I'm seeing a lot of red, and flying edges. Is the new media design for CBC a sign that a virtual bloodbath is underway? Certainly massive change, at the very least.

You are being way too modest in describing this years master plan for CBC News as a "re-branding". What your words indicate, and what your graphics perhaps subliminally reflect, is a revolution. Your media-mogul counterparts in the private sector might recognize the strategy as a plan for "convergence" of all media assets. This is a modern-day deep desire of those elements in the private sector with many fingers in many media pies, one designed to reduce production and delivery costs while widening distribution as a way to make more money. Yet the CBC, being a public corporation, does not have profit as a goal. Its currency is culture not cash. CBC has always had its hands on the pulse of this nation. This must mean that now you are also ready to grapple with its soul.

I for one am most inspired, and will happily forgive all the rough edges if the journey leads to an enrichment of the way that the unique spirit of Canada is presented to ourselves and to our world. Television just barely existed at the time that most of us were born, and ditto for our diversity. We have had not much historical time to show and tell our stories.

We are growing up so rapidly that we are fast outgrowing our labels. For example, increasingly what has been most described as multiculturalism is now seen as an emerging cosmopolitanism. Ironically, this maturity is surfacing precisely as there is mild panic to attract the age 18 to 34 demographic. That fact only makes sense if we remember that true age in all in the mind.

If what you are pursuing is in fact youthful spirits more than young adults, I think you just found us. And judging from the very positive responses in this blog, you had us at hello.

Tony Burman replies: Very uplifting. If you found our message 'inspired', that's exactly how I found the wisdom in your response. Thank you!

THANK YOU! And I might add "Good Luck". These changes are a long way from where you're at now, and I don't imagine it will be an easy road.

I love the ideas outlined regarding more original journalism, a broader definition of news, and especially complexity celebrated. I don't want the news media to tell me what to think, I want you to provide me with the information I need to be able to make informed decisions on my own. I am relieved to hear that there will be more original journalism. With the same story and the same video clips spewing forth from 20 different channels, all too often I feel like "who cares". Please, give me more information, and a framework in which to place it.

Bravo! In the CNN world of blatant propaganda, we need the CBC voice of reason. Not a scolding voice, but a molding voice, influencing public opinion and policy by providing information and investigative journalism that matters in areas of social justice, international events, aboriginal affairs, governmental arenas, community activities, and ordinary citizens' lives. We need courageous voices that will not be stilled by threats of violence, retaliation, or death, as we honour those who have been killed or whose character has been assassinated in the line of duty reporting in war zones and in our civilized Canada, US and Britain where we have succumbed to security hysteria. Let us not be deceived, and if perchance the leaders have a penchant to do so, let us use the highest forms of satire and irony to expose their wrongdoings for all to mock and detest. Until then, let us amuse and inform ourselves with interesting features and multifaceted methods of presenting information accessible to all.

Media is not a problem it is the most important problem

BRAVO!! The one thing I could always find in the CBC is balance. Unfortunately it often took several viewpoint writers to get it. I believe the CBC and its writers and reporters have the responsibility to be completely unbiased in their writing. Treat the writing as if they were the only ones doing the story and the imperative was to get only the facts on the table.

Leave the editorials to people like Larry Zolf and Rex Murphy. Get rid of the writers to the far left and far right and show us what is reflective of Canada; a largely centrist if not slightly left of centre country.

I believe it was the PM who said something to the effect that sometimes to be a good neighbour you have to tell the truth and stand up for that.

Let the CBC stand for absolute truth and honesty without bias and it will serve Canadians well, both now and into the future.

Just a quick comment regarding CBC programming, in particular Newsworld. In comparing Newsworld to other 24 hour news channels in Canada and abroad, I feel that the CBC version has managed to differentiate itself. Instead of constantly searching for the latest "news" dealing with hollywood splits and other such non-issues, Newsworld takes the time to produce more meaningful reports, by presenting documentaries and providing thorough coverage of issues. And the same goes for your web content and radio programming. I appreciate this difference and wanted you to know that I, along with many of my friends and colleagues, have noticed. There is certainly a resurgence when it comes to the CBC, particularly among my age group of 18 to 35 year olds. I hope you can stay ahead of the curve for years to come! Thank you.

Interesting article.

It is definitely cosntructive to be open minded and putting perspective into action.

The chief is writing a weekly thought provoking article!!! I'll check in again next Monday certainly and I may become a fan of T.B.'s weekly 'blog'.

Please make this page (probably some others too on the CBC website) forward-able so that I can email it to my colleagues and friends to read it.

Spread it out.

Tony Burman replies: Great idea. Several others have suggested this - as well as asking that the weekly 'Letter' be sent to them automatically each week. This will be done, but it may take another week or so to get organized. Stay tuned!

This is a good idea. I am impressedthat you have allowed us a chance ot respond. If there is anything we do not like it is going ahead and making a lot of decisions and changes that we (the public) do not have any say in.

The CBC is the greatest organization in this country. What makes the CBC great is so many very intelligent and creative people (front line workers, journalists, producers and support staff) that do a fasinating job! They are the best and we all hope that all of you treat them with the greatest respect. Thank you. Florence Spencer

Bravo, Bravo indeed, Brave New World needs Brave New Broadcasting in all of its current formats and not in the form of Pablum.

We the people need to hear a non customized version of the day's events from all over the world and we need to hear it as objective reporting as it was in the old days, when a news story was the story and not the view of the reporter or the newspaper.

I look forward to viewing your letters and when appropriate commenting on issues dear to me. Will it be possible to sign up for this letter as, one may miss the letters otherwise

Regards
Mr. Ira Bailey
Burlington, Ontario

Dear CBC,

I am a 22 year old UBC students who loves your programs (particularly your radio 1 programs, but also your tv programs). I must tell you that I am terrified that your REWORKING of CBC's format will bring you closer to the entertainment based aesthetic of fox news or CNN. I presume you heard this comment many times in your exhaustive survey: "I find the news too depressing and serious, I want news to be fun." TOO BAD, news is serious. News is about important events. News is about motovating people to make a difference through education. NEWS is not some trivial story about some kid who wins a hockey championship in Regina, or some farmer who grows really big pumpkins ("as it happens" reference), news is about political changes, military decisions, diplomacy, economics, and history. I understand the need to reform yourselves, capitalism demands you improve your viewership. BUT PLEASE, maintain your integrity. I beg you. CBC and the BBC are the only valid english language news networks left. DONT CHEAPEN YOURSELF. I wish you all good luck, and never ever let stupidity, backed by marketing dollars run your network.

GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK

Tony Burman replies: I hear you. We will keep your caution in mind. For better or for worse, CBC News sometimes seems to have a monopoly on seriousness - some would say: earnestness. Although we will remember your warning, I can't see us heading in the direction of entertainment. But Canadians - particularly young Canadians - are urging us to loosen up a bit, and come up with ways of being more engaging and more accessible. I think we can do that - without throwing our integrity overboard.

Finally...you flipped the local and national news reports to provide a better lead-in (bout time) at 18:00. Here's hoping you'll use more Internet stuff as a complement to your local and national newscasts :)

Dear Mr. Burman:

As for what CBC can do to counter declining public trust in the news media, consider a formal feature that will cover more than the simple "he-said, she-said" type of reporting of controversies and will, instead, expand the coverage to "he-said, she-said, and here is the truth".

It is only human nature that, in rhetoric, one is tempted, perhaps at the unconcious level, to gloss over or to omit information or parts of information that conflicts with one's beliefs. However, by bringing out the missing or misleading points in a controversy, the CBC would be doing a great service, not only to your audience but also, although they might not admit it, to the antagonists in the controversy. If they new that they faced scrutiny for their talking points, the level of discourse might become more rigourous and might climb to a higher level.

The forum that I see might be a separate program or a separate segment on an existing program. It would definitely not be editorialising but, simply, fact finding.

Regards,
Tony Kocurko

I'm great fan of CBC. When I was away last spring, I listened to CBC over the Internet for 6 weeks. Great stuff.

Beefs: during budget speeches and other speeches, don't interrupt with commentary. Leave the commentary until the speaker is finished. That's really irritating.

Follow-up: give better follow-up on major stories.

Yes, international news counts. Please do more.

Keep up the good work! Heather Ferguson

With so much spinning involved in press releases, particulary from Party offices, I appreciate your Reality Check pieces

But I think the CBC should have more scrutiny over the stories these agencies are spinning in the first place. For example, Sponsorship was last-election's issue. Why is everyone treating it like fresh news? This story has been recycled for almost four years now. Consequently, we're at risk of getting a government who prefers individualism and American-style capitalism over social responsibility (and publicly-funded institutions). Seems unthreatening now, but what happens if we get another 9/ll and Harper wants to send us to war to keep us in the US's economic favour (favor!), all because of a four-year-old Sponsorship story of a long-since retired government. Repitition works. And today we're about to hear a ten-year-old story about that same retired government (with whom Martin was an arch enemy). If this story is so relevant, maybe the CBC can dip only 2 years further than that to begin re-telling stories about Mulroney. Surely, those stories must reflect on Harper's party!?

Thanks again for the Reality Checks.

MS
Toronto

My comment comes at, as you said, a crucial time for Canadian media.

I want to congragulate you on your initiative to stop "framing" complicated stories in black-and-white ways, particularily during an election.

It is no secret that the majority of Canadians believe CBC is predominantly left-wing in terms of politics, and federalist in terms of sovereignty issues.

For example, I believe there is a lack in equal coverage for our parties. The green party receives little to no commentary(although I have noted an improvement, as we see a picture of Jim Harris in the images of the 6th week of the election)

Also, there is a clear shut-out of the Bloc Québécois in terms of it's platform to the rest of Canada. We here comments such as a "A platform that will spend X money over a period of 3 years instead of 5".

Federalists parties however, get an in-detailed coverage of specific tax cuts and policies, while we here little of the Bloc's ideas.

So to end, here's to what I hope will reflect a truly neutral CBC, a herald to modern NewsMedia!

Watching the opening sequence of CBC News Now at 8am this morning pleasantly surprised me. I am very impressed with the visual and audio changes.

I am very encouraged and excited about the new journalistic horizons Tony Burman has mentioned and I look forward to viewing the new changes on CBC.

Best of luck.

Bill C-24's impact has been reported to death but the impact of Bill C-3, at least equally important in its impact on national unity, has been invisible in the media.

There is an irony in the fact that the combination of Bill C-3 ( which re-balances the bias against tiny parties in the electoral process) and the TV Debates' "one elected MP to be a national party rule" will someday very soon provide a national TV platform - in both languages - to a Western Canadian Separatist MP who bolts his original party to sit as the only member - and the *only candidate* of a fully national party, as the law understands it.

"Tiny" parties , like the Communists, always found the 50 candidates to remain registerd difficult. They challenged that law and won.

Parliament has now decided an elegible party is any one with 250 elector members, which intend to endorse at least one confirmed candidate at a by election or general election.

A registered party is one which HAS endorsed at least one confirmed candidate at a by election or general election.

These might seem like pretty minimal requirements and the subtle difference between 'eligible' and 'registered' might seem mind-numblingly subtle, but these requirements are actually more taxing than the requirements the Leaders' Debate rules have demanded in the past.

Imagine a Reform-minded /Western Separatist-minded Tory MP from Alberta who decides to bolt and sit as the sole MP of a western separatist party he and the supporters in his home riding create.

The minute they run a single candidate anywhere in Canada ( and most periods between general elections includes about 2.5 by elections), they become a registered national party with a single elected MP and with the intention of running that single individual as their only candidate in the upcoming general election.

He (she) having meet all the possible requirements , asks to be included on both Debates and.....and then what?

I can sum up my reponse as "exactly."

You hit the marks exactly on target. I want to see CBC rise above traditional media and go back to its roots (not that I believe it strayed from them) but continue with solid journalism but showing all viewpoints and focusing longer on some issues more then others.

I knew CBC had an Editor in Chief or something to that effect but I perceived it as a business position since I never heard from you.

As an aside, I look at CBC as home. It is home to me, especially when I gather my news (my daily dose in the morning online, and on TV during the evening or late night). Also, what ever happen to the live video feed of earthTV before going to commercial. I enjoyed that aspect of the live video from around the world instead of just straight to a commercial. It may have been expensive but it was a good call. Bring it back.

Keep writing. Keep Leading.

I find it deplorable that the Green Party of Canada and its leader, Jim Harris, have been denied the right to debate the other party leaders by the broadcast consortium of which the CBC is a part. In the last election, the Green Party won just over 4% of the national vote and thousands of Canadians like myself wish to see how their ideas would play out on a national stage. Mr. Burman, you talk of our "heartbeat of our democracy" and then help deny hundreds of thousands of Canadians the very blood that it pumps, the free exchange of ideas. Moreover, I am concerned by the overall lack of media coverage of the Green Party and its policies. It's time for the consortium to accept that the Green Party of Canada is indeed a political alternative that a signifigant porportion of Canadian voters support. The Bloc Quebecois and Reform Party were both allowed to debate despite having no representation in the House. All Canadians, whether they wish to or not, are helping to fund the Green Party. They should at least see what their money is being used for. Let Jim debate. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Tony Burman replies: I understand your view, and I know that it is shared by thousands of Canadians. At this point, the only thing I can say is that I hope you at least understand the reasoning behind the decision. This was not solely determined by the CBC. The debates are staged by agreement among the parties and a consortium of broadcasters (CTV, Global, TVA, Radio-Canada and CBC) in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The consortium explained its decision in a statement: "The decision about who is invited to participate....is made by the consortium members on editorial grounds. In this election, the consortium has only invited the leaders of the four most prominent parties with representation in the House of Commons to participate....At one time the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) Guidelines for Broadcast Licensees required, in effect, that the leaders of all registered parties be included in election debates programs. Following a legal challenge, the court determined that debates were not of a partisan political character. Accordingly the CRTC issued a new directive in March, 1995 specifically indicating that it was no longer necessary that debate programs feature all rival parties or candidates in one or more programs. The CRTC confirmed that the balance requirements of the Broadcasting Act would be met if 'reasonable steps are taken to ensure that their (broadcaster) audiences are informed of the main issues and of the positions of all candidates and registered parties on those issues throughout their public affairs programs generally.' The networks have committed themselves to provide ample coverage of other parties, particularly the Green Party, during this campaign. This has already been evident in the frequent appearances of the Green Party leader in many programs."

I have always loved CBC radio and the variety of programs you have on it. However, it might be helpful if you could adopt a more sympathetic view towards social conservatives and their opinions. I have found there to be an underlying hostility towards social conservatism as something 'un-canadian' which is irritating.

Good that you will have local news at 6. However, viewers need local news 7 days a week, at least twice a day. Your local news is not on enough...we need more CBC local coverage, including the arts.

You need to increase your on-air frequency if you want to increase viewers to CBC.

Tony Burman replies: You're right. I agree. We are looking for ways to increase our coverage of local news - and that certainly should include the arts. Not only throughout the day, but on the weekends. The obvious challenge for us to find the resources to do this.

I'd like to make an additional suggestion to broaden the overall appeal of the CBC's website coverage: Please add an expanded local-interest coverage presence, especially concerning relevant, expanded local headlines and events in one's own city, province and territory and to substantially increase its local coverage to include weekends.

In my opinion, it is extremely disconcerting to see national headlines copied and pasted and then passed off as "local" news for cities such as Windsor, Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Saskatchewan, the North or other locations on a daily basis and a glaring lack of coverage for any and all local areas over the weekend. News truly does happen outside of Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver and the site should reflect this more fully.

CBC should also be aware that relevant local news does not stop happening just because 5:00 pm in Central Canada on Friday rolls around, and should in turn make a concerted effort to provide quality local weekend headlines. If other media outlets are capable of providing such news, CBC most certainly can follow suit or lead in this department. Instead of the cursory and bland (and often very repetitive)three to five banner headlines for each local area, why not expand it to 10 or more to keep people interested. Brief news blurbs and text hyperlinks do not not take up an inordinate amount of space and can easily be included in a revamped format or added to the existing one to allow readers to explore local interest stories in more depth. If organizations such as the BBC, ABC (Both American and Australian) and others can provide comprehensive local and international coverage, then the CBC must expand its content for the sake of retaining its readership.

I am happy to read that the CBC is willing to entertain the public's input and make long overdue changes and I sincerely hope that it improves the overall content found on the site and other media formats.

When inproving the news, could you make sure to improve the feed we get on line. When travelling, I have often ended up having to rely on on the BBC and CNN (not my first choice). But we could not get a proper feed from CBC. Links would often break down and videos were not available. As a Canadian, I would rather have my news from our perspective instead of American and British.

Good Morning Tony.

THanks for this article and heads up about the changes coming in CBC. Just a few comments that comes to mind, having just returned from a 2 week vacation in Hawaii. 1) I've come to rely upon CBC radio, television, and website for responsive and responsible journalism. When I travel I REALLY miss the first two items, especially the regular hourly news on radio. SUrfing through the radio frequencies on the islands of Hawaii, do you think I could find a station that covered news in a comprehensive manner as I've come to expect from CBC? Not a chance. 2) THe news broadcasts I did find were either exclusively local or exclusively U.S.-oriented. I recognize radio stations have the right to narrow to their target all they want, but it only served to highlight how much I appreciate the approach to journalism CBC employs. Well done!

Good morning!

Wow - can't believe that you are initiating a dialogue, that you actually do want people to engage in discussions, and that this will be ongoing. I guess this is a good thing...I'm not sure why we all want our voices heard now more than ever, but maybe in our search for significance in this broader but smaller world we see everyday through the lens of CBC, we need to express ourselves more clearly in order to define our place in it.

Whatever the case may be, welcome to the internet, and thanks for the chance to interact with you - good luck with all of the replies, and if you're ever looking for someone who speaks Haitian Creole, whom you could drop back into P-a-P in a second, for a fresh look, don't hesitate to contact me! :o)

I think the issues you've identified above are interesting, and critical. I'll look forward to checking back here often.

Ciao!

What I have to say about the CBC is that it’s my main source for news, I always check back on CBC.ca, it’s reliable, straight to the point and it’s Canadian. I always promote the CBC and Radio-Canada to americans who need to get the FULL story (or and other opinion) of any situation

The new design great, one thing I am disappointed in are the ad banners that have been added, but I understand that budget limitations made it necessary for the CBC to add them

I do not believe the information should be controlled. People SHOULD see everything that is going on, hostage tapes, disasters and so on. People need to see the REAL world and see that we are lucky to live in Canada. I think the CBC should be everywhere at all time covering important events. Keep up the good work

The CBC is the greatest source of information in Canada and the news at peak viewing hours should be made by the CBC and not the BBC! Something I find frustrating is tuning in to the CBC and finding myself watching BBC news

CBC should reflect both cultures that contributed to the making of Canada. Mixing the CBC and Radio-Canada’s material would be nice

A few comments on the CBC.ca website,

1 Video formats, I have real player and know how to use it, but I would like to have the option to choose my video format such as windows media player or real player. I know that Radio-Canada.ca uses windows media player

2 On the CBC Business section, the exchange rates should be posted differently. For example instead of saying the Japanese Yen = 0.0102 CAD it should say 1$ = 98 Yen, that way it would be more meaningful (both conversions would be good too)

3 Something interesting that could be looked into would be some kind of live chat, not necessarily monitored but some kind of chat that would connect people from all over Canada and even the world to discuss topics that the CBC is reporting. It would be an efficient alternative to emails and phone calls (it would increase the traffic on CBC.ca)

The one change I'd like to see is the elimination of a left-wing bias from CBC. You likely actually believe the CBC is objective, but it's not. Yes, you hammer the Liberals on easy ones like AdScam, but you're relentlessly "on-side" when it comes to the gay agenda, abortion "rights", day care, health care, child porn, George Bush, environmentalism, Canada-US relations, religion etc. There's virtually no conservative voice, or perspective, heard on CBC TV or radio. (Sorry, Dalton Camp on Gzowski's show, doesn't count.) Until you're able to change that, the rest is window dressing.

Tony Burman replies: I understand your view and take it seriously. Although it won't surprise you to say I don't share it, I acknowledge that this view is felt intensely by a certain number in our audience. This is a complicated issue, and I will certainly be dealing with it in greater detail in an upcoming 'Letter'.

I am a faithfull follower of CBC in all aspects, news and entertainment. I will welcome the new changes if the integrity of the reporting and broadcast remains the same! As a teacher I rely heavily on CBC.ca and especially the Archives to enrich the learning experiences of my students. Well done, but don't change too much!!

Sir:

I am glad you are going for a new look. What about programs that were successful in the past that you took of the air because of $$. One such program was Heath Matters. I enjoyed the medical news as well as the stories that were produced. And if I can remember didn't it win the Freddie & Micheal DeBakey awards. Gosh if it was good enough for AMA to approve of it contentance don't you think you viewers also felt the same. Bring it back and let see how you feel that programing is important to CBC rather than the $$$ value.

A Fellow Canadian who enjoy CBC and its news features.

THANK YOU for your promise for more international news!!!!!

Your letters sound like they should be fascinating reading. I look forward to them.

When the CBC puts its weight behind a story, Canada feels it. So make sure that "focusing on fewer stories and doing them better" means that you won't just be covering headlines common to all other news outlets. By all means, do the daily benchmark stories and do them well, but give us stories we haven't heard. Show us the world and ourselves, without the cliches.

Eversince those brand changes on Monday, I have been watching CBC News more and more. The new design is quite organized, expecially the Newsworld ticker (including a new clock), and it has a bit of substance now, like BBC and CNN. The darker colour scheme is much more modern and easier to look at too.

Well done. I have friends that are saying the exact same thing. I am sure ratings will really improve.

Sounds like the beginning of a wonderful dialogue with your audience. You have tried to focus many important issues. Canadians will be watching with interest.

Most important please be open and transparent and listen to what Canadians want and what is good for our great country. Is it because CBC bosses have the last word that the Tommy Douglas story was cancelled at the last minute? I thought it was against the public interest.

All the best,
Abdul Pirani

First let me congratulate you on having the courage to take up this kind of public dialogue. While I think CBC's news coverage is generally very good, this is a good first step in making it even better - as well as more inclusive, and relevant to the issues that are of concern to Canadians or, as you put it, "A Broader Definition of News".

One thing I'd encourage in the CBC newsroom is to keep an eye on the blogs and pod-casts produced by individuals across the country. Spending a few minutes a day reading these may lead you to stories you would have missed and will let you know what Canadians are thinking and talking about.

Most of these people don't have nearly the access that CBC News does and you can provide them more in depth, factual, and complex coverage of issues people are already thinking and talking about. A kind of 'you ask the questions, we'll find the answers' kind of approach.

Further, by covering the things that Canadians are talking about, CBC may help bring about more responsive government. If an anonymous person in New Brunswick writes about something in their blog - it won't get a response from government. However, if they raise valid issues and the CBC covers those issues a response from government is almost assured.

Just a few initial thoughts, that I must keep under 2000 characters. I'm sure you'll hear from me again.

Please return local TV news to 6:30pm so that I can watch BBC World followed by local news.

I miss seeing NWI on DIRECTV while wintering in Texas. It and the daily CBC new headlines from halifax by email are about my only news links to Canada. Fellow winter Texans have also commented on the high quality of NWI programs and the more rounded reporting available to those of us who mostly see American based news.

Please see if you can't resume broadcasting via DIRECTV as it provides an essential service to Canadians wintering in the US and to US viewers who want a less biased report of American and international news.

I look forward to receiving the Monday newsleters from Tony Burman.

M. Grantham

Tony Burman replies: We too miss Newsworld International (NWI) on DirecTV. For many years, this was CBC's showcase throughout the United States - providing CBC news and current affairs to both Americans and Canadians in the U.S. Since September 11, 2001, we received thousands of e-mails from viewers who appreciated the uniqueness of CBC's coverage. As you know, the channel that carried NWI was sold to another company and there's now different programming on it. At the CBC, we are still looking for ways of resuming some sort of U.S.-service, but we're discovering that breaking into the American cable market is an immense challenge. Even BBC World is not broadcast throughout the U.S. But we shall keep trying.

Dear Mr. Burman:

I would like to congradulate you and CBC News in bringing in-depth reporting of today's issues. I started watching CBC via Newsworld International back in the summer of 2001. Sad to see it go in the summer of 2005. I wish they had more CBC programs on Newsworld International. One of my favorite shows is The National with Peter Mansbridge, he does an excellent job plus Rex Murphy with his Point of View. Also, I like Marketplace. Marketplace is an excellent educational program. When will you have more Internet streaming of CBC Newsworld, currently there is CBC Radio Streaming. Also, your major competitor, CTV Newsnet has internet streaming. Unfortunately, some of the CBC Hourly Newscasts are short, especially in the morning. One of the best parts of the CBC Morning Newscast is watching Colleen Jones with the Weather and Sports. Sometimes she does not appear until later on during the hour. Also, Anna Maria Tremonti does an excellent job with The Current. If and when Peter Mansbridge does retire, CBC News should make Carole MacNeil the chief correspondent. She is an excellent reporter who I first noticed on the Toronto verision of Canada Now back in September 2000. Keep up the excellent work and keep up with the improvements.

CBC online is a mainstay for many of us overseas Canadians. Keep up the good work. CBC radio one being available live online means I can now listen to CBC whenever I want.

Thanks for the great work.

If I had any suggestion it would be for a more rounded global approach and less following of top American stories.

I particularly like the part about 'conversation.' We have been rather thoroughly trained to kowtow and have all but lost the capacity to converse intelligently and respectfully. Democracy lives in ongoing conversation and evaporates when people live in fear. Converse freely and fear is sent packing.