Profile of CBC’s Kirstine Stewart continues CWG’s nonfiction ebook series

April 26, 2012 Editor News amazoncanadian writers groupcbcebooksjason mcbridekirstine stewartkobotoronto life

All eyes are on the CBC after the federal government announced it would cut 10 per cent of its budget. It's likely Kirstine Stewart, the broadcaster's executive vice-president in charge of English programming, is feeling the weight of that gaze more than anyone else at the CBC.

In a story that first appeared in Toronto Life's May 2012 issue, Toronto-based writer Jason McBride profiles Stewart, who has raised ratings while dodging rumours about her personal life and championing shows like Dragons' Den and Being Erica on her mission to "to connect Canadians and facilitate conversations."

An updated version of the profile, entitled Can This Woman Save the CBC?, is available as an ebook through Kobo and Amazon.com.

This the second title in the Canadian Writers Group's nonfiction ebook series that launched last month with Russell Smith's unflinching memoir Blindsided. It was the top-selling non-fiction title on Kobo’s list of Top 50 ebooks soon after its release and is now available for Kindle readers.

CWG will release a third title, Bones of Contention by Leslie Anthony, in May.

Synopsis for Can This Woman Save the CBC?:

Kirstine Stewart, the CBC’s executive vice-president in charge of English programming, has the most difficult job in Canadian media. Up against huge budget cuts, the Internet, corporate media giants, and millions of taxpaying critics, she is fighting back with an array of mass-appeal reality TV and sitcoms such as Dragons’ Den and Mr. D. Ratings have never been higher; nevertheless, the CBC is on increasingly tenuous ground. Jason McBride went behind the scenes with Stewart to write a feature profile for the May 2012 issue of Toronto Life that gets to the heart of the national drama.

Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer April 16–22, 2012

April 22, 2012 Editor News newsoff the wire

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Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer April 9–15, 2012

April 16, 2012 Editor News newsoff the wire

Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, publishing, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?From Canada: Publishers “blindsided” by 25 per cent increase in Indigo co-op fees [Quill & Quire blog] CBC's bet on satellite radio could pay dividends…

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April 11, 2012 Editor News broadcastingcanadian media guildcbccbc cutsfederal budget

The news that the CBC would lose 10 per cent of its budget — $115 million over three years — was worrying to both CBC employees and the millions of Canadians who watch, listen and read what it produces. But now we know who will feel those cuts most acutely.The details of the CBC cuts are outlined in this post on the Canadian Media Guild…

Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer April 2–April 8, 2012

April 09, 2012 Editor News newsoff the wire

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Canadian Writers Group launches ebook venture with Russell Smith’s Blindsided

March 27, 2012 Editor News bylinercanadian writers groupdigital rightsebookskindle singleskoborussell smithsuccess storiesthe atavisttoronto life

In May last year, the Canadian Writers Group's Derek Finkle was talking about the need for a long-form journalism platform in Canada similar to sites like Byliner and The Atavist operating in the U.S.This week, CWG launched a series of non-fiction ebooks with novelist and Globe columnist Russell Smith's Blindsided, a story of about 5,500 words that…

Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer March 19–25, 2012

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Study this! Even more reasons to join a union, from a librarian

March 20, 2012 Editor News canadian media guildcollective actionfreelance unionslibrary workersunion organizingunions

You've seen it here before. We're not shy about our support for unions, and whether it's the Born Freelancer explaining why unions are boss or a fun video from the Canadian Media Guild demonstrating the sticky situations that unprotected workers find themselves in, we're glad to share.We can write about reasons to join a union until we're blue in…