Inside the "mind" of CBC
March 15, 2008 by Wendy Cooper
The National Post has a op-ed piece on the thinking that goes behind the doors at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Over lunch recently, a CBC television journalist outlined to me some of the stories she has put together for upcoming broadcasts. A segment of which she was particularly proud included an interview with the Chief Exorcist at the Vatican, and the increased frequency of demonic possession around the world. What excited her most about this segment was the date it was then scheduled to air: “I told my producer — we have to do it on Easter Sunday!”
I have not seen the interview in question. That said, I suggested to her that, on a day when millions of Canadians revere Christ’s triumph over death, it seems insensitive to broadcast an update on the devil’s progress.
“All right, then,” she answered with annoyance, “What would be on your approved list for CBC Sunday?”
Interesting, that. Always, we are told that the CBC is the people’s broadcaster, owned by all Canadians. Yet when I, a Canadian taxpayer, posit that a segment about demonic possession is inappropriate programming on the holiest day of the Christian calendar, the reflexive response is a who-do-you-think-you-are, sarcastic rejoinder, as though I should have no say in the matter.
Of course CBC also cancelled jPod
