What's New?

Dear Temps,

It’s lovely to turn the page in the calendar to a new month. The days are getting longer and brighter and I am so glad that the dark, gloomy, stormy days in January are behind us. My mantra this past month was - I came, I shoveled, I conquered the mountain of snow!

The extreme temperatures in most of the country have meant less time spent outdoors and more time to nest - read, take courses to learn new skills, get to the to-do list of chores that never get done when the weather is nice and things are busy. Speaking of to-do lists, Diana and I have been working our way through the Temp Website to update some of the pages for content and accessible format. We aren't quite done as yet but you can check out the changes to the home and jobs page…we would love your feedback.

For Temps, this is a good time to have a chat with your supervisor or manager to get feedback on your work and what kind of work opportunities you may have in the summer when Temps are in high demand. It’s never too early to start networking and reaching out to leaders who hire, particularly those in the smaller, regional bureaus to see if you can work with them. Introduce yourself and let them know when you are available to work with them and why you want to work in their location. If you have a reference from your current supervisor - perhaps they can introduce you to the manager who may have work for the summer. The more work you do now to seek new and interesting work opportunities, the better placed you are for summer placements that give you the skills to apply for permanent opportunities when they are posted.

Spring is just around the corner and that’s something I am very much looking forward to.

Warmly,
Sujata

Contents

• Job Alerts

• Recording of Nicole Martin on News Announcing Available Now

• February Temp Onboarding

• Surprise Winter Pick Me Up!!!

Job Alerts:  

There seems to be quite a bit of activity with postings for a variety of non-permanent jobs that have a duration of more than 3 months. These are terrific opportunities to check out a new location or test yourself in a new position. You can get the latest postings on the Temp Website - Jobs Page…or bookmark this document to check regularly. 

Expression of Interest: News Stream Weekend Producer

Temporary (5.5 months) Friday-Monday Toronto based:

To express interest in this 5-month role, please email your resume and a brief outline of why you’re interested to Spencer Walsh and Mark Ross by the end of the day Feb 9th. We are looking for a producer to join the News Stream Service team (NSS) to ensure CBC News video journalism is shared as far as possible.

You will work at the centre of a video distribution hub, running “Arrival and Departure” gates for content as it moves across our system. 

You will be at the forefront of change as we convert live content to on-demand video as quickly and efficiently as possible and serve audiences on digital and streaming platforms across CBC News. On weekends, you oversee editorial updates to our 16 News FAST channels, working closely with channel operators to update FAST channel playlists with news of the day. 

You will take on Video Flag functions – updating the video flag dashboard – and track video in the system, including items published by local and national newsrooms so producers across the country can see what is available. When breaking news happens, you help distribute livestreams to digital audiences. 

You work closely with News Network teams to ensure an on-demand version of the breaking news is created and published to high editorial standards, quickly distributed and updated as news evolves. Weekdays will focus on working with teams that touch video, including the FAST programming team, for opportunities to collaborate and reduce duplication. You will work closely with the FAST programming team to ensure continuity of audience experience on our streaming channels seven days a week. 

As an experienced journalist, you’re comfortable making independent editorial decisions in accordance with the CBC News Journalistic Standards and Practices, as well as the overall digital strategy. 

As a collaborator, you can build relationships and communicate clearly with journalists across CBC News. 

• You embrace metrics and analytics to help bring our journalism to more people.

• You’re a self-starter who has uncompromising attention to detail and can successfully multitask. 

• You embrace change as we evolve the way we publish and distribute news video to the audience. 

• You bring a distinctive life experience and expertise to the team. 

• You care about the people you work with and have a deep appreciation for different perspectives, opinions and experiences. 

You live and promote the values of diversity and an inclusive and respectful work culture. 

Based in Toronto, this is a full-time temporary position scheduled Friday to Monday on a condensed schedule. This role runs to July 31, 2026. Overtime work may be assigned based on operational requirements. 

Job responsibilities

• Identify and process news video for distribution on digital platforms (such as Web, App, FAST, YouTube).

• Work with editors to package and publish network video as soon as it’s ready.

• Curate and track video from a variety of CBC News teams including Social, News Network, and Local.

• Cut and distribute segments from News Network.

• Working with others, oversee uploading of video to 9CMS and YouTube including applying best practices for metadata and thumbnails. 

• Liaise with local newsrooms and content units to help distribute their video onto digital platforms.

• Follow newsroom outlooks, looking for content and collaboration opportunities.

• Confirm rights and permissions for online video publication and distribution.

• Update FAST channel playlists with new video on weekends.

• Ensure FAST channel playlists meet high journalistic standards.

• Provide editorial guidance, if needed, to resource specialists operating FAST channels and verifying content for playout on weekends

• Track and assist in digital distribution of breaking news livestreams.

• Troubleshoot and escalate editorial or technical issues with streaming content to the on-call manager. Relevant skills & experience

• Minimum five years recent experience working in a news environment, at least two with video.

• Expert knowledge of and experience with CBC internal systems and workflows, such as DTV and 9CMS; with content lineups and outlooks in places like iNews.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a high-pressure, tight-deadline environment. 

• Knowledge of VIZRT and TV graphics deployment.

• Knowledge and experience applying graphics to digital video.

• Aptitude with text and video content management systems.

• Understanding of metadata and the role it plays in content management.

• Good understanding of how streaming platforms work such as YouTube or Roku.

• Proven ability to coordinate with other CBC departments in a productive manner and mediate disputes as they develop.

• Experience with CBC News assignment and field producing workflows is an asset.

• Knowledge of audience habits, news industry trends in streaming is an asset

• Ability to think critically and work independently.

• Excellent journalistic skills. Understanding of CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices.

• Knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to journalism.

• Cultural awareness and sensitivity.

•  Ability to think strategically and build towards a long term vision of streaming at CBC News

• Stellar communication and interpersonal skills.

• University degree or equivalent experience.

• Ability to work flexible hours,overtime and statutory holidays when required. 

Featured Job:

Yellowknife TV Producer 

A great opportunity for a permanent job in a dynamic location with so much going on.

Description of this role:

CBC North is seeking a television producer to lead the daily production of Northbeat, the 30-minute supper-hour newscast for Yukon, Northwest Territories (NWT) and Nunavut, as well as support Igalaaq, the 30-minute Inuktitut supper-hour newscast in Nunavut.

This is a challenging, pan-territorial role. Working with a host and production team in Yellowknife, the successful candidate will work with assignment producers and reporters in three territories to determine the content and structure of the show. This will include selecting and prioritizing stories, coordinating live shots, scripting segments and managing the show’s timing. The producer will also liaise with the control room on technical aspects, including graphics and video feeds. The goal is to deliver accurate and compelling news to a broad and diverse audience, while complying with CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices (JSP).

This role offers broad potential for travel, both in terms of taking the show on the road and for getting to know all three territories. This role also brings the opportunity to get creative, either with video treatments or storytelling. Additionally, this role includes the opportunity to mentor and guide young reporters.

The successful candidate will bring journalistic rigour and a broad sense of what is possible in northern television. The successful candidate will also demonstrate a strong connection to, or knowledge of, northern and Indigenous communities.

Recording available: Nicole Martin on News Announcer Role

We had a small but engaged group of Temps who joined us for a deep dive into the role of news announcer at the CBC. Nicole Martin shared with us how she navigated her career to do this role and provided strategies for Temps who want to follow in her footsteps. Among the highlights (edited from the Gemini Summary of the meeting)

• The Role of a News Announcer Nicole Martin explained that the news announcer role involves much more than simply reading a script, as they often write or tweak their own scripts to ensure an authentic voice. A typical day involves coming in and searching for news, reviewing reporter scripts and reports in the AM box, and determining the lead story, which has shifted away from solely prioritizing "if it bleeds, it leads" to stories impacting many people or important political announcements. They also vet scripts for accuracy, line up the newscast with a combination of content from various sources like Canadian Press, and pull relevant audio from programs such as Dallot and iNews.

• Daily Workflow and Support Nicole Martin's shift starts as early as 4 a.m. for a 5:30 a.m. first newscast on "Metro Morning," or 6:30 a.m. for "Ontario Morning," involving constant updating and refinement between newscasts. Their duties also include recording weathers and various "footprints" (one-minute updates of the top two stories), such as the R2 footprint and CBL footprints, which play at specific times. Martin clarified that support varies significantly; for "Ontario Morning," they handle all roles, whereas "Metro Morning" and hourly newscasts often have producers to assist with vetting scripts and pulling news.

• News Announcer Training Program and Evaluation Nicole Martin created a news announcer training program due to the high demand for the role and lack of existing training. In evaluating potential newsreaders, Martin prioritizes authenticity and urges people to "tell the news" rather than simply read it, emphasizing the importance of sounding like oneself to maintain credibility with the audience. They confirmed that all newscasts are live, except for some pre-recorded headlines for "Ontario Morning".

Watch the video recording of this session on the Temp Website to find out what Nicole’s advice is for Temps who want to pursue backfilling as a news announcer and where the need for this skill is regularly needed. You can also watch our other workshops to introduce you to work in the Investigative Unit or CBC Sports. Additional skills workshops include “The Art of the Cold Call” and “Perfecting the Pitch.”

February Temp Onboarding | Wednesday, 25 February · 13:00 – 14:20 (ET)

This is an opportunity to get to know the information  you need to navigate your time at the CBC as a Temp like:

• An overview of the tools in Workday and IO that they will need to fulfill tasks such as filling out a time card or knowing how to access benefits and much more.

• A guide to their rights and benefits under the Collective Agreement and the support the CMG offers Temps.

• Understanding the career resources and support offered by The Temp Project.

Regardless of how long you have been Temping, you are bound to learn something that will come in handy.

If you are interested in attending, please inform your manager so you can be freed up to attend, and follow the instructions at the link below.Sign Up Here- Onboarding Temps 

LOOKING AHEAD: 

• •  “Digging into the Pre-interview”
  • “Create and efficient workflow for Multiplatform Reporters

• Perfecting the Pitch
• The Art of the Cold Calling

SURPRISE WINTER PICK ME UP!!!

Last month I mentioned my dog Freddy Pickles…and some of you inquired after him. I am sharing Freddy in all his glory making the best of all the snow in Toronto. I hope Freddy manages to put a smile on your face like he does on mine everyday since I got him.