| RCI ACTION COMMITTEE Defending Radio Canada International - Canada's Voice to the World |
| Letter to CBC President Robert Rabinovitch RCI ACTION COMMITTEE COMITÉ D’ACTION DE RCI May 9, 2001 Robert Rabinovitch President, CBC Sir, Having exhausted all other means of averting severe damage to the programming and audiences of Radio Canada International we call on you to call a moratorium on any reductions of services at RCI until further notice. Since your e-mail of April 18, 2001, management at RCI and Radio-Canada Vice-President Sylvain Lafrance have moved quickly to reduce programming resources, and plan to implement these changes at the beginning of June. Though we have few details, we are appalled by the apparent willingness of management to eliminate all RCI newscasts from Friday night until Monday morning. This change goes directly against CBC’s Corporate Policy No. 14 that assures “daily shortwave broadcasts” “designed to attract an international audience.” We have been told RCI is spending above its means, yet we have also been told there is enough money in this year’s budget to avoid any program reductions. Given the discussions which will soon be going on with Canadian Heritage about RCI’s future, it seems to us doubly important to maintain our programming at the highest levels possible this year. We are passionate programmers who believe in RCI’s mandate and do not want it harmed at this crucial point. We therefore ask you to call for a moratorium, and to meet members of the Committee at your earliest convenience. Wojtek Gwiazda for the RCI Action Committee Back to Action Committee Press Release June 1, 2001 |