On sports betting ads during play-by-play broadcasts. From May 4, 2023. The preponderance of advertising for sports betting apps -- including apps that let a gambler bet on a game in progress -- is changing the experience of watching live sports such as NHL Hockey.  And it may be having an impact on how young viewers perceive the game and their favourite players.  Commentary.  For educational purposes.  Makes fair dealing use of bits of audio from commercials and branded content aired on Hockey Night in Canada on CBC-TV and SportsNet tv April 29th, 2023.

On getting caught in the act of staging fake news.  From April 27, 2023 - examining a broadcast of March 19th. If you're going to brand your show as documentary, and title an episode "Fake News?" extra care may be required.  In the age of "fake news" a legitimate show needs to be sure its content is watertight.  So when The Circus on HBO gets called out by a source of "fake news" for staging something, that's a serious problem.  Commentary and analysis. For educational purposes. Makes fair dealing use of audio from the March 19, 2023 episode of The Circus.

In advance of World Radio Day 2023 - February 13th.  The UNESCO theme for World Radio Day this year is Radio and Peace. That seems to have some resonance with students in my RAMP 5504 Program Making - Radio Lab class in the graduate certificate Radio and Media Production program at Humber College in Toronto.  Listen in on our roundtable discussion as the students bring their stories and perspectives to radio's contributions toward peace through emergency communication; comfort and companionship and inner peace; information about LGBTQ+ issues and rights and more.  Part 2 of 2; part one is in Episode 2. From February 8, 2023. Recorded on a Rode Rodecaster podcast kit at the college. #WorldRadioDay

In advance of World Radio Day 2023 - February 13th.  The UNESCO theme for World Radio Day this year is Radio and Peace. That seems to have some resonance with students in my RAMP 5504 Program Making - Radio Lab class in the graduate certificate Radio and Media Production program at Humber College in Toronto.  Listen in on our roundtable discussion as the students bring their stories and perspectives to radio's contributions toward peace through radio drama, music, crisis communication, disaster relief information and more.  Part 1 of 2; part two follows in Episode 3. From February 8, 2023. Recorded on a Rode Rodecaster podcast kit at the college. #WorldRadioDay

On Radio and Roswell: 75 years later.  On July 8, 1947 the U-S military announced it had recovered a flying saucer near Roswell, New Mexico.  A day later, it rescinded the story; but not before the individual who had "discovered" the wreckage had told their story in an interview for broadcast on the radio.  That interview...never aired.   But does a recording still exist? On the 75th anniversary of the official news about the Roswell Incident.  For educational purposes; makes fair use of audio from ABC Radio News from July 8, 1947 retrieved at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUlCBY-K9A8

The book I refer to is The Truth About the UFO Crash at Roswell by Kevin D. Randle and Donald R. Schmitt (Avon Books, New York 1994). 

On trust in radio on World Radio Day.  From February 11, 2022.  UNESCO -- the United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization -- designates February 13th as World Radio Day.  Each year's recognition has a new theme; this year's is trust. Let's consider that, in light of the three sub-themes of the day.  Commentary. 

This show also airs on 96-9 CKHC-FM Radio Humber from Humber College in Toronto.  On World Radio Day, it airs at 12 noon Eastern; 4pm and 7pm.

On how to frame the events on Parliament Hill. From February 4, 2022.  As a protest by a group calling itself Freedom Convoy continues in Ottawa, perhaps some more attention should be given in the news to the people who seem to be looked up to by the protestors.  What started out being billed as a truckers' protest against a federal mandate about being vaccinated against covid-19 in order to cross the Canadian border seems to have become a general rage against all covid restrictions.  Of course most of those are the jurisdiction of provincial governments, not the federal government.  But some fringe political figures insist protestors won't budge unless the federal government gives in to their demands to end all covid restrictions.  Makes fair dealing use of audio Tweeted by Ontario MPP Randy Hillier; news conference audio broadcast over CTV; public domain audio from the House of Commons.

On radio station branding – and what’s in a name.  From January 27, 2022.  Another information radio station in Toronto has rebranded - changed its name and its on-air imaging that signifies how it wants to be perceived.  It's probably not wise to have "News" in the name of your radio station if your on-air product is mainly "talk". For educational purposes.  Makes fair dealing use of aircheck audio from CFMJ Toronto, now re-branded as 640 Toronto. 

For more on the difference between news and talk: Season 3, Episode One: https://paulcrosstoronto.podbean.com/e/cross-talk-season-3-episode-1/

For reference to the late 2021 re-branding of 680News Toronto and some thoughts on the future of news: Season Six, Episode Two.  https://paulcrosstoronto.podbean.com/e/cross-talk-season-six-episodetwo/

On media manipulation: the premier’s snow job. From January 20, 2022.  The Premier of Ontario takes a drive after the worst snowstorm Toronto has experienced in years and the news media falls for his good guy tactics.  Commentary and analysis.  For educational purposes.  Makes fair dealing use of bits of audio from CP24, the 12:36, City TV Toronto, CFRA Radio Ottawa, @Radio_Brent from Indie 88 Toronto. 

Links to places I found audio for this episode:

@Radio_Brent

https://twitter.com/Radio_Brent/status/1483184000378277890

12:36

https://1236.substack.com/p/doug-fords-littlest-snow-shovel-show

CityTV Toronto

https://www.breakfasttelevision.ca/videos/ontarians-react-to-doug-ford-helping-people-stuck-in-the-snow/

CFRA Radio Ottawa

https://www.iheartradio.ca/580-cfra/audio-podcasts/the-morning-rush-premier-doug-ford-interview-positive-news-on-the-way-later-this-week-1.16960462?mode=Article

The Global News Toronto web story with photos provided by the premier's office

https://globalnews.ca/news/8516631/doug-ford-helps-drivers-southern-ontario-snowstorm/?utm_source=%40globalnewsto&utm_medium=Twitter

On covering the insurrection.  From January 12, 2022.  On January 7th -- one day after the anniversary of the assault on the U-S capital -- I check in with a radio and tv reporter who was there, reporting the events as they were happening.  Reggie Cecchini is a Washington correspondent for Global News, and is heard on Global News and Corus-branded radio stations across Canada as well as on tv news. Students note: he's a graduate of the Broadcasting - Radio program at Humber College.  Our full interview discussion is part of course content in RBD 154 in Winter 2022.  For educational purposes.  Makes fair dealing use of audio from a live-hit stand-up tv report on Global News Toronto from January 6, 2021.