Sun News elicits most Canadian Broadcast Standards Council complaints in history

[alebowgm]

From The Star this morning...

Canadian Broadcast Standards Council national chairman Ron Cohen says his organization has received more than 4,100 complaints about a June 1 interview between host Krista Erickson and Quebec-born dancer Margie Gillis.

The council typically receives about 2,000 complaints in an entire year.

“It’s the most individual complaints we’ve received about a single incident,” said Cohen in a telephone interview from Ottawa on Tuesday, noting that the number is only surpassed if petitions are included.

In fact, the council issued a release Tuesday asking Canadians to stop sending in complaints because the volume of letters already exceeds the council’s resources.

During the interview in question, Erickson quizzed Gillis about whether it was appropriate that she receive government grants to support her dance work.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/a...-watchdog?bn=1

[hugh]

Part two where the host becomes really obnoxious



I had to stop watching.

A host saying " I don't understand where you get off..."

Incredibly unprofessional.

who is Krista Erickson anyway? (never heard of her before this morning)

[hugh]

Googled:

She's a Sunshine Girl
http://www.torontosun.com/sunshine-g...1/04/18/krista )

[Cyclism]

She also gained notoriety for feeding questions to Liberal MP Pablo Rodriguez about Brian Mulroney's connection to the current Conservative Party, which Rodriguez asked Mulroney during the Mulroney/Schreiber inquiry over the Airbus affair.

[billpaidJr]

I was more upset about the fact that lady has received over 1 million in arts funding... I am obviously in the wrong profession.

[magnet]

I doubt that all 4100 complainers actually watched the interview live.

The audience number for Sun News is, on average, 12,900 viewers. In the target demographic of viewers its advertisers are most often trying to reach – adults aged 25 to 54 – Sun News reaches an average of roughly 4,000 viewers.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe...rticle2049522/

[hugh]

Youtube Video has 8,700 views so I'm sure that some watched that.

What I find ironic here is that Krista's job is dependent on the massive amounts of government handouts and special priveledges given to her employer (Quebecor) for its newspapers, radio, tv stations etc.

People in glass houses really shouldn't throw rocks.

[ScaryBob]

I was more upset about the fact that lady has received over 1 million in arts funding...

That's less than $100,000 per year for funding a foundation, dance troupe and personal grants. That's not a lot of money. It's far less than many other publicly funded groups and individuals receive. It's less than some MPP's receive as a lifelong pension after serving a similar length of time in office. (Up to $140,000 per year starting at age 55.)

IMHO, public funding is also quite reasonable in light of the fact that she and the foundation's artists represent Canada in international competitions and on world tours. If you compare that to some other publicly funded institutions that represent Canada, it's quite a bargain. (For example, it costs Canadians over $50 million a year to fund the Governor General's office.)

Regardless of whether you think public funding of the arts is appropriate or not, Erickson's conduct was atrocious.

[billpaidJr]

its a slippery slope when we fund things like this...everyone feels entitled to tax money for being in the arts. Then we get into debates about what is art and what is not.

I feel if its something worth while then it can sustain itself without handouts...or maybe I should just start my new art career and apply

In regards to her conduct...its her show and she can do what she wants with it. I saw nothing wrong with the discussion and if that is how she wanted to handle the guest its her prerogative... we all have remotes. We have no right to judge her "art" hehe...

[ScaryBob]

Margie Gillis represents and promotes Canada favorably around the world. That's enough for me. Artists do not get paid for rehearsals or for participating in international competitions. Maybe you want to withdraw funding for Olympic athletes as well. I don't agree.

[billpaidJr]

I think the discussion is about people being upset at how the reporter treated her guest and the complaints that followed.

But i see how things always go back to what is worthy of public funding and what is not. My values are never everyone's values. Hopefully the taxpayer got its money's worth from her service.

[hugh]

I think the discussion is about people being upset at how the reporter treated her guest and the complaints that followed.

Thank-you for getting us back on topic

Please let's focus on the complaint and NOT whether we should or should not subsidize the arts or specialty channels etc.

[alebowgm]

My bigger problem is with the CBSC saying to stop send in complaints. That is their job!

[hugh]

CBSC is simply an association paid for by the industry. It's rulings aren't binding and toothless. Clearly the industry doesn't give them much money either!

If people have complaints about what they see and hear on our airwaves they should send them to the CRTC.

[tvlurker]

Originally Posted by hugh

If people have complaints about what they see and hear on our airwaves they should send them to the CRTC.

Which will send them back to the CBSC, AFAIK.