Interview: New CBC chairperson Timothy Casgrain
Earlier today, I had the opportunity to speak with incoming CBC chairperson Timothy Casgrain. Questions he answered include:
- Will you be seeking additional funding for the CBC from the federal government?
- What role would you like to see the Board of Directors have in future labour disputes?
- How do you defend criticism that your lack of experience in broadcasting or the arts makes your selection questionable?
- What will be the CBC’s biggest challenge in the next five years
I was very grateful that he took a moment out of his schedule to speak to you through this blog. And now, discuss! 
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“Ideas” and “Quirks and Quarks” are the programming that appeal to “Young people.”….
Casgrain sounds so nice you almost want to curl up in his lap and go to sleep.
NPR’s got nothing on you, Tod.
Good Question:
You said that you believe the CBC needs to attract more young people to it’s audience. When leadership at CBC says something like that, some of our audience and stakeholders say they’re concerned that our strategy to achieve that is to dumb down the programming. So how do we achieve that balance of attracting a younger audience without affecting the credibility of our programming?
Kind of Smart Answer:
That’s a challenge, isn’t it. I would hope that it’s not a question of at all that. I hope that it’s an intellectual challenge. That it’s going to inspire young Canadians to want to listen to our offer. I’m understanding that there’s been great support for radio shows like Quirks and Quarks and Ideas by young people in the age 18 to 34 group. So I think it’s a question of having it there.
Quarks has been on the air for 32 years. So his answer, if I may paraphrase, is that it’s not a matter of finding balance, it’s still simply a matter of providing good programs, and then people of all ages will come. (Because inquiring minds want to know.)
So why the fear of naming names?
Everyone knows, and the CBC avoids accepting, that it has lost credibility with people of all ages because of one program. And that only one program has ever been associated with the phrase “dumbing down”. And if we were completely honest and frank with one another, we’d have to agree that it’s not really the program that’s the problem.
OK Allan, then go ahead and name the name. If the name is George Strombolopolous, however, I would disagree. If the name is Sook Yin Lee, I would disagree. And if the name is Jian Ghomeshi, I would disagree. So just who the hell are you talking about?
Probably Lunar Jim.