{"id":3234,"date":"2012-04-10T10:00:22","date_gmt":"2012-04-10T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=3234"},"modified":"2012-04-09T21:52:52","modified_gmt":"2012-04-10T01:52:52","slug":"ckuts-international-radio-report-sheds-light-on-rci-cuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/ckuts-international-radio-report-sheds-light-on-rci-cuts\/","title":{"rendered":"CKUT’s International Radio Report sheds light on RCI cuts"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

The International Radio Report with Wojtek (left), Janice (center) and Sheldon (right). Photo: RCI Action<\/p><\/div>\n

Sunday, concerned as I am about the deep cuts to RCI’s (Radio Canada International’s) vital radio programming, I listened to CKUT<\/a>‘s International Radio Report with much interest. \u00a0Hosts (and good friends) Sheldon and Janice were joined by Wojtek Gwiazda, RCI Action\u00a0Committee<\/a>\u00a0spokesperson, as their on-air guest. RCI Action is a coalition that has worked to restore RCI funding since cuts in 1991; Wojtek explains some of their history in the interview.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, the interview provides insight into the internal reaction to the program cuts and changes. Wojtek makes many excellent points, including the fact that since RCI’s English and French news rooms are being eliminated, Canada will effectively have no international voice, no means to offer their opinion of world events. He also notes that, even though the US has the VOA, and UK has the BBC World Service, these countries also have periodicals such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian,<\/em> so forth, all of which carry their voices abroad. \u00a0Canada, sadly, has no such international news presence. Indeed, I’m aware that The Toronto Star<\/em>, Canada’s largest newspaper, has very limited international exposure).<\/p>\n

If, like me, you’re interested in the recent developments at RCI<\/a>–or in reductions to radio’s international presence generally–this show is a must-listen.<\/p>\n

Click here to download this episode<\/a> of the International Radio Report.\u00a0Click here for an audio archive<\/a> of past shows.<\/p>\n

Note that\u00a0Wojtek Gwiazda, besides his role with RCI Action, also hosts a show on RCI called <\/em>Masala Canada<\/a><\/strong>. On Saturday, he posted the following message “off mic” for his listeners:<\/em><\/p>\n

Saturday, April 7, 2012 – 13:34<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why the silence? And a budget cut.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I wanted to take a moment to explain why I\u2019ve been so silent on this site in the last few days.<\/p>\n

Some of you may have heard by now that this past Wednesday, Canada\u2019s national radio and television public broadcaster CBC\/Radio-Canada announced the impact of federal government cutbacks to the financing of the broadcaster.<\/p>\n

Many services will be affected, many people will lose their jobs.<\/p>\n

At Radio Canada International \u2013 the effects are quite devastating.<\/p>\n

Our budget of $12.3 million will be reduced to $2.3 million.<\/p>\n

At least, two-thirds of our staff will be laid off.<\/p>\n

We will no longer broadcast on shortwave. The only presence we\u2019ll have is on the Internet, on our website.<\/p>\n

The RCI newsroom will be closed, there will be no newscasts.<\/p>\n

Our Russian service will be closed, the Brazilian program eliminated.<\/p>\n

What will be left is a presence on our website in English, French, Arabic, Mandarin and Spanish. What kind of presence this will be, is yet to be determined.<\/p>\n

And yes, that means, that as with everything else that\u2019s being eliminated, the last edition of MASALA CANADA will be on June 23rd.<\/p>\n

So far that is all that we know.<\/p>\n

I can tell you that there is a union supported lobby group, the RCI Action Committee, which is actively lobbying to stop the cuts. Whether it will be successful, is unknown.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll give you updates when I can.<\/p>\n

All the best,<\/p>\n

Wojtek<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sunday, concerned as I am about the deep cuts to RCI’s (Radio Canada International’s) vital radio programming, I listened to CKUT‘s International Radio Report with much interest. \u00a0Hosts (and good friends) Sheldon and Janice were joined by Wojtek Gwiazda, RCI Action\u00a0Committee\u00a0spokesperson, as their on-air guest. RCI Action is a coalition that has worked to restore […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56],"tags":[1055,1040,30,1053,1045,1054],"class_list":["post-3234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","tag-international-radio-report","tag-radio-canada-international-cuts","tag-rci","tag-rci-action","tag-sackville-transmitter-site-closure","tag-wojtek-gwiazda"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-Qa","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":13121,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/05\/wojtek-gwiazda-retires-from-rci\/","url_meta":{"origin":3234,"position":0},"title":"Wojtek Gwiazda retires from RCI","author":"Thomas","date":"May 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"My friend, Wojtek Gwiazda, who has been a host and journalist\u00a0for Radio Canada International--and an integral part of the\u00a0RCI Action Committee--has retired. Click here to listen to an exit interview with Wojtek on RCI's The Link. Also, check out this page and audio from the RCI website. Wojtek: here's wishing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Wojtek\u2019s final appearance on the Link in RCI\u2019s remaining studio, with Lynn and Marc on Friday May 1, 2015 \u00a9 Leo G- RCI (Source: RCI)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Woj-150501_fs1ht_rci-m-studio-w_sn635.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Woj-150501_fs1ht_rci-m-studio-w_sn635.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Woj-150501_fs1ht_rci-m-studio-w_sn635.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4103,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/08\/rnz-interviews-rcis-wojtek-gwiazda-shutting-off-the-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":3234,"position":1},"title":"RNZ interviews RCI’s Wojtek Gwiazda: Shutting off the shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"August 6, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Radio New Zealand's Bryan Crump, host of \u00a0Nights, interviewed RCI Action Committee spokesperson, Wojtek Gwiazda today. It's an excellent and insightful interview. Thank you, Mike, for the tip! You can download the audio from the show here, or simply use the embedded player below: From RNZ: Wojtek Gwiazda is host\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/08\/WojtekGwiazda.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12564,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/03\/radio-canada-international-70th-anniversary-was-bittersweet-for-some\/","url_meta":{"origin":3234,"position":2},"title":"Radio Canada International 70th Anniversary was bittersweet for some","author":"Thomas","date":"March 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"RCI Action We recently noted that Radio Canada International (RCI) celebrated its 70th year anniversary. \u00a0While it was certainly an amazing milestone--dating back to WWII--it was a bittersweet celebration for some. Check out this article on the RCI Action blog: \"The flood of wonderful memories, fueled by the old and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The transmitter building of Radio Canada International, Sackville, NB.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/RCI-Sackville-Front-1024x682.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/RCI-Sackville-Front-1024x682.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/RCI-Sackville-Front-1024x682.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3778,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2012\/06\/cabinet-silences-canadas-international-voice-rci-action-responds\/","url_meta":{"origin":3234,"position":3},"title":"Cabinet silences Canada’s international voice, RCI Action responds","author":"Thomas","date":"June 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Yesterday, as I toured Radio Canada International's Sackville, New Brunswick transmission site, the Canadian press discovered that the Cabinet approved an order that paves the way for RCI to be dismantled. 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The show can be heard on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/MapleLeafMBqsl-300x210.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3234","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3234"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3234\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}