(Image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

RADIO NL

‘It’s so gut wrenching’; Former staffers say 2017 ownership change began the demise of Radio NL

Sep 24, 2024 | 5:56 PM

KAMLOOPS — Big changes are coming to Radio NL in Kamloops.

In an emailed statement to CFJC News, Stingray president Steve Jones stated the moves on Tuesday (Sept 24) were for the long-term viability, saying some positions were impacted in news and programing.

“Today some changes were made at Radio NL in Kamloops to ensure the radio station’s long-term viability and commitment to the community. Instead of programming news/talk around the clock, the station will now include a mix of music, news, sports, and community information. As a result of this difficult decision, some positions were impacted in news and programming. Our remaining news team at Radio NL will continue to provide the most local newscasts throughout the day reflecting all that is important in our community,” reads the statement.

Those who used to work there say the news was a gut punch.

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“Radio NL is, in a very real way and the people who worked there, like Jim Harrison and Angelo Iacobucci, they in a very, very real way wove the story that is Kamloops and contributed to the foundation of what makes the city what it is today. And what is it going to be without other people stepping into those shoes or even having the ability to step into those shoes because that newsroom is gone?” asked Shane Woodford, former NL news director.

Jon Keen did confirm in a post to X that Blazers hockey will remain on the Radio NL airwaves. CFJC News has also confirmed that Jeff Andreas is also remaining on.

Still, the news landscape of Kamloops has taken another hit in the wake of the Kamloops This Week closure last year.

“Is there any other industry anywhere in the world that constantly drums their best and brightest out the door and somehow builds and thrives? No. Everybody looks for the best and the brightest, they look to covet them, they look to bring them in, they look to build with them,” said Woodford. “And this journalism industry that we have, not just in B.C. but across Canada, is just a tragedy.”

Bob Price spent decades reading news at NL before getting his walking papers back in 2018. He believes the downfall of the news giant began after the sale in 2017 to Newcap as community became less important.

“Now what matters, and frankly all that matters in broadcasting, is EPS — earning per share. When you turn an industry like broadcasting, a very unique industry, and turn a passion into just the dollar, it goes to hell,” said Price.

“It was no longer the newsroom that I knew when I went through as a journalist,” added Woodford. “You think about it for over four decades it was locally owned and operated, became a legend of the industry, produced legends and giants. And they came in and they sold it and it lasted what, seven years? And I think that in and of itself is a pretty declarative statement of some aspects of this industry.”

In the midst of a provincial election campaign, Kamloops will have one less institution questioning those who wish to represent the community.

“It just makes me so angry, and it’s so gut wrenching, and at the end of the day the people who suffer are going to be the people of Kamloops and the people of all the small towns who have lost their media sources, all the people across the country. And at the end of the day, the real big one is democracy as a whole,” said Woodford.