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.
As for "defending their turf", I think this makes a stronger case for a Roger's FM All-News, one similar to their Halifax station.
The CRTC held "Deversity of Voices" hearings last fall about Ownership groups having Monopolies over local market's news voices.
If one radio group has all the "all-news" stations in a markets, where's the different perspective?
I think Roger's application just got stronger. Not to mention Roger's already powerful all-new "brand" AND they will go for an FM licence, which will pull a lot, if not most of iNews 880 AM's listeners to the FM band.
As for "defending their turf", I think this makes a stronger case for a Roger's FM All-News, one similar to their Halifax station.
The Halifax, Saint John, and Moncton stations are not all-news, they're news-talk similar to CHED and CHQR. Are you making the case for a second news-talk station in Edmonton or a news-wheel, i.e., what 880 is proposing, but on FM?
Should be interesting to see how this rolls out. Especially in regards to how things are put together and how many staff are on at any point of the day. It is alarming to see only 6 of the 12 new hires being for "on-air". Might need more than that if you wanna go 24/7........ I will agree though that this should only strengthen any application for an FM news-wheel. Especially if the CRTC is doing its job and diversifying the voices. That said, maybe Edmonton needs another country station?
Stagnant? Yes, we have been stuck at Number One for a while. Sigh. What a burden.
wow Chedder... do you live in a bubble? You're talking like a tech guy before the burst.
Stagnant: 1 a: not flowing in a current or stream <stagnant water> b: stale <long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul — Bram Stoker> 2: not advancing or developing <a stagnant economy>
AM Radio in Canada: AM radio saw a total profit (before interest and taxes) of $17.6 million last year, a 29.7% jump from 2005 - even though Statistics Canada says almost half of all stations didn't break even. AM radio's 5.5% profit margin didn't come close to that of FM radio, at 24.2%.
I wasn't knocking CHED with my post (or CKNW or CFAX or any metro News/Talker that claims to be number one)... I was applauding one of the other HALF of all AM radio stations that need to do something or die.
I just want to say what great people, and broadcasters Lesley Primeau and Doug Rutherford are despite this strategic move......best to them.......that's radio....Gord R.
You're a good man Gord. I'm glad to have worked with you ... or near you at least.
Perhaps growing impatient waiting for students to finish their semesters before applying for work at iNews880, on March 17th CHED news director Bob Layton fired off e-mails to radio reporters at competing stations.
The subject line? Jobs Jobs Jobs. The tactic? Raid.
[image of Bob Layton email]
Those who make it to the interview stage should ask if Corus will implement the wages their recent parity study of local broadcasters indicated they should pay as a major market leader.
The study included the CBC, CTV, Global and the Canadian Press and suggested entry-level reporters should earn a minimum of $60K per annum. However, when Corus acted on the study they placed even their senior reporters at the lowest level of available scales, leaving some only earning half of what their counterparts make at other outlets.
It's not unusual to work as a CHED newsman and only get one raise in ten years.
Journalism students thinking of working at the station should also ask about the Corus Code of Ethics, who it applies to and and how it is enforced ... and if soliciting reporters at their place of business was morally wise.
Raiding is a time honored way to get good employees. I've been approached by many stations during my career. Its flattering, and a good way to get a career jump.
I guess if its never happened to you, its harder to fathom...
Raiding is a time honored way to get good employees.
"Time honored" is one way to put it.
But surely Bob Layton would realise ambitious and worthy reporters would be flocking to iNews880 in a heartbeat if it was such a great opportunity.
If you're seriously into the radio news biz, you'd surely be already aware of the flip (or somehow missed the full page ad while liberating stories from the Sun).
So why the e-mails?
If I had received such a shotgunned e-mail, I would take it instead as a sign of desperation.
Sort of weird, on this forum. Everyone here talks about how radio has went downhill by downsizing, cutting people left, right and centre, and here's a station that is HIRING at least a dozen new people to work in their newsroom and all people can do is nitpick?
I mean, when everything is said and done, there will probably be close to 40 people? working in that newsroom, that is unheard of in a radio newsroom in this day and age. Can see nothing but upside if you are working in radio news.
There's a difference between getting a bulk e-mail and getting approached. Layton's move would likely be a good tactic to get the low hanging fruit -- folks disgruntled with their current jobs, clockwatchers looking for a new set of walls to stare at, and people who are likely of dubious quality as performers but think they should be anchoring the morning run in market #1 (but they'd "settle" for Edmonton.) These people are usually poisonous to the newsroom environment and don't do much for advancing the morale in the room.
It's a much more wise strategy to approach people you know something about and work to show them the benefits of joining your organization, rather than taking what you can get.
Actually, FBIE, from what I understand, Hall brings in a lot of cash. It would probably cost jobs not to have him around. (Check out the thread about how salaries are determined.) Did that ax you're grindng have a bad meal at a Hall sponsored restaurant?
I was the first morning guy and then afternoon drive at COOL 880. It is too bad that they are dropping the format. At one time we had a better share than a number of fm'ers in the market but the sales department couldn't sell it. Too bad - great music and a fun time while I was there.
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Couldn't resist.
