Omar Sachedina's promotion to CTV National News Chief Anchor should have been a triumph for Canadian media representation, but observers noted that he The departure of Lisa Laflam, the predecessor of the and accomplished men of color said it was a "stolen moment" when they were robbed of an important career benchmark.
"This should be something to be celebrated." he said.
"Unfortunately, however, Synchronization of Announcements has not served him as well as it could."
Read More: Lisa LaFlamme Unanchored on CTV National News: 'I Was Blind'
Bell Media Press Release Monday, LaFlamme 35 Years Later said that he had left the broadcasting station. Less than half an hour later, Sachedina was named as her replacement.
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Lead exiled He anchor turned to social media and was first informed of the decision on June 29. He said in the video that he was, and added that he felt: I was "blind" to what management described as a "business decision".
In the case of LaFlamme, she lost a milestone in her career when she was pulled from the airwaves without formal endorsement for her CTV broadcast, which she led for over a decade.
The importance of Sachedina's new position in the upper echelons of Canadian television has also declined.
He is a seasoned political reporter of Indian descent from Uganda who helms Canada's most watched evening news programme, much of it on his LaFlamme network. was buried in controversy over his sudden expulsion from the
Sachedina appeared and marched on a channel owned by Bell Bell, although interviewers largely avoided controversy surrounding his appointment. , he spoke optimistically about the future of the newscast.
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Neither LaFlamme nor her Sachedina responded to requests for comment. Bell Media did not respond to questions about the handling of the announcement.
Nana Abaduncan, an associate professor at Carleton University and Carty's chair of journalism, diversity and inclusion studies, said the presentation was mishandled, leaving Sachedina in a position to face heavy scrutiny. said to have driven him away.
"Now there's even more pressure that this person is being placed for diversity. It's unfair to him," she said.
I am honored to follow in the footsteps of Lisa LaFlamme and Lloyd Robertson. I am so excited to work with an incredibly talented team in this new role! https://t.co/HcduhjBqAl
— Omar Sachedina (@omarsachedina) 15 August 2022
LaFlamme didn't get the respect she deserved either, Duncan said.
Typically, departing anchors will have the opportunity to say goodbye to viewers with a live sign-off, as well as a reflection on their work. Peter Mansbridge was given almost a year runway before joining his CBC, while Lloyd Robertson toasted his 40-plus years on CTV when he retired in 2011. It happened sometimes.
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"Normally we have time, but that time wasn't taken here," said Duncan. . “To me, it shows a lack of care and fairness to both of them.”
Leaders are concerned about how employees are treated in the workplace, Duncan said we need to recognize that we are becoming more aware of who we are.
Employers need to recognize that younger journalists are more comfortable with mental health in the workplace and are less likely to accept the "that's just the way it is" reasoning, she said. added.
"It's not just in journalism, it's everywhere," she said.
“People seeking employment want their employer to care. And this one flies in the face of it.
But Duncan said he looked forward to progress in journalism.
"Systematically change I need to," she added.
"That means those at the top must start thinking about how people come and go."
© 2022 The Canadian Press
