A round of layoffs at Corus Entertainment last week has left a number of talented and hardworking journalists without a job including some from their flagship television news division Global News.
The layoffs come after a disappointing quarter for Corus, which saw a net earnings dip to $31.4 million, compared to $76.2 million in the same period in 2022.
While television segment revenue fell by 11 per cent to $401.5 million, radio revenue saw a slight rise, up $600,000 from the first quarter of 2022 to $29.7 million.
It’s the first wave of significant layoffs for reporters at Global News since July 2020, when Corus cut a number of digital positions in a move away from content focused on lifestyle and entertainment.
The layoffs at Global News follow a recent 11 per cent employee cut at PostMedia, as well as a slew of dismissals by Overstory Media Group.
Corus, which launched its free ad-supported streaming service PlutoTV in November 2022, makes all of its profits from content, so it’s curious that many of those affected by the latest round of layoffs are part of digital content production.
High profile journalists cut
Among the most shocking names now out of work is national reporter Rachel Gilmore, who catapulted Global News’ TikTok coverage and broke key stories about the 2022 occupation of Ottawa.
“I poured my heart and soul into the work I did alongside amazing colleagues, and I dealt with some horrifying backlash for it,” Gilmore said in a Thursday tweet. “But I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Two weeks before being laid off, Gilmore was one of three reporters who received the Tara Singh Hayer Memorial Award.
“It recognizes a journalist who made an important contribution to press freedom – and who has taken personal risks or suffered physical reprisals for their work,” she tweeted.
As part of her time at Global News, Gilmore spent two months living and working in Tunisia, where she helped trained women and girls tell their stories.
“I’m not sure what’s next. It’s a bit scary to be on my own, especially knowing how much hate is out there,” Gilmore tweeted. “But I know I’m not really alone.”
Gilmore faced significant harassment for her work for Global
While Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre campaigned to succeed Erin O’Toole in the summer of 2022, Gilmore found herself at the centre of a deliberate and targeted disinformation campaign, not just by conspiracy theorists like Jeremy McKenzie, but by the prospective future prime minister as well.
At the time, the Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) condemned the “vile abuse” towards Gilmore, while pointing out the harassment extended to her loved ones.
READ MORE: Poilievre’s attacks on reporter ‘antithetical to democratic values’
Along with Saba Eitizaz of the Toronto Star and Hill Times columnist Erica Ifill, Gilmore faced an onslaught of vitriolic harassment for their coverage — with the abuse escalating to threats of rape and death.
But with Gilmore now out of a job, Global News no longer has the responsibility to ensure her safety, leaving the now unemployed reporter to deal with the ongoing misogynistic attacks alone.
On Sunday, Gilmore shared screenshots on Twitter showing some of the emails she’s received since she was laid off.
The sample ranged from sexist slurs and profanity to hoping Gilmore will become homeless, or worse, contract a fatal form of brain cancer.
“This is truly the definition of kicking someone when they’re done (sic),” she tweeted. “I am a human being.”
Union warns cutting journalism jobs hurts democracy
For Unifor, the union representing more than 800 media members at Corus, the changes at Global News aren’t just an issue for newsrooms, it also puts democracy at risk.
“It is becoming impossibly difficult for media workers to face the news of restructuring and layoffs on a regular basis,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne in a Thursday news release.
Calling journalists “the backbone of our democracy,” Payne added that Unifor will continue to support its members.
“We need to save local news by investing in newsrooms — not cutting them,” she said.
Randy Kitt, Unifor’s Director of Media, noted the CRTC has “allowed foreign broadcasters to systematically dismantle the business model for local news in this country.”
In a statement to rabble.ca, a Corus spokesperson did not answer direct questions about how many employees were laid off or if additional layoffs can be expected in 2023.
Instead, the statement spoke of “managing the post-pandemic climate” and “unexpected economic uncertainty” as factors that led to the staff layoffs.
“…[We] are conducting an enterprise-wide cost review, looking at all expenses and operations,” the statement reads, while adding that these decisions are “never easy.”
Corus confirmed “a small number of exits in various business areas and corporate functions,” while noting no station or office closures have been announced.
“We remain focused on the execution of our strategic plan as we make smart, targeted investments to ensure the long-term resiliency of Corus Entertainment,” reads a statement from a Corus spokesperson.
In a Friday tweet, CFWIJ founding director Kiran Nazish showed her support for the women who were laid off at Global.
“[T]his is completely a loss of journalism, the media’s ability to access and inform the public and hurts democracy,” Nazish wrote.
Nazish’s tweet followed a press release issued by the CFWIJ calling on Corus Entertainment to provide an explanation for the layoffs.
“This decision sends a chilling message to Canadian women journalists facing online harassment,” the release reads. “Media companies should support their female employees. Laying off women journalists in a vague restructuring effort is not acceptable.”
Support rabble today!
We’re so glad you stopped by! Thanks for consuming rabble content this year.
rabble.ca is 100% reader and donor funded, so as an avid reader of our content, we hope you will consider gifting rabble with a donation during our summer fundraiser today.
Whether it be a one-time donation or a small monthly contribution, your support is critical to keep rabble writers producing the work you’ve come to rely on as a part of a healthy media diet.
Become a rabble rouser — donate to rabble.ca today.
Nick Seebruch, editor
