There are many wonderful things happening in Africa. I just ready Stephen Lewis, Massey Series lectures series. As part of this new "Our World" it would be great if you did a piece following Stephen for a look at some of the amazing projects his foundation funds. Thanks to him, many projects like Reach Out in Mbuya Parish, Kampala, Ugand flourish. Shirley

I fully support having the CBC expand its scope of information gathering and reporting to provide better information on global issues that are relevant to Canadian’s. I particularly appreciated the “Reality Check” items presented during the recent election. I hope the CBC will be able to present this type of information package on more subjects, including international issues.

Providers of information who strive to do so without an agenda, such as the CBC, are necessary to battle intolerance in our nation and around the world. The intolerance of the way others chose to live is being fueled by the increasing use of misleading misinformation messages. When I discuss major issues I frequently encounter people with opinions that appear to be formed by their selected sources of information. These people are often unaware of information that contradicts their view of things. In many cases, being able to present them with facts they were unaware of has enabled me to broaden their perspective, if only a little.

Hopefully as the CBC expands its international role it will be able to increase the number of journalists and organizations striving to provide complete objective information on an issue.

I applaud the initiative. I recently spent a year in New Zealand and was impressed by the international coverage of most of the NZ media. In particular, NZ media takes the idea of a global world seriously and treats the UN as a world government. I still log in to NZ media for balanced coverage in this area. Statements by Kofi Anan and by UN agencies like UNESCO and WHO are treated (almost) as prominently as statements by Bush, or local ministers of Education or Health. CBC should expand its internationalization not just by posting journalists in other nations, but also in significant international organizations. I long for the day when interviews with the UIN Secretary General will take priority over those with national leaders.

A second point: During the CBC strike I turned to the BBC. All BBC programs remain available on the Web for a full week after broadcast, in text, audio or video. Since the web is my preferred media for news, I wonder if CBC could not catch up with the BBC on this policy.

The new changes are enlightening, but I would like to see some changes to cbc.ca

CBC's website (it's layout, content, etc) is a breath of fresh air compared to the other major news organizations whose sites are commercialized. With the exceptions of the sports sections and events, the banner ads should go. The site, just like CBC radio, should remain commercial free.

CBC has links to cellphones, pagers, RSS and now podcasts, but what about support for such services as MSN messenger, where we can recieve instant sport scores and breaking news as alerts.

There should be live video of breaking news, The National, and perhaps Newsworld around the clock. This would be especially usefull since Newsworld International isn't available in many developed countries. (I understand there might be a funding and bandwidth issue, especially since I'm against the banner ads).

There should be more visibility for viewer discussion fourms as the BBC has. Put links on the sidebar to the fourm for the relevant story.

I assume the colour scheme of the website will fully match that of the television. When will that occur?

I'd like to see more content in the In Depth section, it's very informative.

Above all, I'd like to see more emphasise on science, such as a weekly television program, perhaps hosted by Bob MacDonald.

Thanks and keep up the great work!

I agree international coverage should remain a priority, although I am unsure if Canadians are that much different from Americans when it comes to a choice between 'best' and 'popular'.

As a public broadcaster, the CBC is less obligated to attracting mass audiences than the competing private networks, and I pray it remains so. It is why I am keenly interested in the new Conservative government's policy re the CBC, and how much it will be influenced by backbenchers who are notoriously hostile to the funding of public broadcasting.

Anything you do to stem the tide of stenography masquerading as journalism will surely go a long way in resurrecting the CBC's reputation.

I get my Canadian fix from the CBC website and, to be blunt, it is a disappointing mix of disaster, murder, political innuendo and falsehood, and more. It is a mix to be found at any two bit, second rate news outlet.

I grew up expecting the media, and the CBC in particular, to be my watchdog. A watchdog, however, does not (for instance) allow an individual to repeatedly state falsehoods (e.g. Bush on the Iraq 9-11 connection). A watchdog doesn't go for the hook (e.g. the racy comments from Question Period). A watchdog does the work to reveal the truth and leaves the tabloid stuff to others.

To be fair and balanced isn't allowing opposites to state their case (often, as noted above, filled with falsehood). To be fair and balanced is to find the truth....that is your responsibility.

And, one last specific suggestion....cut the war pimp stuff with Iran. Ask the hard questions even if it means you'll end up with restricted access to sources (I.F. Stone...I think that was his name....didn't need access to dig up some very big stories....he just did the work). Francis Penny A Canadian in the U.S.

Tony, thanks for mentioning Nanaimo, B.C. my home for 60 years. I like the way you think, and I'm sure the CBC will carry on in the tradition of fine representation of who we are, not who the Americans think we are or would like us to be. No thanks.

My wife and I have travelled Canada in the past few years, and are amazed by how multicultural our country has become. Toronto, once WASP, has certainly evolved as a city. International events are no longer "foreign", and the CBC, as Canada's only true national broadcaster, does have a responsibility to bring Canadians, and anyone else who cares to listen, fair and accurate coverage of events no matter where they are, and I find it does this important work very well indeed! Given how truely multicultural Canada has become, it definitely to longer difficult to find a "local" connection for an international story. Well done, CBC!!!

I eagerly pull up the CBC news page on the internet each day, and look forward to it. I have also "surfed" other news sites and find them lacking when compare to yours. Keep up the good work thks 2/02/06

I wholeheartedly agree! CBC should devote more time and energy to international affairs. The events outside our borders affect us. We need to know what's going on in the outside world (crudely paraphased from Fiddler on the Roof). If you need more air time for international affairs, lose the banter between hosts, and concentrate on what Canadians need to know. More meat, less filler. Give us more documentaries. Give us what we need to understand the greater world around us.

Do you really believe that in 2006 most Americans get their news (domestic or international) from ABC, CBS and NBC?

Tony Burman replies: I know what you're getting at, but the answer to your question is actually 'yes'. As you know, television dominates the other media in providing news to Americans. And the fact is - in spite of fragmentation, the internet and declining national newscasts - the local and network news services of ABC, CBS and NBC still tower over other American networks - including CNN and Fox News - in total audience numbers. For example, the evening national newscasts on these three networks may have declined by a third in the past ten years. But more than 25 million Americans still watch them each evening - more than 10 times the number of combined viewers that Fox News and CNN achieve at the same time. So when The Big Three (still pretty BIG) in the U.S. cut back their international news reporting, it affects the news consumption of millions of Americans at all times of the night and day. This will change one day, of course, but it hasn't...quite yet.

I have a brother serving in Afghanistan, we (My Family) don't here any reporting going over there regarding the Canadian Troops, only when there is certain death or injury to the Troops. About two years ago now, enjoyed "The National" with Peter Mansbridge reporting from Afghanistan at Camp Julien.You people gave a good round about history, news, the goings on in out of Camp. At that time , It was a good week of NATIONAL News from Afghanistan. Hoping you can continue with this kind of reporting, now that My Brother is serving second tour over there.

Thank You CBC News. I want to be kept up-to-date.

Tony Burman replies: I'm delighted to announce that Peter Mansbridge and The National are heading your brother's direction once again! With the Canadian military presence there, Afghanistan has become a very important place for us. We currently have a radio/television reporting team there and we expect to be staffed in the country until June. As for Peter and The National, they will be in Afghanistan in early March once more doing special programming on this crucial story.

A conference took place in Caracas, Venezuela last week making the point that "An Other World is Possible". I am convinced that Chavez, Morales, Castro, Kirchner, Lula are showing the way and I am finding out about this movement from the alternate press. Where is your coverage? The continent of South America is turning, through a soft revolution to a populist driven socialist governance and in Canada we are missing the boat as there is no honest mainstream media that will go near this story. The opposition to this movement seems to mainly be coming from the wealthy elite and the media and it is disappointing that my own public broadcaster may be culpable. Your coverage all about the wars perpetrated by the tyrants of our time and here is a story of the peaceful transition of Latin America from a capitalist oligarchy to a collection of states run for the people that live there. Where were you? If you join CNN then you have lost your way and truly deserve to have your funding cut. It is one thing to be a lap dog of the corporate world; it is quite another to be that and have the taxpayers paying for it.

Tony Burman replies: Corporate Lap Dog reporting for duty, sir. Seriously, I accept your overall point about Latin America. When I was in my mid-20s, I spent more than a year travelling through South America and learned then that it is one of the world's most fascinating places. I certainly agree with you that there are very important developments occurring there now, and CBC News should be doing much more to cover them. We need to build on the excellent reporting for CBC Radio of our Mexico City correspondent, Connie Watson. We are determined to do so, so please stay tuned.

Expansion of international coverage is a good thing considering the vibrant ethnic communities in Canada. However, I notice the current trend in cbc.ca news coverage that it mostly converge on the middle east right now, as if we only care part of the world where american interests are in. Obviously there is more of the globe that is not covered. For example, India and China are the world's most populous countries that are rising dramatically, yet they are barely mentioned. I understand it would be difficult to cover the Indian/Pakistani conflict or Mainland China/Taiwan conflict without agitating some minority groups, but trying never hurts. For the editorial side cbc would need more people like Jim Reed and Don Murray who gave us the best analysis of events abroad.

Wonderful to learn that the CBC TV footprint is now on every continent! You wrote, simply but poignantly: “The world is no longer far away.” I was touched by this deeper play of the "It's a small world after all" Disney ode. It is truer, I think, to describe the world this way, as something “close” to us rather than as something “small”.

A journalist is traditionally trained to be distanced. Perhaps our complex world now makes it inevitable that the journalist will more and more move beyond "just the facts" reporting. Weighing in somewhere in between a focus on “just the facts” and “just my personal feelings” perspectives is a sensitive viewer wishing to engage and until now only being able to do so through the critical eyes of the foreign correspondent.

Within a few years, perhaps under the auspices of the new “world affairs” bureau, the immersive news technology now in development will be on hand to permit viewers to have not just a “view” into a news event, but also a “telepresence”. In such a media environment, journalists would increasingly become the guides, the trusted “forward scouts and navigators” more than “reporters”. As such, they would not be effective unless they shared the broadest range of their perspectives.

Even today, with all the passionate appeals for more in-depth reporting, it seems that “world affairs unit" would be a misnomer for the new world bureau. The western world's capricious and often self-serving "affair" with the world is now over. As you say, the world is no longer far away. For us, the world is becoming a more deeply intimate experience. The name should reflect this.

One journalist who upholds the new propriety of being “close” to the world is the octogenarian American pacifist, former CIA agent, and Doonesbury character William Sloan Coffin, who concludes:

“The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love.”

But maybe you are the only news editor out there who would agree.

As a retired newspaper publisher/editor, I'm still very much a news junkie even though I now write crime fiction. I read two daily newspapers and receive NYT, Washington Post and CBC on-line each morning. By a very wide margin, CBC-On-Line does it best. Excellent diversity, accessibility and perhaps, best of all, balanced and relatively free of the spin that infects so much of the contemporary media.I'm old enough to value the separation of news and commentary. Reporting in perspective is an art form that is much abused.One las thought: I still finding the on-line process mind-blowing as I sit at my lap top looking over Georgian Bay, amazed that all your goodies are only a click away. The CBC is my Canada. regards.jake

Tony Burman replies: What a wonderful scene you describe! You’re right. It’s amazing how fast that technology is advancing. This media ‘revolution’ – if we use it wisely – has so much positive potential.

Remember - CBC stands for the CANADIAN Broadcasting Corporation - we need to see focus on Canada, and what goes on here at home - that should be the primary focus. I agree with most of your initiatives, however - if you increase your presence internationally, do it nationally as well. For instance, in Hamilton, a city of over 500,000 we have NO CBC presence here - no radio, TV, or CBC bureau. Focus on Canada more.

Tony Burman replies: I agree. We won’t cover the ‘world’ at the expense of ‘Canada’. Both are essential to the CBC and to Canadians. And we will continue to fight as hard to expand our presence “nationally” as we do “internationally”.

I've lived and worked in the Bahamas, the Peoples Republic of China, India, Rwanda and Bolivia. I currently live in Fort Smith NWT... Thank you CBC... having experienced what "news" in other countries... I am one who appreciates what having CBC's journalists giving us coverage of the world... With the terrible job that the other radio, TV, print and digital media do... we need CBC even more than we did since the dawn of electronic media... but please... never lockout your employees again... here in the North.. their work is our only source of local news... I subscribe to CBC News Online - North News Digest and it (and when possible) your audio streams from Yellowknife keep me in touch where ever I am in the world.. Thanks.. and keep up the good work...

While I applaud the increased international coverage, I want more stories about Canada. For example, we should know much more history ie Indian reserves and chiefs and struggles, as well as the origins of all of the political parties and the histories of all provinces. We are not here (ie paying taxes) to educate Americans because their news stations fail to do so, but if they pick up our service somewhere and find it useful, so be it.

I believe it's a great idea to have more world coverage. I'm fifteen years old, and the Palastine - Iseal conflict still confuses me. My family are immigrants from China, and it is important to us to know what happens in our native country. I believe that other people feels the same way.

I like the suggestion of partnering up with news networks in other countries. They have a better perspective on things happening in their own country and serve better to educate canadians about issues on the world stage.

However, if CBC is trying to bring in more global coverage, it would not be appropriate to put Canada right in the middle. The earth doesn't revolve around Canada, we're just a small part of a constantly changing world. Yes, there should be more international coverage, but there should also be more focus on the the roles of other countries in the world, not just Canada.

Canada's younger and newer populations have little sense of "outer Canada" . They, and we, hear nearly nothing regularly about the lives, issues, opportunities, strengths of our rural people, resource-based towns, our northern native and Innuit communities. I think CBC needs to interact more with Canada ! Whatever happened to our correspondent from Crow River? How's with the bears in Churchill. Are bthe locals re-building their church yet in Inuvik? Any truckers lost on the ice roads? What's up with shipping this year, down the Mackenzie, up to the Arctic Island? Greenland is a neighbour, eh! (puff, puff)

Harper wants us all to turn a more concerned eye on the Arctic. And the far off Yukon? What else goes on besides dog races and forest fires?... We need the CBC to help build understanding and insight of who and what we are between these three coastlines. The Canada factor... Can Harper re-invent Pres. Kennedy's sentiment and ask our youth what they can do for their country ? Personally, professionally ? Do they know much about their country beyond the urban sprawls?

Overseas reports make for anquished fascination, but mostly detached viewing; Canadian reports make for attachment and committment to common goals and issues, and broadens our concern for all fellow citizens. As a stronger nation we can better help the world and give a helping hand when needed.

Tony Burman replies: A core responsibility for the CBC is to help Canadians understand their country. And – unquestionably – that is where the bulk of CBC resources is devoted. But Canada – and Canadians – are a central part of a wider world. And we need to understand that, too. If “overseas reports make for anguished fascination but mostly detached viewing”, as you write, then that’s an eloquent reason to improve CBC’s coverage of the world because international issues DO matter. But we know we can do that without detracting from our very important coverage of Canada.

Thank you CBC for your ever-expanding coverage of the world affairs. I am constantly being informed by your website, news and documentaries on Newsworld. I too am disappointed in American TV programming and advertising tactics and do not wish to be exposed to it. I stick to listening and watching CBC, PBS and the Knowledge Network. I look forward to your continuing informative programming. Keep up the good work.

I agree with your plans.I would like to hear more indepth interviews with reporters "on the ground"I would like to see more discussions about issues in Canada & abroad & less antique road show.Thanks

I agree with what you've said and eagerly await more international programming. However, as a college teacher, I see that most teenagers and many young adults are clueless about many of the places and events not only around the world but also right here in Canada. Last fall I had an 18-year-old student who knew who George Bush was but didn't know who Paul Martin was. I'd love to see news broadcasts in English and French that are geared towards a younger crowd. Even my 7-year-old son likes to watch the news but the broadcasts are over his head. Kid-friendly news reports on Saturday morning would be fantastic. Thanks for reading my comments. Susan Drolet

I greatly regret the US lack of understanding of international realities and dreams. I count on the CBC and others to give Canada and the rest of the perspective we so badly need, in Jesus' Love, /pastor tom blossom

My brother and I use CBC.ca as our home page. CBC has become our #1 source of news. I too want to see more international coverage but I don't think that we are far off from a healthy diet.

Mr. Burman: I couldn't agree with you more with your plans to make the CBC's international coverage even better. Indeed, the American networks have failed miserably in that regard. With the purchase of the channel that formerly aired Newsworld International, Al Gore's company has succeeded in further isolating American viewers from other viewpoints on international news.

I wish we Americans had access to your broadcasts!

In your work as Editor in Chief, please consider every option to increase your circulation by finding a way to get the CBC signal back on an American satellite.

Sincerely, Randy Schultz, M.D. Durango, Colorado USA

You are correct in your assessment of our foreign news coverage here in the US. Frankly, I believe this has opened a window of opportunity for the CBC here. You good folks used to have a news channel here until I believe it was a group led by V.P. Al Gore purchased the channel and turned it into something else. Out of the 24/7 news stations, CNN comes close to offering "good" coverage of world events, but is now focusing more on domestic stuff. Fox News...well..is Fox News, need I say more on those people? MSNBC can't make up its mind if it wants to be the "farm team league" where the others (outside of Chris Mathews) seem to land when they bomb elsewhere (Tucker Carlson) or serve simply as an add on for its other misbehaved sibling, CNBC. Honestly, I'm surprised the CBC never tried to become the "4th Network" here before Fox did or even a 5th now, yes, your core audience is Canada, but I'm sure what ad revenue you could make down here would give you enough to fund more good programs for Canada. Last, but not least, has CBC News thought about partnering with someone down here? I know that the CBS is looking for one, maybe they would dump their news division and we could have Peter Mansbridge too, eh? We sure as hell could use your news network, what we got now looks like the television network from...well..."Network."

Tony Burman replies: Thank you for your comments. As you point out, CBC News coverage was available since the early 1990s throughout the United States on our international satellite channel, Newsworld International (NWI). But that is no more – in spite of the fact that the channel made money and cost Canadians nothing. During that time, we were quite struck by how many Americans seemed to respond positively to CBC’s coverage – particularly since the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Since NWI went off the air last July, we have tried various ways of re-entering the American cable world, but it is very restrictive. The free American marketplace as exemplified by cable operators seems to have certain preferences. They want more movie, gambling and sex channels before they want “another news network”. Even a global presence such as BBC World is not carried in the U.S. To me, this is like walking into an American newsstand and discovering that The Economist is not available for sale. The CBC will keep trying to penetrate this strange world.

There is no place for ethnocentricity in today's world. The fisherman in Ghana is my brother. The woman selling silk in a market in Chang Mai is my sister. I say this, not in any political (ie: communistic) sense, but because it is an essential truth. We are all connected. Their lives are as important and interesting to me as my own and anything you can do to better inform me as to how they are doing is welcome.

For a long time I wondered about the value of the CBC. Your plans for expanding world news coverage is renewing my faith. Keep following that track and you may find me back in church on a regular basis. Lead on.

I don't own a TV by choice, so depend entirely for information on Radio 1 and literature I subscribe to. I am very happy with Radio 1, but more international, topical information of any kind would make it that much better. I view Radio 1 as educational in nature and want it to continue that way, and even more so. Thankyou, Mary Garner.

Yes, you are on the right track. I first check cbc.ca daily, then head to the BBC online for deeper international coverage. I would enjoy seeing the world from a Canadian perspective.

Hello Tony, I think that it would be a better use of resources if the basic daily news services, especially international news services, were done via partnerships with other news providers. So, for example, reporters from different countries could provide reports where CBC reporters are not present as they can't be everywhere. This will allow two things:

1. Canadians getting different perspectives from reporters with different cultural backgrounds (hopefully some non-western perspectives like Chinese, Indian, African and South American reporters).

2. It would free up resources for some investigative reporting. To me, what is really lacking on CBC is investigative journalism and background pieces that delve behind the headlines and give some perspective.

Well, those are my two cents worth. Ian Goldman

Tony Burman replies: This is an excellent suggestion, and we are trying for partnerships with other broadcasters. This should produce very needed “different perspectives”, as you put it. Unfortunately, with so many varying production and editorial standards throughout the world, this isn’t easy to organize. But we will give it a shot.

First off, thank you for going to the people for feedback. We're not just customers. As taxpayers, we're also owners. Most of your replies will probably be from CBC-supporters, skewing the demographic. I fall into this category as well.

The main problem I have with modern media is the lack of sources. I've seen the same story appear in a hundred publications, all getting their feed from a single AP feed. Obviously, a single source with point of biased/inaccuracies is a bad thing. But to add to that, the single source is usually non-Canadian and therefore cannot hone in on issues that may be specifically important to us.

Another problem I have with modern media is the obvious trend in that news has become entertainment. It is about sensationalizing stories. It is about creating controversy where controversy may not exist. It is about ignoring important stories inorder to highlight sexy stories.

As a taxpayer, I am all for spending more money on the CBC and public broadcasting. I do not consider it to be merely "entertainment". Nor do I consider it to be merely "cultural heritage".

No, I also consider it to be part of the Canadian public education system. With that, I hope that the CBC will become more accessible. I've always wished that the CBC was intertwined with the public library system and the university system, building stronger bonds (and viewership) with the general public, holding courses and seminars. Bringing in speakers, etc. Perhaps, this is too much to wish for. Being just another TV/Radio station on a budget is too much work already. - Kirk. Vancouver, BC.

I was totally enlightened the other night, watching Omni's news from South Asia on satellite TV. It seemed at once exotic, as slightly inaccurate in its coverage. (Meetings of men in brightly coloured silks and turbans, to a report that the new Harper government would reverse gay marriages straight away).

Nevertheless, it made me realize how I hungered for world news from different perspectives, not just Canadian. I used to keep up with world events and issues, in order to teach them to 17 year olds, by reading Maclean's...but not since the new editorship has dumbed it down to an inquiring-minds-want-to-know schtick: titillating tidbits in a busy, unreadable style (except for the last page, which was a brilliant idea, though I still miss Fotheringham).

Sure, if CBC expands its international content with more foreign bureaus, I might even tune in for a change.

I am of English/Welsh extraction with a Swill/Austrian husband and the extended coverage sounds great. I have always enjoyed your coverage and your past and current coverage of events around the world. I am always been very aware of the importance of international events on our lives, since childhood. One of the frustrations of visiting the U.S. is that one cannot even find out if there is weather north of the border! The entire world is important now that we are more than ever a 'global village'.

We leave the country for a month in 12 hours but I wanted to say very quickly that my wife and I and our children are VERY interested in "the world" and are happy you are planning to pay more attention to it. Your blueprint looks good to me. Good luck. David Jory.

I think you're doing a good job.I enjoy reading all the news about the world which is getting smaller and smaller.Congratulations !

I am pleased to hear that there will be increased world coverage for Canadians here and abroad. I spent three months in Togo, West Africa in 2003. The lack of knowledge amongst many Canadians as to what is going on in other parts of the world such as Africa and India is disppointing. This will help us become more aware of what we have here in the western world and how marginally people in other areas of the world live. When in Togo, I could be found in my back yard starting the morning fire to boil water and whatever soup may need it as we had no electicity for the luxuries of appliances, listening to our transistor radio.Providing us with news coverage from BBC. It was scratchy some days but I looked forward to that connection with the rest of Africa and the outside world. They in this small remote village had a well rounded news base that is sadly lacking in North America. I will never forget the day Sadam Hussein was caught by the Americans. the only English on french radio we were listening to that day was "we got him" in that Texas drawl of President Bush. the group of people we were sharing an evening meal with broke out laughing. Translated for us was that they thought it funny that that man who is a cowboy thinks he can do whatever he wants anywhere in the world.Extremely perceptive of a small village that has no electricity, where women haul water from a common well and has a one room school house run by the local church (EPT).

Tony Burman replies: You tell a fascinating story, Margaret. That’s an example of what this CBC initiative is about. We need to capture more of these human insights in our own reporting.

As a Canadian expatriate I depend on the CBC for a more balanced perspective on the world than is delivered by the American media - which seem to have about the indepence level of Pravda these days (I speak facetiously but the Iraq war debacle makes it clear that they do not do a very good job these days).

I was very disappointed when CBC Newsworld went off cable and satellite networks here and am grateful that at least the National is still available on the web. One question I have though is: why are the Saturday and Sunday news broadcasts not also available? Does nothing of interest happen over weekends?

Tony Burman replies: Thank you for your comments about CBC’s presence in the U.S. I hope you saw my earlier response to John Brach. As for our national newscasts being available via the web on the weekends, this costs money as you know. We will try to make it happen when we can afford it.

coverage on india and china and their ever changing roles as world players on the international stage as well as business reports linking these countries to how business is evolving in respect to globalization. Thanks.

Mr Burman, While I whole-heartedly agree that we need more CBC international news coverage (and by that, I do mean the world over, not just the US), I must also disagree entirely with the CBC's perspective that somehow international news must connect with the daily lives of Canadians. Simply put, the world doesn't revolve around Canada. What happens elsewhere of the globe may have no impact on Canada or its citizens at all, but it doesn't diminish the importance of a given news event, nor does it preclude our right to know, nor does it excuse the CBC from reporting world news in a balaced manner. The so-called 'Canadian connection', trotted out in so many stories borders on being trite and inconsequential. In many cases, it smacks of a morbid sort of egotism — as if we are jumping up and down to be noticed when something horrific happens, wanting to be in on the incident, too. Is this country really starving for that sort of attention?

The point is, the social upheavals in France recently didn't have anything to do with Canada, but needed to be reported. As does the socio-political scenario in South America. As do the socio-political and economic events happening in the EU. As do African issues. As do Asian issues. And so on. All of these would be much better treated if the word 'Canada' wasn't always bandied about, and simply treated as what is happening in the world right now. Otherwise, we risk falling into the same trap the Americans have: if something has nothing to do with Canada — and if we can't find a way to concern Canada and the daily lives of its citizens, then it's not worth reporting and we find ourself with an increasingly narrow and ignorant world view. Sad as it is to say, when I need broader world news that is not only more comprehensive, but is also in its proper context — or to simply find out what's happening on in other countries, I turn to sources such as The Guardian Unlimited, France 2, the BBC, RTBF and TF1, not the CBC.

Tony Burman replies: You make the very good point that not all news actually “connects with the daily lives of Canadians”. But you’ve misunderstood our initiative. Our desire is to not replace those international stories which are authentically newsworthy even though there is no Canadian connection. We simply want our programs to supplement this coverage with stories that DO connect with the everyday lives of Canadians. In other words, our idea is to add to our coverage, not to detract from it.

I think you are completely on the right track. I am a devout CBC News junkie. I don't watch the television news, but your website is up every minute of my day. I like to think that we as a society are interested in the world, and our place within it. I think it is one of the characters that makes us fundamentally different from those to the south of us.

I want to thank you for your continued exprtise, and especially for this journal of letters. It is wonderful to understand what the thought processes are behind the scenes.

The Global Village is very important in my opinion and Canadians should be exposed to current events on a daily basis. I fully support the CBC having more foreign desks, effectively allowing Canadians to see the world around them instead of being told from home how what is going on.

With the growing dependance and the economic/social linkages between countries, we definitely need professional and up to date coverage to see how even the small occurences in another country can impact us directly.

Bravo! I think it's still important for the CBC to provide local coverage (a function partially shared by local media) and to share coverage across the country so that we're aware of the issues facing our fellow Canadians. But it's equally important for us to be aware of what's going on in the rest of the world - information that needs to be filtered through Canadian news, not American news. The BBC is an excellent model, providing truly global and balanced coverage.

Among your plans above, I especially like the "International Made 'Local'" and "Canada Abroad" ideas. Exploring the world's impact on us as well as our impact on the world - exactly what Canada's national news service needs to do. Good luck in this new and exciting endeavour!

As a Canadian and the country that is known for it's peace keeping, I believe we should keep up on what's going on around us.

What I disagree as a Canadian is interfering in other's cultures, which is exactly what we're doing in Afganistan and the comments Harper made towards Hamas. In Palenstine, they have made a democratic decision to choose a party that says it's militant and doesn't want to believe Israel exsists. We CANNOT as a democratic country, condemn another country for the way they voted. I know I've heard Rosie O'Donnel say it's a sad day for Canada when we went Conservative, but I'm talking about leaders of our nations.

How can we, as a country who can't even elect a majority, say that another country's government must renounce certain things before we can talk?

Also, in Afganistan and in Iraq, my view is that these countries have their own views, their own cultures, and their own beliefs.

So do we.

Ask any Canadian and they'll each give you a view on what's going on in the world. If we have such a broad approach on how we view the world, how can we as a country 'police' the world against each other if we don't undertstand?

Our biggest problem I believe globally is that we just don't understand.

Through proper journalism (prime example CBC)will we only start to understand and grasp these concepts!

Congratulations. As a Canadian living in the U.S., CBC news is one of my primary non-U.S. sources of news. I rely on CBC to provide me with more international news than American newspapers, with stories that transcend simple stereotyping or reductionistic sensationalism. This is valuable since I teach about current and global issues in my sociology classes at a private American university. I look forward to the improvements to an already valuable service.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your thoughtful column. I am most grateful for the international coverage on CBC. I listen faithfully to Rick MacGinnis Rae on Dispatches every week, and really appreciate the "from-the-field" in-depth reporting on the weekend news reports, too.

I read the BBC website every day. Again, it's their international coverage that I am most interested in.

Personally, I would like to hear more about the world's response to the huge and growing problem of refugees in the world, and in particular would like more in-depth coverage of the problems faced by refugees trying to come to Canada. They routinely face enormous backlogs, bureaucratic stalling, institutional rudeness, etc. etc. You could interview Mary Jo Leddy from Toronto's Romero House for further insights. Thanks very much, Karen

I'm very pleased that CBC intends to increase it's global reporting. In particular, since 9/11, the global community is affecting our daily lives. Not that it didn't before, but I believe that we were living in a somewhat cloistered society and therefore underestimating how global events affect us. Not so the case anymore.

To even answer the question "Where does the world fit in my life?", I had to stop and consider for a moment, but not for long. The events of the world around us not only are important, but they have the ability to shape policy and, even more important, opinion.

So, I would ask that your coverage of the Middle East be intensified. Jim Reed is a good place to start. He is an amazing journalist that has a gift for bringing the events of that region to the forefront. He is determinedly unbiased and forthright. More of this type of reporting would be greatly appreciated.

I've always believed that if there is any hope of world peace, it must start in the Middle East. With the recent Hamas victory in Palestine, peace in the region has become even more tentative and fragile.

As global citizens, we would be sadly mistaken to underestimate the importance of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, as it is a mirror for relations between Arab and non-Arab nations worldwide. Thank you for the opportunity to express what we, the people of Canada, want to see.

Your plans for more international coverage sound good. But,not to throw a wet blanket on your plans: it seems some world news coverage is still lacking. It seems that no one from the CBC covered the press conference that Putin gave today in Russia. Nowhere on the CBC site is there any coverage of this event. All other networks seemed to have managed to get parts of the news conference on their websites. Where was the CBC?

I wish your programming was available again to Americans who wish to see what the rest of the world-including Canada-is watching! When September 11th. erupted on the world scene, HSN carried CBC's coverage of the events. You really have to invest in a new cable network for the American audiences!

Yes please, more, and more in-depth, international coverage. I am a news-junkie, but find myself not understanding some events due to a lack of background. In-depth reporting would give me/us a better, clearer understanding of foreign affairs and why the world reacts as it does. And the earlier comment about CBC going into schools is a very good one. We are global citizens now, everyone is, and the world does effect our daily lives.

I have really been enoying Mr. Burman's columns lately and I really want to thank you for sharing so much information with us. It is insightful and reassuring at the same time.

akes me feel good as a Canadian to know that we have the CBC and to see how truly committed you guys are to delivering quality news - internationally and domestically - in new and inventive ways. .

I love hearing about your new ideas for coverage and think they will all be awesome..

I live in the US and miss the CBC a lot in television form. Obviously you can understand why..

Peace out, AMY

What a brilliant idea! Bring on the world! It is critically important that we are part of the global picture and educating and informing Canadians about others. Brad Poapst from Montreal said it best. We are all conneceted in one family. The "others" are in fact our brothers and sisters. There is an African word that I love that says it best, "ubuntu", which means, "I am because of who we all are". Let's think BIG, think globally. I can hardly wait.Perhaps too we shall change how we live and calm our voracious appetite for "stuff". Go for it CBC! Patricia Houston

I write a web at http://www.hardofhearingchildren.com, all by myself, as a well educated mother of a child with multliple handicaps including hard of hearing. The web took two years to plan and write. I got the url in 2000. The first year most of my hits were from the US and Canada, now there are very few countries who do not read my web month after monthand I get around a million hits a year. So I have reached parents everywhere to help them know what to do, and I'm on the first page of most search engines. I also answer email from anyone anywhere..

As far as the news goes,I am tired of night after night of violence. We used to have our TV on during supper until one day I found myslf explaining rape to my children because it was on the news. So think global coverage for the CBC is a fine idea, but if the only thing I am going to see is people rioting and killing each other, then there is no point. A better aim would be people helping each other. Or getting education or immunizations or hearing aids or glasses out to the millions of children who have no schools, or doctors. I really enjoyed your focus during the last election. PAM Candlish

Tony Burman replies: You’re right, and we’re listening. One of the important conclusions of our recent CBC News Study was that Canadians are sick and tired of “only bad news”. Somewhere in our mix, they (and you!) want stories of accomplishment, triumph and positive renewal. Like you, we know that this is far more common in our society than our news media reflects. I hope that you see this becomes more evident in CBC News programming.

From the conflicting statements given by opposite sides in many controversial political, economic and business issues, I would have to conclude that a lot of politicians, diplomats and business executives lie routinely. In political and diplomatic situations I can understand that there may, occasionally, be good reasons for this, but I am inclined to believe that most of the lies are self-serving, for the saving of face, furthering of partisan goals, or unwillingness to accept responsibility where it properly belongs. I would find it helpful if CBC News staff could dig behind the statements in these situations and, if they are not able to indicate which party (if any is telling the truth, then give us the means to judge, perhaps on the basis of past history, which party we may most reliably count on as being factual or honest.

Tony Burman replies: I agree with you that this is an essential role of the media, certainly the CBC. During the past election campaign, we reintroduced a feature titled ‘Reality Check’ which tried to separate fact from fiction. This was a key element of CBC Radio, Television and CBC.ca. Given the positive response to this segment, we intend to keep it going through the remaining part of the season.

I support your plans. I depend on the CBC news, television, radio, and online for trustworthy and broad news coverage. Please keep it up.

I just want to say that the cbc.ca website is a daily priority for me. I think the layout is fantastic, it's easy to check the news headlines, TV listings and radio schedules all in a matter of 5 minutes. And the features "In Depth",and "Viewpoint" are consistantly excellent. I especially enjoyed reading the profile of Stephen harper. Let me also mention that the website, and the TV coverage of the election was very good. Any changes you make to your news coverage will only improve an already excellent service. I don't even bother with CNN.com anymore: it's degenerated to mainly entertainment and celebrities. Best wishes for the future, and thanks for doing a great job! - Dan

I believe it is an absolute essential part of CBC to keep Canadians informed about world affairs. Being a nation of immigrants, numerous Canadians are still very interested in the affairs of other countries! .

In regards to the topic, "International Made 'Local'", I suggest you look at partnering up with international news agencies to provide partial reporting that is geared for their local audience. This would allow the Canadians to perceive the world with more than just Canadian eyes.

Your daily coverage is satisfying. I am very proud of this service. It is, as you have stated, very important to cover global matters on a daily basis. Your early morning report establishes my news basis for the day and I go on to find more information throughout the day on TV and in The Globe and Mail and sometimes the New York Times. It also helps me by giving reading lists for people like Stephen Harper.

I agree with this initiative. I listen to CBC radio and Radio-Canada everyday, almost exclusively. I watch Canadian television news programs and enjoy programs like China Rising. I think this is the right way to go and I would support giving you increased public funding to do it.

Congratulation on expanding your international coverage. You might consider more stories on how minority governments are a way a life in many countries; admittedly, their cirumstances differ from ours, but many commentators leave the impression that only Canadian history is relevant. And thanks for avoidng the notion that Canada intentionally elected a minority government, as if we were the mind of God expressing itself by rigging 308 outcomes. Perry Anglin

Tony Burman replies: Hey, great point. I’ve always thought the same. How could any journalist say that “Canadians wanted to elect a minority government”? How could Canadians pull that off? By osmosis? Town hall meetings? Telepathy? Secret meetings before the ballot boxes arrived? Yoga? Meditation? A fine wine? Singing in the shower?

Getting news as cleanly as possible is top priority to me. CBC is very important to me for fair and unbiased reporting and in countering the dominating US view. I think the CBC news service is moving in the right direction with these proposals and should receive more funding for its efforts to give Canadians a stronger sence of what Canada is. Thanks

I think expanding our coverage with Canadians is a great idea. By the way, this is quite a comment: "No wonder so many Americans believe that Saddam Hussein helped cause the events of September 11!"

Tony Burman replies: …Stay tuned. I hope there are still a few good lines where that one came from!