Corus Radio will introduce a new concept to Canadian radio: iNews880, an Internet-driven, 24-hour all-news radio format providing comprehensive and live news around the clock, launching in Edmonton on Tuesday, May 20. iNews880 will keep listeners informed with continuous 30-minute information packages featuring news, weather, traffic, business news, sports and hyper-local news from citizen journalists.
A first for Canadian radio, iNews880 on the radio will be powered by iNews880.com, a website focusing on the critical news and issues that matter to Edmontonians in a true fusion of both media. Through blogs, community news coverage and i-reports, citizen journalists will provide experiential content for the hyper-local news coverage provided by iNews880.
"Corus Radio's commitment has always been to provide credible and immediate news coverage to the people of northern Alberta and the world, on radio, online and on-demand," said Doug Rutherford, General Manager, Corus Radio Edmonton and Vice President, News-Talk Programming. "iNews880 will bring audiences news when they want it and how they want it, with their direct involvement."
On both radio and Internet, user-generated content will ensure that iNews880 is interactive and grounded in the Edmonton community. Audience involvement will play an integral role in day-to-day content which will complement existing news coverage from staff journalists and news partners.
"iNews880 marks an evolution in radio and we're thrilled to launch this format in Edmonton," said Syd Smith, Program Director, 630 CHED and iNews880. "Information technology gives our audiences an immediate opportunity to share local, provincial, national and global news from their perspective with other listeners around the city and around the world."
thanks to Ed Mason of CHED Edmonton for the update
HI: Here's the scoop on Corus changes in Edmonton.
On May 21st, COOL 880 will fade and "i-News 880" promising news "on line, on the radio and on demand" will be launched.
It will be a 24-hours news and information station with product generated by the greatly augmented 630 CHED news department. Deskers and reporters will work both sides as part of a seemless integrated news operation.
We will be hiring 12 that's a DOZEN new people. Spread the word and yes, you can sign this ED at CHED.
For months it's been a case of not if but when ...
On Friday, March 14th, 2008 employees at Corus Radio in Edmonton learned that as of May 20th, 2008 CHQT Cool 880 would switch from their oldies format to all news.
It appears station manager Doug Rutherford had made good on his promise "to defend our turf" and stave off competition in the news market.
Called "iNews880" the station will feature a 30-minute news wheel format with a rotating menu of news, weather, traffic, sports and business.
It has been widely expected that Rogers was hoping to launch an all news station if it was awarded Edmonton's newest FM license.
Applications for the new station have been received by the CRTC, but the governing body has yet to announce hearing dates.
That Cool 880 is now being re-branded as "iNews880" will likely take the wind out of the sails of applicants considering pitching an all news format in their applications.
Effectively immediately, veteran broadcaster Gord Robson has been let go. Chuck Chandler, Edmonton's version of Dick Clark, has until May to spin his stacks of wax.
Rutherford told staff he would be drawing on local broadcast schools for their on-air talent, and would rely on contributions through iNews880.com using "citizen journalists" for content. In plain language, Corus will be staffing iNews880 on the cheap, setting the journalism bar at a new level.
In February 2008 an "open call" ad appeared on the industry web site Milkman Unlimited, looking for news and information reporters in the Edmonton area. Corus recently posted the position of assistant news director – the position once held by the late Warren Henderson that had been assigned to Eileen Bell on a interim basis. With the launch of CHQT as all news, Corus pehaps felt Eileen's talents would be spread too thin.
When Cool 880 added "20/20 News" to its drive shifts recently, former QT newsreader Craig Mattern was shifted to CHED. Don Lawson also recently returned to the station. The overall re-assignment of reporters between the two frequencies remains to be set.
Of greatest concern to media watchers is the effective loss of a competing editorial news voice on the local radio scene. Should Rogers still apply for a news outlet, it will be interesting to see how committed the CRTC is to diversity in the country's highest station-per-capita market.
I was at the meeting, and Doug Rutherford said he would be going to Grant MacEwan to let journalism students know about the citizen journalism positions. Rather than lowering the bar - it's being raised. Our staff was encouraged to apply for positions being posted today for iNews880.
Rutherford also said that Corus was not the source of the open call for newscasters ad.
As for the Assistant News Director position, it has no set on air duties. It will be a busy position coordinating the assignments for iNews.
I just want to say what great people, and broadcasters Lesley Primeau and Doug Rutherford are despite this stratigict move......best to them.......that's radio....Gord R.
When CHED flipped to Information Superstation, Doug Rutherford did it despite CJCA owning that format at the time. There has been nothing stopping any other station from stepping up. Blaming Corus for making the move doesn't make a lot of sense. It is kind of funny you don't consider CBC a viable option.
Gord, your post is the classiest that I have ever read.
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Couldn't resist.