspect that this a lower than glad transition for LaFlamme’s alternative, Omar Sachedina. In fact, I’m positive he’s glad to get the job. However whereas Bell Media’s press launch quotes Sachedina saying swish issues about LaFlamme, absolutely he didn’t wish to assume the anchor chair amidst widespread criticism of the transition. He’s taking over the function below a shadow. Maybe the prize is well worth the value, nevertheless it’s additionally exhausting to not think about that Sachedina had (or now has) some pull, some potential to affect that method of the transition. I’m not saying (as some absolutely will) that — as an insider who is aware of the true story — he ought to have declined the job as ill-gotten features. However on the very least, it appears honest to argue that he ought to have used his affect to form the transition. And if the now-senior anchor doesn’t have that form of affect, we must be anxious certainly in regards to the independence of that function, and of that newsroom.

A closing, associated observe about authority and governance in complicated organizations. In any moderately well-governed group, the choice to axe a significant, public-facing expertise like LaFlamme would require sign-off — or a minimum of tacit approval — from multiple senior govt. This implies that one in every of two issues is true. Both Bell Media isn’t that form of well-governed group, or a lot of individuals have been concerned in, and culpable of, unceremoniously dumping an award-winning journalist. Which is worse?