Bell CEO: Lisa LaFlamme’s exit not related to age, gender or grey hair
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The choice to finish Lisa LaFlamme’s contract with CTV Nationwide Information had nothing to do along with her age, gender or gray hair, the pinnacle of Bell Media’s mum or dad firm stated.
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“The narrative has been that Lisa’s age, gender or gray hair performed into the choice,” Mirko Bibic, president and CEO of BCE Inc. & Bell Canada, wrote in a LinkedIn post.
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“I’m glad that this isn’t the case and needed to be sure you heard it from me.”
As an alternative, eradicating the longtime anchor displays large adjustments to conventional broadcasting in Canada, he stated.
“The times when viewers wait till 11 p.m. to get their information are gone,” Bibic stated. “Whereas some could resist change, it’s essential and we have to confront this … Bell Media wants to supply our journalists with the assets they want on all platforms the place information is consumed.”
His publish caps per week of rising fallout from LaFlamme’s departure that noticed Bell Media vice-president of reports Michael Melling take a depart from his job as of Friday.
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Melling has been the topic of “numerous allegations” and is on depart pending the result of a office assessment, Bibic stated.
“To deal with considerations raised relating to the working atmosphere within the newsroom we’ve begun an impartial assessment involving confidential interviews with all newsroom workers who select to take part,” he stated.
“Any essential adjustments that develop into evident might be carried out swiftly to make sure a respectful, unified office.”
In the meantime, an extended checklist of high-profile Canadian artists, politicians, enterprise leaders and philanthropists issued an open letter on Saturday condemning LaFlamme’s abrupt dismissal.
The letter, which appeared over two pages within the Globe and Mail’s weekend version, stated LaFlamme was an award-winning scores chief for the corporate “till one factor modified: the color of her hair.”
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“In making their ‘enterprise choice,’ Bell confirmed one unhappy reality: even after all of the progress ladies have made, they proceed to face sexism and ageism at work on a regular basis in a manner which is unacceptable,” stated the letter addressed to the board of administrators and administration of BCE and Bell Canada.
Bibic stated he wish to say extra on the Bell Media choice to finish LaFlamme’s contract however is “certain by a mutual separation settlement negotiated with Lisa, which we’ll proceed to honour.”
The controversy raised questions amongst media observers about whether or not sexism and ageism performed a job within the newsroom shakeup, and has sparked a reckoning of the continued gender discrimination ladies face within the office.
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LaFlamme, who has lined tales starting from wars and pure disasters to elections and the Olympics, introduced in an Aug. 15 video shared to social media that her contract had been terminated.
The longtime CTV Nationwide Information anchor stated she was blindsided by the corporate’s choice.
Bell Media stated terminating LaFlamme’s contract after 35 years was a enterprise choice, including the corporate needed to maneuver the chief information anchor position in a “totally different path.” Omar Sachedina has been tapped to take over the place.
LaFlamme has garnered sturdy social media assist since asserting her departure. Manufacturers corresponding to Wendy’s, Dove and Sports activities Illustrated have all publicly backed the 58-year-old journalist, who has been open about not dyeing her gray hair.
