The president of CTV parent Bell Media is apologizing for intruding on the editorial integrity of the broadcaster’s news team during its coverage of a major regulatory decision last week.
Kevin Crull says he was wrong to try to influence the editorial decisions of CTV journalists and says he has “apologized to the team directly for this mistake.”
The statement follows a report in the Globe and Mail, citing unnamed sources, that said Crull demanded that journalists not give any airtime to Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission chairman Jean-Pierre Blais.
Blais had just announced rule changes requiring broadcasters to offer a low-cost package to consumers and to allow them to “pick and pay” other individual channels.
The Globe report prompted a pointed statement from Blais, who reminded Bell Media of its duty not to interfere in the work of its journalists.
Crull says the reaction to his “intrusion” reaffirms his faith in the CTV News team and says he has “re-learned” a vaulable lesson as a result.
