Latest news with #TravisDhanraj
Toronto Sun
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
LILLEY: Dhanraj files show the many ways CBC is failing Canadians
CBC more interested in reputation management than journalistic integrity Get the latest from Brian Lilley straight to your inbox CBC national news reporter Travis Dhanraj in St. John's on Friday morning, June 23, 2023. Photo by Joe Gibbons / Postmedia Network More than three weeks after CBC host Travis Dhanraj resigned in spectacular form and accused Canada's state broadcaster of not living up to their ideals, CBC says Dhanraj is still an employee. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Yes, CBC still refuses to accept his resignation, which he said at the time was prompted by CBC 's bias, lack of diversity of opinion, and their attacks on his integrity. 'This is an involuntary resignation,' Dhanraj said in a letter released July 7. 'I am stepping down not by choice, but because the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has made it impossible for me to continue my work with integrity.' Dhanraj, who was recruited to move to CBC from Global and then had a primetime show built around him – Canada Tonight with Travis Dhanraj – accused CBC of being the opposite of what they claim to be. 'What happens behind the scenes at CBC too often contradicts what's shown to the public. Performative diversity, tokenism, a system designed to elevate certain voices and diminish others,' he said. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Travis Dhanraj is pictured in a handout photo. Photo by Travis Dhanraj / supplied Now, new evidence is emerging of CBC taking vengeance on their once star host for daring to question CBC 's decision to cut jobs while handing out bonuses to executives. In April 2024, Dhanraj asked CBC 's then-CEO Catherine Tait for an interview on his show – it was a request that she declined, so he posted about that to social media. 'At a time when the public broadcaster is under increasing scrutiny and when transparency is needed, #CanadaTonight requested an intvu w/ @PresidentCBCRC Catherine Tait. We wanted to discuss new budget funding, what it means for jobs & the corporation's strategic priorities ahead. Our request was declined. This is unfortunate,' he posted. The next week Dhanraj was yanked off air and spent days going through disciplinary hearings. The Toronto Sun has obtained select portions of some of those meetings, including CBC executives questioning him about his social media posts. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Are you aware of the public reaction your post has elicited,' asked Andree Lau, CBC 's Senior Director of Digital News, Publishing and Streaming. (File photo) CBC/Radio-Canada president and chief executive Catherine Tait waits to testify before a House of Commons committee in Ottawa, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024. Photo by Adrian Wyld / THE CANADIAN PRESS Lau was the executive who had announced Dhanraj's hiring for the Canada Tonight post with much fanfare just months earlier. 'Travis's engaging curiosity and incredible range of experience allows him to translate complex stories into personal terms and help audiences make sense of the news, which will be key as Canada Tonight sharpens its focus on stories that matter at home and make a difference in this country,' Lau said in announcing his hiring. Now, she was asking him to defend what random people on social media were saying about his post and asking him to defend a column by National Post 's Tristan Hopper. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Are you aware of the National Post article by Tristin Hopper published this week that features your post, it's a screengrab, that features your X post?' Lau asks. Dhanraj said he was aware of the column but wondered why he was responsible for it. Read More CBC 's Journalistic Standards and Practices states that their standards do no change when CBC itself becomes the story, as was the case here, and that normal newsgathering techniques apply. 'This means that there should be clear editorial separation between those people reporting on the stories and those whose priority it is to protect the interests of the Corporation, or its partner,' the guide states. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That clearly wasn't happening here as a CBC news executive was grilling Dhanraj about the impact of his social media request for an interview on CBC 's corporate reputation. There was no separation and, in fact, Lau was clearly trying to discipline Dhanraj for doing his job of holding CBC 's executive ranks to account. When journalists for a government owned and operated broadcaster like CBC are forced to be more concerned about reputation management than covering a story, that is a problem. By the way, Catherine Tait stated before a Parliamentary Committee that she wasn't aware of what was happening with Dhanraj. Yet, documents obtained through Access to Information show that Tait was briefed before her committee appearance. CBC is rotten to the core, but rather than forcing reforms, Prime Minister Mark Carney has simply decided to give them an extra $150 million per year in funding. The Dhanraj files show that MPs should be holding future hearings into how CBC is run, because right now, it's not being run as it should be. blilley@ Canada Canada Basketball Tennis Celebrity
Toronto Sun
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
LILLEY UNLEASHED: What on earth is happening at CBC and Travis Dhanraj?
CBC national news reporter Travis Dhanraj in St. John's on Friday morning, June 23, 2023. Photo by Joe Gibbons / Postmedia Network WATCH: Travis Dhanraj has resigned from the CBC in spectacular fashion more than three weeks ago. Sun political columnist Brian Lilley explains how CBC says he still their employee. What do YOU think? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below or send us a Letter to the Editor for possible publication to . Letters must be 250 words or less and signed. And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Canada Canada Basketball Tennis Celebrity
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked audio of CBC disciplinary meeting with former TV host Travis Dhanraj
A leaked audio recording of an internal CBC disciplinary meeting for a national news anchor reveals the public broadcaster's tension over its policies on journalistic standards and freedom clashing with protecting its corporate image. Travis Dhanraj, once the host of a CBC television news show called Canada Tonight with Travis Dhanraj, resigned earlier this month with fiery letters accusing the CBC of 'tokenism masquerading as diversity, problematic political coverage protocols, and the erosion of editorial independence.' His letters, one to CBC leadership and another to CBC colleagues, were made public and created controversy, including over perceived political imbalance in news coverage at the publicly funded broadcaster. Last week, Conservative Members of Parliament called for a public hearing into Dhanraj's 'damning allegations' on workplace culture and biased reporting. CBC has denied Dhanraj's criticisms made in his letters. More than a year before his still reverberating resignation, however, a disciplinary meeting for Dhanraj was convened by CBC shortly after he made a social media post on April 19, 2024. His post on X said: 'At a time when the public broadcaster is under increasing scrutiny and when transparency is needed.' CBC's president Catherine Tait had been asked to appear on his show. 'We wanted to discuss new budget funding, what it means for jobs & the corporation's strategic priorities ahead. Our request was declined. This is unfortunate.' The disciplinary meeting preceded his removal from on-air duties for the CBC News Network show that bore his name. Dhanraj declined to comment on the recording or the meeting, referring questions to his lawyer, Kathryn Marshall. Marshall confirmed the recording National Post has is an authentic portion of a longer disciplinary meeting between Dhanraj and CBC officials. CBC did not dispute the disciplinary meeting or recording. The CBC manager speaking in the recording is identified as Andree Lau, senior director of digital publishing and streaming. Lau's LinkedIn page describes her job as overseeing the strategic and editorial direction of CBC News Network as well as other CBC news properties. In the recording she appears to equate a CBC journalist reporting something critical about the CBC with a potential breach of journalistic conflict of interest ethics, on the grounds that a CBC journalist has a personal stake in the broadcaster's success. The recording excerpt begins with Dhanraj explaining the circumstances of his post about Tait. 'The new budget funding was publicly put out in the budget on Tuesday. It was widely reported on, by not only CBC but other broadcasters. There is nothing in the tweet that is insider information,' Dhanraj says. Lau replies: 'With exception of a unionized employee criticizing their employer; that is an employee who has a personal stake in the matter whose job is part of it…. The issue is, you know, does this post meet the standards of integrity, does it meet the conflict of interest under code of conduct.' Dhanraj says: 'I firmly stand by the fact that it does.' Asks Lau: 'Do you understand the concern with this post as it relates to the principle of integrity?' Dhanraj: 'No, I really don't. I don't, and again, Andree, I find it problematic that we are in a meeting where we are discussing something that is in the interests of the corporation. So, I, I'm not seeing the separation right now between the journalism and the interest of the corporation. I see how it would be in the interest of the corporation for this tweet not to be out, but I don't see how, journalistically, it's not sound…' An unidentified union representative then asks for context on how the appearance request to Tait came about. 'I didn't watch the show that night,' he says. 'We had an editorial discussion,' Dhanraj says, 'as to whether or not now was the correct time, since there was a development, a significant development with the release of the federal budget and the new money, to put a request in for Catherine Tait. We had been discussing putting a request in for some time and we thought there was a news hook to it because of the new development….' I find it problematic that we are in a meeting where we are discussing something that is in the interests of the corporation Lau: '… What is your understanding of the protocol and considerations when CBC journalists are covering the CBC?' 'It, it's the J.S.P. statement again,' Dhanraj says, likely referencing CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. 'Clear editorial separation,' Lau says. Dhanraj: 'So those who have the interest of the corporation should not be influencing reporters.' Lau: 'Yes.' Dhanraj: 'And if that is happening, well, that kind of goes against some core fundamentals of the public broadcaster.' Lau then says there are other aspects of the JSP involved. In a sentence in which some words are unclear on the recording, she says 'the principle of integrity and the perception of who has a stake in the matter,' finishing with 'perceived impartiality because, as I mentioned, you are an employee, and you are criticizing your employer.' The Post does not have a recording of the entire meeting. Chuck Thompson, CBC's head of public affairs, said the meeting was about more than just Dhanraj's social media post, for which Dhanraj was 'never formally disciplined for.' 'The discussions in April with Mr. Dhanraj were about a range of issues outside the tweet; there was a particular emphasis on CBC News policies about conflicts of interest, violations of journalistic standards and protocols on how we report on ourselves. 'Mr. Dhanraj violated these policies and was asked about them by his manager with his union representative present. He also secretly recorded the meeting after agreeing not to,' Thompson said. Lau could not be reached for comment prior to publication. An email sent to her on Friday was returned with an automated out of office message; a detailed message to her cell phone was not responded to. A CBC official had said they would alert Lau to the Post's request. Marshall, Dhanraj's lawyer, said what is heard in the recording is 'disturbing.' 'It shows that Travis was intimidated for simply doing his job as a journalist. He was hauled into a meeting with human resources, his boss, and the union. The purpose of the meeting, I think, was to intimidate him, scare him and pressure him, making it clear to him that he's not to do that, that he is not to post anything or say anything as a journalist that could be embarrassing to the public broadcaster,' Marshall said. 'This is deeply concerning. I think it demonstrates that CBC, in that moment, was far more interested in preserving its own reputation than allowing their journalists to do their jobs.' 'It shows that the CBC corporation has a disturbing level of control over their journalists and is involved in the types of stories that the journalists are covering or not covering. I think that speaks to significant concerns of bias and a lack of objectivity within the corporation.' Thompson said late Friday that Dhanraj is still a CBC employee although currently on leave. Marshall said CBC has still not accepted Dhanraj's resignation despite him voicing his clear intent and, in fact, are still paying him. 'I want to be very clear: The CBC doesn't get to hold him hostage. This is a free country. He's allowed to resign.' Marshall said Dhanraj is pressing a human rights lawsuit against CBC over his departure. • Email: ahumphreys@ | X: AD_Humphreys CBC host resigns, saying he could not continue at public broadcaster 'with integrity' Conservatives call for investigation into CBC after journalist resigns over 'performative diversity, tokenism' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Vancouver Sun
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked audio of CBC disciplinary meeting with former TV host Travis Dhanraj
A leaked audio recording of an internal CBC disciplinary meeting for a national news anchor reveals the public broadcaster's tension over its policies on journalistic standards and freedom clashing with protecting its corporate image. Travis Dhanraj, once the host of a CBC television news show called Canada Tonight with Travis Dhanraj, resigned earlier this month with fiery letters accusing the CBC of 'tokenism masquerading as diversity, problematic political coverage protocols, and the erosion of editorial independence.' His letters, one to CBC leadership and another to CBC colleagues, were made public and created controversy, including over perceived political imbalance in news coverage at the publicly funded broadcaster. Last week, Conservative Members of Parliament called for a public hearing into Dhanraj's 'damning allegations' on workplace culture and biased reporting. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. CBC has denied Dhanraj's criticisms made in his letters. More than a year before his still reverberating resignation, however, a disciplinary meeting for Dhanraj was convened by CBC shortly after he made a social media post on April 19, 2024. His post on X said: 'At a time when the public broadcaster is under increasing scrutiny and when transparency is needed.' CBC's president Catherine Tait had been asked to appear on his show. 'We wanted to discuss new budget funding, what it means for jobs & the corporation's strategic priorities ahead. Our request was declined. This is unfortunate.' At a time when the public broadcaster is under increasing scrutiny and when transparency is needed, #CanadaTonight requested an intvu w/ @PresidentCBCRC Catherine Tait. We wanted to discuss new budget funding, what it means for jobs & the corporation's strategic priorities ahead.… The disciplinary meeting preceded his removal from on-air duties for the CBC News Network show that bore his name. Dhanraj declined to comment on the recording or the meeting, referring questions to his lawyer, Kathryn Marshall. Marshall confirmed the recording National Post has is an authentic portion of a longer disciplinary meeting between Dhanraj and CBC officials. CBC did not dispute the disciplinary meeting or recording. The CBC manager speaking in the recording is identified as Andree Lau, senior director of digital publishing and streaming. Lau's LinkedIn page describes her job as overseeing the strategic and editorial direction of CBC News Network as well as other CBC news properties. In the recording she appears to equate a CBC journalist reporting something critical about the CBC with a potential breach of journalistic conflict of interest ethics, on the grounds that a CBC journalist has a personal stake in the broadcaster's success. The recording excerpt begins with Dhanraj explaining the circumstances of his post about Tait. 'The new budget funding was publicly put out in the budget on Tuesday. It was widely reported on, by not only CBC but other broadcasters. There is nothing in the tweet that is insider information,' Dhanraj says. Lau replies: 'With exception of a unionized employee criticizing their employer; that is an employee who has a personal stake in the matter whose job is part of it…. The issue is, you know, does this post meet the standards of integrity, does it meet the conflict of interest under code of conduct.' Dhanraj says: 'I firmly stand by the fact that it does.' Asks Lau: 'Do you understand the concern with this post as it relates to the principle of integrity?' Dhanraj: 'No, I really don't. I don't, and again, Andree, I find it problematic that we are in a meeting where we are discussing something that is in the interests of the corporation. So, I, I'm not seeing the separation right now between the journalism and the interest of the corporation. I see how it would be in the interest of the corporation for this tweet not to be out, but I don't see how, journalistically, it's not sound…' An unidentified union representative then asks for context on how the appearance request to Tait came about. 'I didn't watch the show that night,' he says. 'We had an editorial discussion,' Dhanraj says, 'as to whether or not now was the correct time, since there was a development, a significant development with the release of the federal budget and the new money, to put a request in for Catherine Tait. We had been discussing putting a request in for some time and we thought there was a news hook to it because of the new development….' I find it problematic that we are in a meeting where we are discussing something that is in the interests of the corporation Lau: '… What is your understanding of the protocol and considerations when CBC journalists are covering the CBC?' 'It, it's the J.S.P. statement again,' Dhanraj says, likely referencing CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. 'Clear editorial separation,' Lau says. Dhanraj: 'So those who have the interest of the corporation should not be influencing reporters.' Lau: 'Yes.' Dhanraj: 'And if that is happening, well, that kind of goes against some core fundamentals of the public broadcaster.' Lau then says there are other aspects of the JSP involved. In a sentence in which some words are unclear on the recording, she says 'the principle of integrity and the perception of who has a stake in the matter,' finishing with 'perceived impartiality because, as I mentioned, you are an employee, and you are criticizing your employer.' The Post does not have a recording of the entire meeting. Chuck Thompson, CBC's head of public affairs, said the meeting was about more than just Dhanraj's social media post, for which Dhanraj was 'never formally disciplined for.' 'The discussions in April with Mr. Dhanraj were about a range of issues outside the tweet; there was a particular emphasis on CBC News policies about conflicts of interest, violations of journalistic standards and protocols on how we report on ourselves. 'Mr. Dhanraj violated these policies and was asked about them by his manager with his union representative present. He also secretly recorded the meeting after agreeing not to,' Thompson said. Lau could not be reached for comment prior to publication. An email sent to her on Friday was returned with an automated out of office message; a detailed message to her cell phone was not responded to. A CBC official had said they would alert Lau to the Post's request. Marshall, Dhanraj's lawyer, said what is heard in the recording is 'disturbing.' 'It shows that Travis was intimidated for simply doing his job as a journalist. He was hauled into a meeting with human resources, his boss, and the union. The purpose of the meeting, I think, was to intimidate him, scare him and pressure him, making it clear to him that he's not to do that, that he is not to post anything or say anything as a journalist that could be embarrassing to the public broadcaster,' Marshall said. 'This is deeply concerning. I think it demonstrates that CBC, in that moment, was far more interested in preserving its own reputation than allowing their journalists to do their jobs.' 'It shows that the CBC corporation has a disturbing level of control over their journalists and is involved in the types of stories that the journalists are covering or not covering. I think that speaks to significant concerns of bias and a lack of objectivity within the corporation.' Thompson said late Friday that Dhanraj is still a CBC employee although currently on leave. Marshall said CBC has still not accepted Dhanraj's resignation despite him voicing his clear intent and, in fact, are still paying him. 'I want to be very clear: The CBC doesn't get to hold him hostage. This is a free country. He's allowed to resign.' Marshall said Dhanraj is pressing a human rights lawsuit against CBC over his departure. • Email: ahumphreys@ | X: AD_Humphreys Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Edmonton Journal
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
EXCLUSIVE: Leaked audio of CBC disciplinary meeting with former TV host Travis Dhanraj
A leaked audio recording of an internal CBC disciplinary meeting for a national news anchor reveals the public broadcaster's tension over its policies on journalistic standards and freedom clashing with protecting its corporate image. Article content Travis Dhanraj, once the host of a CBC television news show called Canada Tonight with Travis Dhanraj, resigned earlier this month with fiery letters accusing the CBC of 'tokenism masquerading as diversity, problematic political coverage protocols, and the erosion of editorial independence.' Article content Article content His letters, one to CBC leadership and another to CBC colleagues, were made public and created controversy, including over perceived political imbalance in news coverage at the publicly funded broadcaster. Last week, Conservative Members of Parliament called for a public hearing into Dhanraj's 'damning allegations' on workplace culture and biased reporting. Article content Article content More than a year before his still reverberating resignation, however, a disciplinary meeting for Dhanraj was convened by CBC shortly after he made a social media post on April 19, 2024. His post on X said: 'At a time when the public broadcaster is under increasing scrutiny and when transparency is needed.' CBC's president Catherine Tait had been asked to appear on his show. 'We wanted to discuss new budget funding, what it means for jobs & the corporation's strategic priorities ahead. Our request was declined. This is unfortunate.' Article content At a time when the public broadcaster is under increasing scrutiny and when transparency is needed, #CanadaTonight requested an intvu w/ @PresidentCBCRC Catherine Tait. We wanted to discuss new budget funding, what it means for jobs & the corporation's strategic priorities ahead.… — Travis Dhanraj (@Travisdhanraj) April 19, 2024 Article content Article content The disciplinary meeting preceded his removal from on-air duties for the CBC News Network show that bore his name. Article content Article content Dhanraj declined to comment on the recording or the meeting, referring questions to his lawyer, Kathryn Marshall. Marshall confirmed the recording National Post has is an authentic portion of a longer disciplinary meeting between Dhanraj and CBC officials. Article content The CBC manager speaking in the recording is identified as Andree Lau, senior director of digital publishing and streaming. Lau's LinkedIn page describes her job as overseeing the strategic and editorial direction of CBC News Network as well as other CBC news properties. Article content In the recording she appears to equate a CBC journalist reporting something critical about the CBC with a potential breach of journalistic conflict of interest ethics, on the grounds that a CBC journalist has a personal stake in the broadcaster's success.
