Rhino’s Ramblings - The CBC Is A Coming
By Robert Thomas Opinion/Commentary
It came as quite a shock to many people in this community the announcement by CBC that they will be setting up a bureau in the city of Moose Jaw.
The move is part of a plan by the CBC to service communities without sufficient numbers of media outlets and underserved members of those communities.
I did a little bit of research and what I found out is that what the CBC is aiming for is a youth centric, New Canadian centric as well as indigenous centric coverage.
Groups that they say are not watching or reading the news or not being part of the news.
That for me is good news.
If those not covered are finally covered especially if it is on the provincial and even the national news level would be astounding.
The youth centric part has me intrigued as it’s where a lot of this publication has thrown its efforts into.
To encourage and report on the kids so maybe they get more involved in the positive stuff and not the bad things we as a community often see as growing. The ugliness that has invaded Moose Jaw.
It’s basically a philosophy of keep the kids busy with something organized and they’ll stay away from the bad stuff that will get them into trouble.
Get the kids reading about themselves or collecting photos and it will hopefully expand their interests of what’s going on.
The philosophy is that simple.
I’m hoping once I’m gone that the CBC will be youth centric like their announcement stated and they’ll not just take over my level of coverage but actually improve it.
That’s my biggest hope.
Thir thing is I hope they don’t just offer freelancers if they use them bottom of the barrel bylines. You know the freelancers names at the bottom and of course in smaller print.
But they actually pay people freelancing rate if they have them help them out. Same thing with photo submissions pay a $100 not just give credit.
I make this comment basically because their union has stated that freelancer should be paid a good liveable rate if they’re not gonna do that why would anybody want to help them and a buy line just isn’t gonna pay the bills.
On a personal note I’ve been hoping to finally hang up the skates for medical reasons. Hoping someone will take over the beat and improve it.
I’ve been trying to do so but I’ve continually been asked not to. For some reason I say no I won’t shut down.
It’s really tough to suddenly stop something you’ve put a lot of effort into and people keep asking you for.
I’m hoping the CBC is prepared to put in more of the time and effort the kids and readers of this deserve.
All I can say is when you’ve literally have a dying heart it can be difficult at times. But you soldier on.
Perhaps the CBC will have an enough heart and care enough to pick it up.
I’m certain there are a lot of people in Moose Jaw who have no use for the CBC. Their perceived focus on the news is one targeting left wing and liberal issues.
Something a lot of people who read MJ Independent are loathe of. The perceived left wing bias of the Corporation.
On the other hand the CBC is promising Moose Jaw and area with a window to national news and the attention - whether good or bad - the city deserves.
Who knows maybe they’ll crack into some of the dark corners in the intersection of Main Street and Fairford Street. Perhaps a reporter from out of town looking to move on to bigger and better things is just what they need.
I can’t tell you how long until the CBC gets here but what I can tell you is that they have certainly already drawn a lot of controversy.