Media Beat: April 30, 2018

By David Farrell

Steve Paikin vindicated of harassment charge

An independent investigation has cleared the veteran journalist with Ontario's public broadcaster of sexual harassment allegations, saying Paikin was more credible than the Toronto woman who made the accusations against him.

In a report released Friday, investigator Rachel Turnpenney said while there is no doubt Sarah Thomson genuinely believes Paikin propositioned her, the evidence brought forward by Thomson and others does not support her account of what happened. – The Canadian Press

No White Knight in sight for Roundhouse

The Vancouver FM is down to the wire and will go dark by midnight tonight unless an investor or investors come to the aid of the community-spirited newcomer. As one insider put it in an e-mail to FYI last night, “(we’re) hanging on the edge.”

See earlier story, Angel investor needed (quick) for Vancouver’s Roundhouse Radio.

'The writing's on the wall': Streaming services like Netflix set to overtake cable TV

The report projects 10.6 million Canadian households will be signed up with streaming services by 2020. – Sophia Harris, CBC News

The CRTC decisions and regulatory policies in the coming week

Decisions relating to the following applications considered under the Commission’s Part 1 process:

• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
  CBVT-DT Québec – Technical changes
  Public record for this application: 2018-0041-7

• Carol Anne O’Brien, Barrister & Solicitor
  Addition of Shalom World to the List of non-Canadian programming services and stations authorized for distribution
  Public record for this application: 2017-1071-5

CBS All Access now available in Canada

CBS All Access, the U.S. broadcaster’s online streaming service, is now available in Canada. Canadians can sign up to use CBS All Access for C$5.99 per month. To incentivize sign-ups, CBS is currently offering new subscribers one free month with their subscription. There are a few notable differences between the service here in Canada and the U.S. – Mobile Syrup

CBC increasing security at Toronto headquarters following ‘Incel’ threat

The CBC is increasing security at its downtown Toronto headquarters following the discovery of a post on a popular “incel” message board that encouraged the “shooting up” of the building. – Jonathan Goldsbie, CanadaLand

David Farough launches ‘beabetterpodcaster.ca’

The former Corus Radio exec tells us that he’s launched the new venture and has clients in the US, Mexico and, of course, here in Canada. Find out more by visiting his website, or emailing him at dfarough@cogeco.ca

WAB names 2018 Hall of Fame inductees

The Western Association of Broadcasters announced that two individuals have been selected as inductees into the 2018 WAB Hall of Fame - Joanne Johnson, recently retired Morning Show Co-host at XL 103 Calgary (Newcap Radio) and Bob Layton, News Manager with 630 CHED Edmonton (Corus Entertainment).

The 84^th annual WAB conference runs June 6-7 at Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Details here.

Michelle Wolf’s caustic comedy routine at the White House correspondents’ dinner

Comedian Michelle Wolf roasted members of the Trump administration and the media at the annual White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday. Below is an annotated transcript of her comedy routine. To view an annotation, click on the yellow, highlighted text.

Good evening. Good evening. Here we are, the White House correspondents' dinner: Like a porn star says when she's about to have sex with a Trump, let's get this over with. – Callum Borchers, The Washington Post

The biggest risk to American journalism isn't posed by Trump

The fabric of press freedom in the US has been frayed and weakened by political stigmatisation of journalists and cries of “fake news”, but it risks much greater, and more permanent, damage from other forces, including harassment, detention and criminalisation. – Thomas Hughes & Jodie Ginsberg, The Guardian