N-word at Radio-Canada | Disavow the CRTC’s decision

The signatories are addressed to members of senior management at Radio-Canada: Michael Goldbloom, Catherine Tait, Michel Bissonnette, Luce Julien, Caroline Jamet and Miguel Baz*

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are Radio-Canada headliners.

We hereby ask you to vigorously challenge the recent decision rendered by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) which demands that Radio-Canada publicly apologize for “having lacked respect and sensitivity” by broadcasting a chronicle in which the title of the book by Pierre Vallières, white niggers of americawas mentioned.

This decision by the CRTC is of great concern to us. It calls into question, on the one hand, the principles of freedom and independence required by our profession and, on the other hand, opens the door to the dangers of censorship and self-censorship.

Also, if we are alarmed, it is not only for us, at Radio-Canada, but for all the communications companies regulated by the CRTC.

Of course, we are all aware that the n-word is a loaded word. When it is pronounced on the air, which happens very rarely, it is done in a factual context that is neither offensive, insulting or dehumanizing, which respects the journalistic standards and practices of Radio-Canada but also intelligence of our institution and its employees.

We therefore hope that Radio-Canada will deploy the necessary means to disavow this decision of the CRTC.

* Michael Goldbloom is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Radio-Canada; Catherine Tait is President and CEO of Radio-Canada; Michel Bissonnette is senior vice-president of French services at Radio-Canada; Luce Julien is director general of information at Radio-Canada; Caroline Jamet is radio general manager and Miguel Baz is vice-president of legal services at Radio-Canada.

1. Signatories: Céline Galipeau, Patrice Roy, Guy A. Lepage, Michel Désautels, Tamara Alteresco, Annie Desrochers, Anne-Marie Dussault, Myriam Fehmiu, Charles Tisseyre, Alain Gravel, Patrick Masbourian, Marie-Maude Denis, Marie-Eve Bédard , Martine Biron, Gerald Fillion, Sébastien Bovet, Alec Castonguay, Monique Giroux, Geneviève Garon, Davide Gentile, Isabelle Richer, Johane Despins, Manon Globensky, Marie-Louise Arsenault, Isabelle Craig, François Sanche, Catherine Perrin, Geneviève Asselin, Christian Latreille, Maxime Coutié, Brigitte Bougie, Alexandre Courteau, Anne-Louise Despatie, Thomas Gerbet, Valérie-Micaela Bain, Valérie Gamache, Catherine Mercier, Julie Drolet, Sophie-Andrée Blondin, Jean-Philippe Pleau, Janic Tremblay, Catherine Pépin, Marie-Christine Trottier, François Lemay, Claudine Bourbonnais, Catherine Pogonat, Jean-Philippe Robillard, Daniel Boily, Emilie Dubreuil, Simon Coutu, Jean-Sébastien Cloutier, Romain Schué, Alexandre Touchette and Dominique Arnoldi, Jean-François Bélanger, Sébastien Desrosiers