The changes expected next week in ICI RDI’s programming make the union fear that journalistic coverage will be relegated to the background, behind opinion. The management of - is reassuring and reiterates that continuous information remains the channel’s priority.
Published at 6:00 a.m.
Remember that on Monday, - announced that as of January 20, the shows of Patrice Roy and Gérald Fillion, in which commentary and analysis currently occupy a central place, will each be extended by one hour.
“The fear of many colleagues is that the information network will become the network of conversations,” said Pierre Tousignant, president of the - Workers’ Union (STTRC-FNCC-CSN), on Tuesday.
“Will there be fewer journalists on the ground? Are we going to see less journalists from regional stations across the country? Management assures us that no. We have no reason to question their word, but several among us have been expressing fears since yesterday. In the end, this will be verified in use,” added Mr. Tousignant.
No compression
Called to react, the channel’s management points out that the airtime granted to the regions is regulated within the mandate of ICI RDI. There is therefore no question of imitating other news channels in France and the United States which tend to abandon continuous journalistic coverage in favor of opinion, which is less expensive and often more popular in terms of ratings. listen.
“Our vision is very clear: we do not want a channel that produces opinion non-stop,” insisted the general director of information at -, Luce Julien, in an interview with The Press.
-Moreover, the changes made to the schedule do not result in any compression among journalists, it was emphasized.
In addition to correspondents on parliamentary hills in Quebec and Ottawa, 14 regional reporters across the country will continue to be assigned to live coverage for ICI RDI.
“It’s important to know that the new two-hour format of Zone info [l’émission de Gérald Fillion] will be different from the one-hour show we currently know. It won’t just be a panel that covers current events, as is the case at 4 p.m. at the moment. As the show will be broadcast earlier in the afternoon, the news will continue to evolve. Gérald will regularly go and speak to our journalists in the field and to our parliamentary correspondents,” said Sébastien Perron, first director of ICI RDI.
Starting Monday, Donald Trump’s inauguration day, Zone info will go on air shortly before 2 p.m., just after the Politics buffsand will be until 4 p.m. Live with Patrice Roy will then take over and remain on the air until 6 p.m. - also announced that Patrice Roy’s show will give more space to journalists on the ground in its new format.
Unprecedented period
The public broadcaster explains that it decided before the holidays to reshape ICI RDI’s programming in view of the federal elections and Donald Trump’s return to power. Moreover, ICI RDI is increasing its presence in the United States, while journalist Christian Latreille is dispatched to Washington for the coming months. All these changes within the news channel are temporary, indicates -. They will be in effect until the end of the season in June.
“The period we are about to experience is truly unprecedented. We’re going to talk a lot about economics and politics. This is why we decided to rely on the expertise of Gérald, for the economy, and of Patrice, for politics,” summarized Luce Julien.
