Since Jeremy Filosa’s return to Cogeco, injustice continues to hover over him.
Shamefully suspended for comments that in no way justified such punishment, Filosa is now relegated to tasks far from his expertise, while Meeker Guerrier struggles to fill his shoes on the show Quebec now.
Indeed, while Filosa was once the undisputed face of sports at 98.5 FM, covering the Montreal Canadiens and all other sports with passion and rigor, he today finds himself covering marginal events like the sale of the The Alliance de Montréal, a basketball team that few Montrealers follow closely.
This is a blatant degradation for a respected journalist, who has earned the public’s trust through his audacity and outspokenness.
Meanwhile, Meeker Guerrier, who replaces Filosa, chosen for his neutrality and lack of controversy, struggles to convince listeners.
His neutral, tasteless approach contrasts sharply with Filosa’s incisive verve and authentic passion.
The listeners are not mistaken: they regret the disappearance of a strong and committed voice which was not afraid to ask the real questions, even when they were disturbing.
The main obstacle to Filosa’s return to his emblematic position remains Philippe Cantin.
The latter, who publicly pressed Filosa when he needed support the most, strongly opposed his return to the comeback show.
His categorical refusal to reinstate him proves that there is no desire to repair the injustice committed against Filosa. A petty attitude that reveals the toxic climate that reigns behind the scenes of the station.
However, Filosa continues to demonstrate exemplary resilience. He is present in the Canadian’s locker room, gets involved in covering sporting events and tries to regain his place, despite the systematic obstacles imposed on him.
The great irony of this situation is that, despite everything, Filosa is still in the hearts of fans, while Guerrier struggles to generate enthusiasm.
The fate reserved for Filosa is a lifelong stain on the image of 98.5 FM.
The station preferred to choose conformity rather than credibility.
Choosing boring over fun.
By refusing to do it justice, by relegating it to second-rate reporting, Cogeco shows the extent to which it is disconnected from its listeners, who have made up their minds a long time ago.
“Jeremy Filosa was and remains the station’s best sports reporter.”
Fans remember the incisive questions and relevant analyzes that he brought, far from the formatted and bland comments that dominate the airwaves today.
The injustice suffered by Filosa is a shame for 98.5 FM. The station chose to sacrifice journalistic integrity for the sake of compliance, at the cost of losing its audience and seeing its reputation plummet.
But one thing is certain: Jeremy Filosa, despite the obstacles, remains and will remain the respected voice of sports journalism in Quebec.
Since its controversial and unacceptable suspension, 98.5 FM has tried by all means to make up for its absence by relying on caution and absolute neutrality.
The choice of Meeker Guerrier as a permanent replacement on the show Quebec now hosted by Philippe Cantin is blatant proof of this “damage control” strategy.
Unfortunately for the station, this attempt to plug the gaps did not convince listeners, and even less sports fans.
Since returning backstage at 98.5 FM, Filosa has not found his microphone on the homecoming show.
Philippe Cantin, who played a major role in his suspension, closed the door to any reinstatement, preferring to continue with sanitized programming where sharp opinions and cutting-edge expertise no longer have their place.
-The reality is that Filosa was the soul of the sports section of 98.5 FM. His in-depth knowledge of the Montreal Canadiens, his courage to ask the difficult questions and his incisive style were invaluable assets to the station.
The public knew it, and the ratings revealed it. However, Philippe Cantin’s choice to permanently dismiss it is seen as a personal vendetta, a decision motivated by internal dynamics rather than by a real desire to improve the programming.
Meeker Guerrier is, without question, a respected professional, but he has neither the charisma nor the impact of Jeremy Filosa.
His calming style and careful approach contrast sharply with the energy and passion that characterized Filosa’s interventions.
Guerrier is seen as a colorless journalist who takes no risks and sticks to superficial analyses, often regurgitating known facts rather than providing real added value.
The listeners were not mistaken. On social networks, numerous messages denounce the softness of Guerrier’s columns, its lack of charm and its absence of taking a strong position.
The once lively discussions turned into predictable and vapid segments, far from Filoda’s atmosphere, filled with humor and originality.
Several fans of the show simply gave up on the project. Meeker Guerrier is as boring as Philippe Cantin. Together, the two make us sleep from a distance.
The choice of Meeker Guerrier to replace Jeremy Filosa is a demonstration of the fear that reigns within Cogeco management.
After the stormy episode of Filosa’s suspension, the station wanted to avoid any deviation, preferring security to journalistic quality.
But this strategy has direct consequences: a drop in listener interest, declining ratings and a loss of credibility.
The observation is simple: the public wants to hear Filosa, and not a Warrior.
Despite his return to the Cogeco ecosystem, Jeremy Filosa remains in a gray area. He is again in the CH locker room, but in a secondary position, far from the spotlight.
The Montreal Canadian, who has never appreciated his often incisive questions, seems to take advantage of the situation to keep him at arm’s length.
This forced marginalization is a real injustice for a journalist who has devoted nearly 25 years of his life to covering hockey with rigor and passion.
If a culprit must be pointed out, Philippe Cantin is the first name that comes to mind. Not content with having humiliated Filosa live during his slip on the Moon, Cantin then closed all the doors upon his return.
His inability to support a colleague in difficulty and his desire to impose a rigid and authoritarian vision of journalism seriously damaged the image of 98.5 FM.
Cantin, who has enjoyed a comfortable career thanks to a network of strategic allies, is today seen as a bland presenter, incapable of handling a storm and preferring to take refuge in complacency.
The listeners are not crazy, and the negative reactions to his handling of the Filosa crisis are proof of that.
The Jeremy Filosa case is a cruel but necessary lesson for 98.5 FM. Letting go of a strong, credible voice and replacing it with a bland presence like Meeker Guerrier is a strategic mistake that could cost the station dearly.
The public wants authentic personalities, capable of challenging the status quo, and not consensual figures who only skim over the issues.
If Cogeco wants to restore its reputation, it is time to reinstate Filosa in its rightful place.
Otherwise, other networks like TVA Sports or QUB Radio will be able to seize this opportunity.
And then, 98.5 FM will only have itself to blame.
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