Comments on: Dear CBC: Review more books http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/ Full print edition content of This Magazine, Canada's most venerable publication of progressive politics, culture, and ideas. Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:07:32 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: B.Kienapple http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-777 B.Kienapple Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:15:18 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-777 CBC online has several very talented arts writers such as Andre Mayer and Greig Dymond who write about books. But yes, it would be nice to have a dedicated book reviewer. CBC online has several very talented arts writers such as Andre Mayer and Greig Dymond who write about books. But yes, it would be nice to have a dedicated book reviewer.

]]> By: Canada’s an urban nation. Why is our literature still down on the farm? : This Magazine // Canadian progressive politics, arts, culture, and ideas since 1966 http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-474 Canada’s an urban nation. Why is our literature still down on the farm? : This Magazine // Canadian progressive politics, arts, culture, and ideas since 1966 Fri, 18 Sep 2009 12:26:39 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-474 [...] a novel about a bygone, semi-literate midwife prying rural babies out with a washboard. Previously, I’ve commented on how unpredictable book reviewing is in Canada, and our lack of reliably critical voices is one reason no one cries foul on these tales of rural [...] [...] a novel about a bygone, semi-literate midwife prying rural babies out with a washboard. Previously, I’ve commented on how unpredictable book reviewing is in Canada, and our lack of reliably critical voices is one reason no one cries foul on these tales of rural [...]

]]> By: Will more book reviews make for more readers? « Whistler Writers Group weblog http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Will more book reviews make for more readers? « Whistler Writers Group weblog Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:52:50 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-343 [...] book reviews make for more readers? In Uncategorized on July 7, 2009 at 10:51 pm This summer, THIS magazine urges the CBC to review more books, and revive the art of professional book-reviewing, rather than paying people to review Hollywood [...] [...] book reviews make for more readers? In Uncategorized on July 7, 2009 at 10:51 pm This summer, THIS magazine urges the CBC to review more books, and revive the art of professional book-reviewing, rather than paying people to review Hollywood [...]

]]> By: Madeline Coopsammy http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-299 Madeline Coopsammy Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:24:01 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-299 The CBC has cut many intellectual and cultural programs, and now CBC Tv is cutting Air Farce. I used to enjoy the nightly episodes of novels dramatised on CBC. radio. The acting was superb and it was just the right time to listen to an episode of a novel while preparing for bed. The daily show Q often has good interviews with writers, but the music is atrocious, and there are too many interviews with rock stars. Why is the CBC trying to attract a younger audience? Aren't there enough commercial stations doing that? And why is CBC tv running Jeopardy which is already available on CTV? Will Writers and Company be next? The CBC has cut many intellectual and cultural programs, and now CBC Tv is cutting Air Farce. I used to enjoy the nightly episodes of novels dramatised on CBC. radio. The acting was superb and it was just the right time to listen to an episode of a novel while preparing for bed. The daily show Q often has good interviews with writers, but the music is atrocious, and there are too many interviews with rock stars. Why is the CBC trying to attract a younger audience? Aren't there enough commercial stations doing that? And why is CBC tv running Jeopardy which is already available on CTV? Will Writers and Company be next?

]]> By: Sina Queyras http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Sina Queyras Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:06:09 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-122 A very unfortunate link between funding cuts and journalism cuts and so many economic meltdowns and so on. Who indeed is getting the information to the mainstream? A very unfortunate link between funding cuts and journalism cuts and so many economic meltdowns and so on. Who indeed is getting the information to the mainstream?

]]> By: Sina Queyras http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-121 Sina Queyras Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:04:51 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-121 I hear you. But I think you're lamenting the loss of investigative journalism and reportage in general, which is another matter entirely, and certainly also a major problem. I hear you. But I think you're lamenting the loss of investigative journalism and reportage in general, which is another matter entirely, and certainly also a major problem.

]]> By: August http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-120 August Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:42:16 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-120 I will agree that the Post continues to improve its coverage, though. I just think it's more important we know in depth information about funding cuts or industry consolidation than about who sent whom some clandestine emails. I will agree that the Post continues to improve its coverage, though. I just think it's more important we know in depth information about funding cuts or industry consolidation than about who sent whom some clandestine emails.

]]> By: August http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-119 August Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:39:14 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-119 There were at least two significant stories recently that, while not happening in Canada, could have a significant impact on the Canadian industry for a variety of reasons. One is the horrible precedent being set with regards to territorial rights in Australia, and the Penguin/W H Smith fiasco. Both of those are more important than the Oxford poetry scandal (which amounted to little more than gossip about gossip), but the reporting on both amounted to the Globe reprinting and awards dinner speech and 58 words total, between the Globe and the Post, on the W H Smith deal. Press releases or announcing new books is not industry news. What about the layoffs and restructuring, freelancers not getting paid as publishers fold, or when HMH announced a complete acquisitions freeze? Nope. We get speculations about gadgets, award announcements and gossip instead. There were at least two significant stories recently that, while not happening in Canada, could have a significant impact on the Canadian industry for a variety of reasons. One is the horrible precedent being set with regards to territorial rights in Australia, and the Penguin/W H Smith fiasco. Both of those are more important than the Oxford poetry scandal (which amounted to little more than gossip about gossip), but the reporting on both amounted to the Globe reprinting and awards dinner speech and 58 words total, between the Globe and the Post, on the W H Smith deal.

Press releases or announcing new books is not industry news. What about the layoffs and restructuring, freelancers not getting paid as publishers fold, or when HMH announced a complete acquisitions freeze? Nope. We get speculations about gadgets, award announcements and gossip instead.

]]> By: Sina Queyras http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Sina Queyras Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:27:46 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-118 I hear you about the reliance on Atwood. Very problematic. But I think that of the villains she's not the one I would focus on. And I think it's the sources that go to her, not the other way around. At least that's what I have seen. She doesn't need *them*. Nor do they need her, I just think it's a lack of imagination. However, I respectfully disagree with your assessment of industry news in Canada. In fact I think the National Post--not in any way my paper of choice--is the one picking up the every day slack. At least online. I hear you about the reliance on Atwood. Very problematic. But I think that of the villains she's not the one I would focus on.

And I think it's the sources that go to her, not the other way around. At least that's what I have seen. She doesn't need *them*. Nor do they need her, I just think it's a lack of imagination.

However, I respectfully disagree with your assessment of industry news in Canada. In fact I think the National Post–not in any way my paper of choice–is the one picking up the every day slack. At least online.

]]> By: August http://this.org/magazine/2009/06/18/books-cbc-criticism/comment-page-1/#comment-117 August Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:17:35 +0000 http://this.org/magazine/?p=341#comment-117 *wasn't even really about her. *wasn't even really about her.

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