paulcrosstoronto’s Podcast

Today: Why are we making No Embargo?

Introduction: Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross discuss why we’re making this series No Embargo and how we hope it has value to the listener.  Trevor is a public relations specialist.  Paul is a veteran news broadcaster.  Through our professional and career perspectives we unfilter news and spin examining how some issues come to be in the news, how they’re covered and communicated in the news, and the communications approaches or strategies that may be at play in how they become news.

No Embargo - Unfiltering news and spin

Commentary and analysis. Opinions are our own. 

Today: Remembering September 11, 2001. 

From September 9, 2026. Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross remember the moment they heard about the tragic events in New York and how newsrooms and the public reacted.

This episode contains additional material not included in this week's No Embargo Advance Episode 7.

Commentary and analysis. Opinions are our own. 

No Embargo - Unfiltering news and spin

Coming soon wherever you get your podcasts

Today: Our first grab-bag of current issues including the trade situation, recent by-election outcomes, a shout-out for good news coverage, and a start at remembering 9-11.

From September 9, 2026.

No Embargo - Unfiltering news and spin

Commentary and analysis.  Opinions are our own. More episodes coming soon with our official launch -- wherever you get your podcasts.

Today: Is it a trade war? And how much of it is news?

From September 2, 2026.  As Canada and the United States struggle to re-negotiate a free trade deal, the dispute is being commonly referred to in the news across various platforms as a "trade war".

Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross question whether that's an accurate or appropriate description of the situation and examine news judgement around how the story is being framed and reported.

No Embargo 

Commentary and analysis.  More episodes coming soon, wherever you get your podcasts.

We're getting closer to the formal launch of our new podcast series No Embargo.

Today: To block -- or not to block -- a data centre

From August 5, 2026: Plans and proposals to build data centres in various communities are sparking controversy. But is the concern more acute because people equate the centres with negative aspects of AI - Artificial Intelligence?

While digging into one case currently in the news in Canada, Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross discover there are other data centres already in operation nearby. Why aren't they in the news? Is it successful communication; a communication failure; or is local news media missing the stories?

No Embargo: the podcast featuring a public relations professional and a radio news pro. Media literacy, narrative strategy, and behind‑the‑scenes truth‑telling from two insiders who unpack how stories develop - honest talk, nothing held back. 

Commentary and analysis.  More episodes coming soon, wherever you get your podcasts.

As Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross move closer to the full launch of the No Embargo podcast here's your latest taste of what's coming.

No Embargo: the podcast featuring a public relations professional and a radio news pro. Media literacy, narrative strategy, and behind‑the‑scenes truth‑telling from two insiders who unpack how stories develop - honest talk, nothing held back. 

Today: A public relations worker interrupts a radio interview heard across the country.

From July 29, 2026: What's memorable about a national radio interview on As It Happens on CBC Radio is not the responses of an Ontario cabinet minister being asked about perceived issues with communication to communities affected by forest fires. Instead, it's the moment when a communications staff member interrupts the interview and abruptly shuts it down.  

Commentary and analysis.

The CBC story linked here includes the full audio, as it was heard over the radio on July 21, 2026. https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/jill-dunlop-as-it-happens-9.7279725

Coming soon wherever you get your podcasts: No Embargo

Here's another taste of what's coming soon as Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross prepare to launch No Embargo - the podcast featuring a public relations professional and a radio news pro. 

Media literacy, narrative strategy, and behind‑the‑scenes truth‑telling from two insiders who unpack how stories develop - honest talk, nothing held back: No Embargo.

Today: a good news story from summer 2026

From July 20, 2026:  Millions of people across Canada and around the world are talking about the hottest music sensation of the moment - Angine de Poitrine. The costumed duo from Quebec is taking the world by storm, show after show, and clip after clip. Is mainstream media catching the story and the phenomenon that's spreading over social media? Is their appearance in each community being recognized as newsworthy? Can they get their music played on the radio?

Commentary and analysis.

Coming soon wherever you get your podcasts: No Embargo

Teaser from Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross

No Embargo. Coming soon, wherever you get podcasts.

Coming soon from Trevor Campbell and Paul Cross: No Embargo

Today:  What’s next after the death of six radio stations

From July 10, 2026: Trevor and Paul take a deep dive on what could happen next now that six information-oriented radio stations owned by one corporation have been shut down and taken off the air.  In some of the affected cities that radio station was the only all-news or news and talk station in the market. As the public outcry builds on social media and local business and municipal leaders recognize the loss, where is the broadcast regulator? The Canadian Radio-Television Telecommunications Commission – the CRTC – is silent so far.

Commentary and analysis.

Coming soon, wherever you get podcasts.

On 25 years of indifference.  On the 25th anniversary of a targeted murder of a young Black man by a racist white gang, during a public celebration in a municipal park, a look back, and links to related resources. I have found no recognition of the story at all today, in a search across news media sites and social media.  It was what I perceived as local news media failings that got me started in pursuit of the story back in May 2001.  Uses original audio from my archives.

The documentary I refer to in this episode originally was posted here in 2021.  NOTE: Language and the story itself may be triggering. 

https://paulcrosstoronto.podbean.com/e/cross-talk-extra-the-erasure-of-race-the-murder-of-howard-joel-munroe-part-1-a-killing-in-the-park-documentary/

The other resources I refer to are posted in Podbean at The Erasure of Race: The murder of Howard Joel Munroe.  Intended as an educational resource.

https://theerasureofrace.podbean.com