Breakdown: Layoff Season, War on Bikes, Bounty on Journalist ft. Dave Gray-Donald (The North State Podcast)
Breaking down a wild week in Canadian news media
This week on The North State, Dave Gray-Donald joins in the first edition of The North State's Breakdown. Layoffs at Rogers Sports and Media and TVO paint two different aspects of an industry in trouble. Ontario premier Doug Ford's war on bike lanes goes nuclear. A convicted murderer confesses he placed a $100,000 reward to kill an investigative journalist at La Presse that covered his trial. RSS feed here.
Description
Introducing: The North State’s Breakdown! Scott takes on multiple stories about the news media industry with the help of a guest. Publisher and Editorial Director for Toronto's The Grind Dave Gray-Donald joins Scott to talk about three big stories. Layoffs at Rogers and TVO hit the industry in two different ways. Then, Doug Ford got his way on bike lane legislation… what is the news missing? Finally, La Presse reveals that a convicted killer placed a $100,000 bounty on one of their reporters who covered his murder trial. What does this say in context of the wider threat to journalists?
Further Reading
Rogers Sports & Media lays off dozens of workers in audio business - CBC News
The Big Story host Jordan Heath-Rawlings and The Big Story producer Robyn Simon confirm they were laid off
TVO lays off journalists as it pivots away from written news - The Trillium
Two freelance columnists confirm TVO will not commission their articles
Matt Gurney's Tweet claiming TVO "essentially shut down its journalism operations"
Gurney's Bluesky post changing the language
Ontario passes bill that allows major Toronto bike lanes to be ripped out - CBC News
Ford government moves to bar lawsuits over injured, killed cyclists after bike lane removals - The Trillium
‘Be careful out there’: Ford tells Toronto cyclists to avoid major arterial roads - Global News
Hit man offered $100,000 to kill Montreal crime reporter covering his trial - The Canadian Press
Rachel Gilmore's Tweet on the Canadian Association of Journalists Statement
Journalists Nur Dogan and Samira Mohyeddin's posts criticizing the CAJ statement
Deep Cut Stories
Vancouver police ignore FOI requests for chief's communications - CTV News
Media outlets, including CBC, sue ChatGPT creator - CBC News
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