"Why I quit my job" - TV reporter's job-quitting manifesto goes viral

[LChoy]

I thought this article might be good to generate some quality discussion on CP.
A journalist take on the state of Journalism in Canada

http://kainagata.com/2011/07/08/why-i-quit-my-job/


Highlights:

• I admit felt a profound discomfort working in an industry that so casually sexualizes its workforce. Every hiring decision is scrutinized using a skewed, unspoken ratio of talent to attractiveness, where attractiveness often compensates for a glaring lack of other qualifications.
• Underneath this lies the fact that information is a commodity, and private TV networks are supposed to make money. All stations, publicly funded or not, want to maintain or expand their viewership. This is what I’ll call the elephant in the room.
• On a weekend where there was real news happening in Bangkok, Misrata, Athens, Washington, and around the world, what we saw instead was a breathless gaggle of normally credible journalists, gushing in live hit after live hit about how the prince is young and his wife is pretty.
• Canada has no Jon Stewart to unravel their ideology and act as a counterweight. Our satirists are toothless and boring, with the notable exception of Jean-René Dufort. And on the more serious side, we have no Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow. So I don’t see any true debate within the media world itself, in the sense of a national, public clash of ideas.
• the people who are supposed to be holding decision makers to account are instead broadcasting useless tripe, or worse, stories that actively distract from the massive projects we need to be tackling instead of watching TV.

[Daradon]

Have to argue with the fourth point, at least the point of it. I mean yeah, our satirists in Canada aren't as good, and I love Stewart and Colbert, but I'm not sure how much they're changing the conversation or industry. Journalism in the States appears to be in an even worse state than Canada. CNN is ALL about sensationalism to improve ratings, and Fox isn't even an option, and has zero credibility. Olbermann and Maddow, while not nearly as bad as Beck or O'Reilly, have pretty obvious leanings themselves and aren't what I would point to as great insight or debate. At least, not often.

I do agree that journalism has declined rapidly and constantly over the last 30-40 years, and more obviously and quickly during the news channel revolution, due to a search for ratings. And that while we are not at the level of garbage as America, we don't have a lot to be proud of either and there are some big problems.

South Park actually has a pretty clever episode addressing the media doomed to fail as ratings become more and more important.

I do think that having a CBC or BBC or publicly funded organization does help, but it is prone to problems too, just not as quick or defined as a private station.

[sa226]

To follow up on the fourth point, the closest thing we may have is Rick Mercer, he has the best chance of becoming that.

But he is buried on a outdated network with a low budget and a crappy time slot. If he was given the chance he could be Canada's version of Stewart.

He has the talent and the recognizability (?) but he just needs the opportunity.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by sa226

To follow up on the fourth point, the closest thing we may have is Rick Mercer, he has the best chance of becoming that.

But he is buried on a outdated network with a low budget and a crappy time slot. If he was given the chance he could be Canada's version of Stewart.

He has the talent and the recognizability (?) but he just needs the opportunity.

Agreed. Needs to be on more often too. Isnt he only on every Tuesday or something?

[crazy_eoj]

Canada has been dominated by a left leaning publicly funded news network for most of it's history. It's not by chance there is no popular and left leaning satirist to respond to what has been over history a dominating left wing viewpoint.

In fact, one could easily argue Sun News is the first 'counterwieght' to the majority editorial stance across most of Canadian news' past, although Canwest probably could be argued as well.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

Canada has been dominated by a left leaning publicly funded news network for most of it's history. It's not by chance there is no popular and left leaning satirist to respond to what has been over history a dominating left wing viewpoint.

In fact, one could easily argue Sun News is the first 'counterwieght' to the majority editorial stance across most of Canadian news' past, although Canwest probably could be argued as well.

As much as I think the Sun is a rag, I think there is some truth to this. A satirist is much less needed here.

I do get a little out of joint when people say Canada has been dominated by left leaning news though. I mean, I guess if your comparing it to the states, yes that is a fair statement. But I think it's unfair to compare to just the states. If you look at other most western nations (possible exceptions being Britain and Australia, to which I think we're pretty close to the same) Canada is to the right of them in policy and from what I know, or what I can assume, journalism as well.

Therefore, I would argue, that when taken in the context of our own left/right dicotomy, or a western world view, our media is not as left leaning as one would think, and has had it's periods leaning both ways.

I know people like to think in terms of idealogical absolutes, but those just don't exist. A better way to compare the overused and undescriptive left/right spectrum is to compare with actual countries or cases. At least in my thinking anyway.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I admit felt a profound discomfort working in an industry that so casually sexualizes its workforce. Every hiring decision is scrutinized using a skewed, unspoken ratio of talent to attractiveness, where attractiveness often compensates for a glaring lack of other qualifications.

I don't want to pull a moon here but welcome to every single female TSN, ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX etc sideline reporter and personality.

I'm sure it is just a coincidence that every single female employee for one of those networks just happens to be gorgeous. I'm sure they've all been huge sports fans since birth. Now I don't want to suggest none of the female personalities know anythign about sports, but lets be realistic, a lot of them didn't get those positions because of their wealth of knowledge about sports.

[TorqueDog]

Rick Mercer would kill if he wasn't stuck where he was. Better time-slot, better network and frequent (ie: daily) episodes a la Jon Stewart would be amazing.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I don't want to pull a moon here but welcome to every single female TSN, ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX etc sideline reporter and personality.

I'm sure it is just a coincidence that every single female employee for one of those networks just happens to be gorgeous. I'm sure they've all been huge sports fans since birth. Now I don't want to suggest none of the female personalities know anythign about sports, but lets be realistic, a lot of them didn't get those positions because of their wealth of knowledge about sports.

They got their positions because they were featured quite sexually on a little show called "Lofters". I remember seeing Carolyn Jarvis getting her bikini waxed on that show (in blurred out fashion of course).

[Muta]

Bunch of complainers. I don't need my female sportscasters knowledgeable; that's my job to be knowledgeable. That's my job as a fan. That's why teh interwebz exists.

I just need them to be hot on TV verifying what I already know.

[troutman]

A friend of mine worked at a small town radio station. He asked for a modest raise - the employer asked why he should get a raise. My friend produced his shoes with holes in the soles, and said he can't afford new shoes. His request for a raise was denied, so he left the shoes on the desk, and drove home in his socks.

[SeeBass]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

I don't want to pull a moon here but welcome to every single female TSN, ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX etc sideline reporter and personality.

I'm sure it is just a coincidence that every single female employee for one of those networks just happens to be gorgeous. I'm sure they've all been huge sports fans since birth. Now I don't want to suggest none of the female personalities know anythign about sports, but lets be realistic, a lot of them didn't get those positions because of their wealth of knowledge about sports.

I agree most of them now are ex beauty pagent girls.

My example for brains over looks is Candy Crowley with CNN she is not attractive at all but when she is on I know she must have something worth saying or she would not be on at all.

[puckluck]

Did this guy not watch the news before he decided to get into the business? Not a lot has changed.

Edit: After reading the article it seems like he actually didn't.

[troutman]

I've said this before, but it is interesting watching the news in Germany. Journalists were hired on merit, so you didn't have all these Ken and Barbie types doing the news. I don't know if that has changed in the last 10 years.

[Komskies]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

They got their positions because they were featured quite sexually on a little show called "Lofters". I remember seeing Carolyn Jarvis getting her bikini waxed on that show (in blurred out fashion of course).

Not to mention the video of Jennifer Hedger making out with another woman. Good stuff in that video.

[Yasa]

Isn't this the entire plot behind Anchorman?

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by Komskies

Not to mention the video of Jennifer Hedger making out with another woman. Good stuff in that video.

There was also a moment when Jennifer Hedger was reviewing a vibrator on that sex show the women broadcast.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by sa226

To follow up on the fourth point, the closest thing we may have is Rick Mercer, he has the best chance of becoming that.

But he is buried on a outdated network with a low budget and a crappy time slot. If he was given the chance he could be Canada's version of Stewart.

He has the talent and the recognizability (?) but he just needs the opportunity.

He just needs to be funny...


Oh, and it was an anti-Harper rant loosely masked as a statement on journalism. He's upset that the modicum of impartiality imposed on him as a "journalist" leaves him unable to pontificate on the evils of Harper. Well, now he can have at it and a pretty good first cut, too...

[SeeBass]

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heaven forbid that there is a huge battle right now over the debt ceiling that MAY destroy the world economy

[Barnet Flame]

You want to see the train wreck that is journalism in the UK right now.