Posted at 7:00 a.m.
A survey by the Reuters Institute’s Digital News Report released earlier this summer found Canadians’ distrust of the news had never been higher.
This observation deeply concerns Sophie Thibault. “I am very attentive to this whole deleterious atmosphere in relation to the role of the news media”, indicates the new head of the antenna of the TVA News 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.who takes over the collar on Monday.
“Some people give us intentions, they see conspiracies everywhere, associations… When we see what a good part of the public thinks of the work we do, I find it really sad and worrying. »
The pandemic seems to have exacerbated this negative feeling. In recent years, many journalists have suffered harassment, mainly online. In an interview, Sophie Thibault recounts having experienced this in a very real way recently, when she was walking alone in the mountains to take photos of deer and birds. A woman recognized her and in particular called her “madam of fake news” in an aggressive manner.
“It shook me, relates the successor of Pierre Bruneau. There was only one way back down. I was afraid she was going to get her gang. All sorts of things went through my head… I couldn’t help it, because I see what my colleagues are victims of. »
This heavy trend saddens Marie-Christine Bergeron, who will take the helm of the Thread 17 next Monday on Noovo, succeeding Noémi Mercier.
PHOTO MARTIN CHAMBERLAND, THE PRESS
Marie-Christine Bergeron
I hear people say to reporters, “You’re being told what to say!” But no one ever imposed anything on me in terms of content.
Marie-Christine Bergeron
Marie-Christine Bergeron believes that the public should be educated about the role of journalists. She evokes the spring of 2012, when she covered the student demonstrations. “I was doing the field and everywhere there were people who said to me: ‘But Richard Martineau…’ Richard Martineau is a columnist. Me, I am a journalist. A columnist gives his opinion, whereas a journalist is neutral and objective. »
To combat this wave of skepticism, the heads of antenna must get involved, believes Patrice Roy. In 2022, their role would be “more important than ever”, according to him.
“To fight against fake newsyou have to present the facts with force, with rigor”, underlines the headliner of Radio-Canada, which begins its 15e season at the helm of Newscast 6 p.m.. “In this climate, the heads of antenna are a benchmark. I feel in many viewers this thirst for facts. They don’t want to hear my opinion; they want things explained to them. This synthesis, I think it is essential, particularly today. »
When we know that in Canada, television remains the main source of information for citizens, ahead of social networks (40% against 27%, according to the Digital News Report), the words of Patrice Roy resonate even stronger. “When I started, people said to me, ‘It’s over, the newscasts.’ It’s not true. There are still a lot of people who get their news from television,” says Patrice Roy.
Greater solidarity
According to Sophie Thibault, the repeated attacks against journalists have strengthened community solidarity. The revelations of toxic work environments, concerning various media outlets, have also helped to consolidate this spirit of camaraderie, and not of competition, in recent years. That’s why the multiple Artis Award winner raises eyebrows when the term “rivalry” is mentioned.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Sophie Thibault
With everything we’ve been through, I feel that things have calmed down, this excessive, almost warlike competition of 15 years ago. We are all in the same boat. We have to calm things down. This kind of rhetoric that existed on listening, the pressure we were experiencing… It must disappear. We are in competition, we assume it. Everyone wants their own piece of pizza, but there is a way to approach it differently, in a more human way.
Sophie Thibault
Like Sophie Thibault, Patrice Roy admits to watching the ratings of the bulletins he pilots every day. “For me, it’s the ultimate conclusion of everything we do,” he says.
In an interview, the anchor speaks proudly of the listening results of the Newscast 6 p.m.. In the Montreal market, last fall, the program garnered its best ratings since the introduction of PPM measures in 2004, according to Numéris. And his results continued to rise in the spring.
“When I took office in 2008, Pierre Bruneau was far ahead at TVA, says Patrice Roy. It was total domination. Hubert Lacroix [qui était président-directeur général de CBC/Radio-Canada] told me: “You have a bad hill to go up.” With the resources we had, there was no reason for us to be 10 km from the competitor. The idea was not necessarily to beat Pierre Bruneau, but to return to the same fields. And brick by brick, we climbed. I saw Hubert Lacroix again this summer. I went to see him and said: “I joined Pierre Bruneau. We are face to face.” »
For all of Quebec, the TVA News 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. continue to sit at the top of the rankings, with respectively 526,000 and 696,000 viewers, ahead of Radio-Canada. As to Thread 17 of Noovo, he is trailing. Last season, he rallied just over 60,000 people, recently reported Project Ja digital observatory of journalism.
Marie-Christine Bergeron says she has never worried about ratings until now, and she has no intention of changing that habit.
“I am a girl from the region, underlines the journalist from Lac-Saint-Jean. When I was young, I hosted CIBL, the community radio. I did TVA in Trois-Rivières, in Sherbrooke. I replaced the TVA News 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.I did Hi Hello, J.E.. and LCN. It never changed anything for me. Whether I host a newsletter with 1,000,000 or 5,000 ratings, I put all my rigor into it. I have always worked like this. »
The elections, but still
With the provincial elections set to dominate the airwaves until October 3, the trio of anchors are planning a busy fall. But other subjects hold their attention.
COVID-19 has not disappeared from Patrice Roy’s radar. “I can’t wait to see if there is going to be another wave or not, if people are going to get vaccinated, etc. For me, this file is not dead. And because I love politics, I’m obviously interested in the Conservative Party leadership race. [du Canada]. It is not trivial, what awaits us in September. Mr. Poilievre risks being appointed and, eventually, becoming the country’s prime minister. It would be a big change. »
For her part, Sophie Thibault will make some (small) changes to the TVA News 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. : a camera in control, a different opening, a new decor in a few months… The head of the antenna wants to give more airtime to environmental subjects. “I am very sensitive to the environment. We are going through a climate crisis. Every week, we receive rather unpleasant news. I don’t want us to miss the boat on this. »
Marie-Christine Bergeron will bring her “color” to the Thread 17 in particular by developing subjects of a police nature. “I’m tripping over it. When you look at my background, my experience, it shows. Behind these police cases, there are always sometimes appalling and dramatic human stories. It is necessary to talk about it. It’s important to listen to these people who are going through difficult things. »
Patrice Roy and Sophie Thibault resume the necklace this Monday evening at ICI Télé and TVA. Marie-Christine Bergeron will make her debut at the controls of the Thread 17 August 29 on Noovo.
Departure of Lisa LaFlamme: “The arms fell on me”
PHOTO FROM THE BREAKFAST TELEVISION FACEBOOK PAGE
Lisa LaFlamme was an anchor until recently.
Patrice Roy and Sophie Thibault reacted with astonishment to the departure of Lisa LaFlamme, the popular anchor of the CTV National News.
Last week, we learned that the star presenter had been dismissed by Bell Media, after 35 years of loyal service. The much-publicized dismissal raised questions of sexism and ageism.
Sophie Thibault did not appreciate that a colleague head of antenna was shown the door in such a cavalier manner.
“It’s really sad to end a career like this. It is one of top anchors. It is the most popular newscast in Canada today. My arms fell off me. I have a lot of sympathy for what she is going through. There’s nothing she hasn’t done. She was an extraordinary leader. Ending a career fishtailed in some kind of conflict is very sad. »
Patrice Roy also followed the story closely.
“I fell out of my chair, says the host of the Newscast. It is the best newsletter in English Canada. I know she was demanding of the bosses for journalistic independence. She also wanted to have resources to go to Ukraine, etc. Is that what caused his departure? I’ve no idea. What I do know, though, is that I didn’t find it elegant, the way [Bell Média] handled this. She deserved a more dignified start. »
Marie-Christine Bergeron declined to comment on the case. It must be said that the former journalist for TVA has just landed at Noovo, a channel owned by Bell Media. “There are things we don’t know. We don’t have all the details,” she said.