EXCLUSIVE/BREAKING NEWS: CKNW Fires Sports Broadcasting Star Jim Mullin for Getting the Story Right!: The Black Tower Melting Rapidly After Kissing Brian Burke’s Derriere–AGAIN!
For any of those people who thought my personal story of recently getting CENSORED by a wet-behind-the-ears CKNW staffer (that wouldn’t allow my appropriate and pertinent criticisms of Premier Clark and her bought, biased media trollops) was a one-off; for those who believed I was too vitriolic (as NW goblin Ian Koenigsfest hypocritically suggested to many of my readers that followed up their letters of outrage with calls of complaint) in my defense of TRUE media freedom; for those that are fool enough to think CKNW are generally providing balanced and fair-minded programming (think Vanilla Bill); for those that deem CKNW has been living on anything other than the fumes from the greatness of people like Jack Cullen, George Garrett, Gary Bannerman or the incomparable Rafe Mair…..
Think again.
You likely missed it, because as a result of the willful cover-up by the lame stream, drive-by media friends of CKNW/Corus Entertainment and the legal chill provided by Toronto Maple Leafs overlord Brian Burke, who, once again, comported himself like a bull in a china shop through his lawyers, no one will touch this story.
Except me. And happily so.
As you know, there is nothing more compelling to me than outing the shameless and shameful–afflicting the (too) comfortable if you will. That’s why more readers come to this site every month than any other political blog in British Columbia.
Only here can you expect the REAL story of Jim Mullin’s fall.
One of my heroes, prolific writer and gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson once quipped:
“The radio business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.”
Top-notch sports broadcaster Jim Mullin is not a friend of mine, nor do I know the man more than from a couple of perfunctory conversations in the past. But I ALWAYS admired his tremendous work and if you speak to ANYONE about the guy, he’s aces, as they say in the Jersey.
Mullin’s reputation is stellar and his integrity is unimpeachable.
He understands the sports business and does a phenomenal job getting to the heart of a story, often ahead of the curve, sometimes even eclipsing titans like former colleagues Dan Russell and Neil MacRae. It’s obvious if you were ever a listener of Mullin’s work. Credit where credit is due, ‘NW had (stress, HAD) the triumvirate of the best sports commentators in the province until they senselessly fired Mullin last week: Dan Russell, Neil MacRae and Jim Mullin provided the best pound for pound (to borrow a sports line) coverage of any sports commentators in B.C. (with apologies to Don Taylor and Dave Pratt, who I also think the world of, and let’s add Greg Douglas and my pal Squire in there–first class too).
But as has happened at CKNW since the 90s, the talent liquidation from viral ham-fistedness; the stunning favoritism and malignant back-room machinations have cost them yet another huge talent.
And they don’t care. Why should they? They have no competition (for now…)
But Mullin’s firing wasn’t your garden-variety canning. It was about CENSORSHIP. It was about cowardice. It was about expediency. It was about stroking someone’s megalomania–from some two thousand miles away.
It was about weak-kneed, surprisingly spineless ‘NW brass placating a faux litigation-delirious poseur, in this case Brian Burke, who while one of the brightest hockey minds in the business can be the quintessential epitome of a horse’s ass particularly when his snout is out of joint: Able to easily deliver a race at full throttle when the circumstances are right, but really, naturally disposed to fertilizing your feet, without warning, and summarily kick you after he’s ceremoniously plied your loafers with his malodorous crap. Burke has a rather quixotic penchant for being a jerk, but in this case, he’s proved it beyond any doubt.
On April Fool’s Day (how apropos of…) Burke was pummeled by Mullin in a morning commentary that I actually heard on my way to work. I thought it was brilliant, frankly–as I thought of almost every one of Mullin’s editorials. In it, he hammered Burke, pillar to post, for wanting to sell the Chilliwack Bruins (of which Burke was a 25% owner until he sold last week) to businessman Graham Lee–a move most of the Bruin administration FURIOUSLY DENIED–and a story that had been rumoured throughout the media for weeks.
Now, for most of you this gets quite inside baseball, but bear with me, because the home-run comes not twenty days after Mullin’s initial offense, and ironically on the day he’s fired–for essentially getting the story right.
After the April 1st commentary, in which Mullin also questions Burke’s well-known hate-on for the Vancouver Canucks (NOTE: Burke is a pal of Tom Gaglardi, who along with fellow billionaire buddy Ryan Beedie sued the Aqulinis for the team rights and stadium and were promptly tossed from court–Disclosure: I know the Gaglardis well and they are absolutely superb people). But of note is Burke’s hasty attempts to poach the Sedin brothers from the Canucks not long ago and the reprimand that followed.
So was Mullin offside in making such a statement? I think not.
But that didn’t matter to Brian Burke.
One day after Mullin’s OPINION piece, a letter arrived at CKNW from Heenan Blaikie, lawyers for Burke. I’m told by sources at Corus Entertainment that the letter was addressed to ‘NW brass, but also Corus executive Garry Mackenzie.
And Heather Shaw.
Ms. Shaw is one of the members of the Shaw family–owners of Corus that clearly need to administer an enema to CKNW. (Disclosure: I’ve had much exposure to the Shaws, particularly Jim Shaw, and they too are fantastic people, but clearly content allowing ‘NW management to devalue their asset in Vancouver. Pity).
In the lawyer’s letter, Burke (a lawyer himself, who absolutely knows better) not only takes umbrage with Mullin’s OPINIONS of him (which last I checked were what Mullin was being paid to provide and are no different of Burke, and less caustic, than Russell’s and certainly MacRae’s) but he instructs his lawyers to spell out the strategy for the moving of teams, etc. in the Western Hockey League (WHL).
He basically admits to Mullin getting the story RIGHT!
Rather than to read that and tell Burke, who previously has thrown almost childlike tantrums over things said and written by sports greats Dan Russell of ‘NW, Dave Pratt of TEAM 1040, Tony Gallagher of ‘The Province’, and Bob Stauffer of TEAM 1260, among others, to fly a kite, ‘NW brass did what any executives with the spines of gastropods would: They told Mullin to show up on Tuesday April 5th and deliver an apology, which he promptly did, all while battling badly infected vocal chords.
Think about it: So exorcized (read: compliant to Burke’s ridiculous demands) were ‘NW execs that they didn’t even wait to thoroughly think it all through; they made Mullin get out of bed, sick and unable to speak clearly, just to placate a bully–and pronto. Instead of backing up their man, with Burke’s own words from his lawyer’s letter–wherein Mullin’s opinions are largely legitimized, they hung Mullin out to dry and then threw him under the bus for good measure.
Later that day, Mullin, with a still scraggly and phlegmy voice–at the polite request of the immortal Dan Russell (who ‘NW’ lost once before from sheer arrogance, until they went crawling back to him and DOUBLED his salary), went on-air and told the story. This irritated ‘NW execs Tom Plasteras and Ian Koenigsfest to no end. Reality check: A storied ‘NW host asked Mullin to come on and tell his story, which he did, without fail or malice. Then MacRae hammered Burke the next morning in an editorial that might have been mild for Neil’s usual bad-ass parade of zingers, but certainly not any less punishing than Mullin’s alleged offensive diatribe just days earlier.
So, did you hear about MacRae’s firing from ‘NW? Or Russell’s? Of course not. Because both of their spots are massive money makers that come with sponsors and advertisers that don’t end. They’ll wheel them out in walkers one day. MacRae routinely rips Burke on-air and nary a peep from the ego that ate Toronto. Nothing.
Immediately thereafter, Mullin went back to his compound in the hills of Gesthemane to kneel in his garden and ask, ‘Why?’
Why did they forsake thee, Jimmy boy?
I’ll tell you.
It didn’t hurt that the contract with the CORUS OWNED radio station (now you know why Heather Shaw was also included in Burke’s legal letter) that carries the Maple Leafs games is currently up for renewal.
But it wasn’t, certainly wasn’t about Mullin’s comments related to the Canucks and Burke, nor was it about Burke’s documented attempted poaching of the Sedins, etc. Burke LOVES to play the role of the wounded dove when it suits him, but, truth be told, he’s one tough SOB who gives as good as he gets. His ego isn’t so fragile that he could be so insipid or puerile as to think an OPINION piece in a city where at least half the fans he served well (for the most part) hate him would wound his well-honed, self-navigated reputation. He is not so daft as to think the Aquilinis would ever take him back (or his ‘Gilligan’ Dave Nonis) and somehow opportunities are lost forever. It wasn’t about any of that.
There was no injury to Burke and he deserved no apology–it was a goddamn opinion piece.
It was largely about a principled, legitimate, hard-nosed sports journalist, Mullin, taking to the airwaves, ONE MONTH ahead of the curve on a major story, and laying out for all to see that Burke was likely the driving force in selling the Chilliwack Bruins to Victoria (blocking the Canucks from moving the Manitoba Moose to Victoria instead–so they couldn’t Helijet drop a fresh Cody Hodgson to Rogers Arena in half an hour for a few shifts). The sale to Victoria was a done deal, and Mullin had that confirmed before anyone, contrary to previous denials in the press by Bruins management and ownership (25% Burke, 25% former Edmonton Gretzky boss Glen Sather, 25% businessman Daryl Porter, 15% businessman Jim Bond and 10% Dueck car dealer extraordinaire Moray Keith–Moray, who I can attest is a prince of a guy, owns the arena in Chilliwack). Bond and Keith wanted the team to stay in Chilliwack, but the big three of Burke, Sather and Porter wanted to sell and move.
Mullin’s dangerously accurate editorial could have derailed such a deal–perhaps–because twenty days after Mullin’s first editorial, on the day he was fired by ‘NW head honcho Tom Plasteras–Wednesday April 20th to be exact, the deal moving the Bruins from Chilliwack to Victoria was made public.
Astounding: The day Mullin is fired for ultimately telling it like it is–and ahead of all his colleagues in the media, the very story Bruins ownership had been denying is announced as a DONE DEAL.
I finally reached Mullin for comment earlier today and here’s what he had to say: “I appreciate your kind words Alex, but I’m afraid I can’t comment at this time. Although, you’re welcome to print what you just said. I’m not commenting at this point. Sorry man, I hope you understand. But I will look forward to reading your piece. It’s sounds like you’ve done a lot of research. I don’t always agree with your stuff but it’s always a great read.”
This whole affair should come as no surprise to anyone that is now aware of the dog’s breakfast that has become CKNW. They have some tremendous talent: Janet Brown, Marcella Bernardo, Terry Schintz, Tom Mark, Brett Mineer…and some equally good talk show hosts and commentators like MacRae, Russell, Jon McComb, Mike Smyth, Jill Bennett, Simi Sara, Philip Till and Sean Leslie.
But how protected should these people feel when Mullin gets the heave ho like that after simply doing his job??? It’s bad enough Smyth has been doing a superb job in the afternoon, but my intel is that his spot is Jill Krop’s for the taking. Why go through the theatre of posting the bloody spot???
What does that tell you about the loyalty in the plastic hallway that used to house a REAL ‘Giant’?!
Let’s face it, without any competition in the radio market–something sorely lacking, ‘NW’s inherent weaknesses (of which there are a multitude) will not become readily manifest.
Their pretending with me, on and off, over the course of two years was clearly, as one popular ‘NW personality says, “total bull…they were probably just making sure that you didn’t sign with someone else ’cause they know exactly what would have happened if you went elsewhere and gone head to head with Bill or the Princess (Clark). You would have killed them. They don’t care because no one is willing to stand up to them. Your readers blew a gasket over how Carly Nicol treated you and look what happened. Mullin tried to stand up to them and look what they did to him.”
This is how ‘NW operates.
So you can add Jim Mullin’s name to the roster of real heroes and solid performers that survived any of the Black Tower years (I hear ‘NW are looking for new space–to downsize, so no more Black Tower).
I dedicate this post to them:
Here’s to Jack Cullen (who never got the retirement dinner he deserved–he earned), Frosty Forst (who was a massive loss when he departed), Hal Davis, Ted Smith, Dick Abbott, Paul Preston, Ron Bremner, Jack Braverman, John McKitrick, Maury Hesketh, Ted Wendland, Rick Honey (who they demoted into retirement), Jack Webster (who asked the toughest questions), Ed Murphy, Art Findlay, Gary Bannerman (the most prolific editorialist), Dave McCormick, Leigh McKay, Earle Bradford, John Ashbridge, Al Davidson, John Plul (who understood talent and how to cultivate it), Bill Hughes, Gerry Davies, Warren Barker, George Garrett (who was the best man on the street interviewer ever), David Berner (who was fearless and hysterically funny) Norm Grohman, Jim Robson, Wayne Cox, Lee Powell and of course Rafe Mair (whose fumes of glories past ‘NW are still riding) and ALL of the other wonderfully talented people who toiled at CKNW, but are no longer there.
Mullin deserved better–way better. Maybe one day soon he’ll find that.
Meh.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhmjnYKlVnM
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Aw, I miss Jim Henson! But…people come and go in the radio business. Mullin was a voice reading the sports, didn’t make a big impression on me one way or another. McRae has always been a hack, since his WX days. ( Didn’t he and Burke have lunch together to work out their “act?”)
I don’t think this transaction came about as an elaborate revenge scenario courtesy of Brian Burke. I’m pretty sure the ever finagling WHL was well aware of everything and saw this as their last chance to get back into Victoria. ( Yay, welcome back!) Of course the move was kept under wraps; the ECHL team here is still playing. I keep hearing rumours that another WHL team will end up in Chilliwack, under local ownership. Porter made no friends during his stints owning Tri-Cities and Chilliwack, and it’s probably best that he and his NHL co-owners move along. Yeah, NW is a bit of a mess, and I miss the golden days of the Top Dog, too, but almost everybody you gave a tip of the hat to is over 70 or sadly no longer with us. So…..meh.
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Fair enough. But that says a great deal. They never replaced quality with quality, for the most part. They’ve got some good people, but maintaing the status quo is NOT great radio.
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You’re probably right Alex, but I presume you’ll agree that they can fire anyone they hired, according to whatever contracts they signed with them. I have never been a believer in lawsuits for improper or unjustified firings or layoffs; they have as much a right to fire me as I have of quitting my job if I am unhappy. This, of course, pursuant to contract law. If they were morally wrong in their decisions than it would likely show up at a later day, especially if the one fired ends up working for the competition and making use of his experience to draw customers away from his previous employer.
On the other hand, you or I are certainly free to disagree with them orally or in print. I don’t think we need HRC’s to look after hurt feelings. I know that is not what you were suggesting; just sticking up for someone you thought mistreated.
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No, I disagree with you.
You cannot treat employees like dirt. He was fired without cause and should sue their asses off.
Plasteras and Koenigsfest have created their own fiefdom and diluted the brand. It’s a joke. What they did to Mullin is inexcusable.
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I’m sitting here listening to my favorite Opera… La Traviata.. as I read this..
So let me get this straight , Jim Mullin is fired and censored for reporting the real news…just as Ian Koenigsfest and Carly Nicol censored Alex Tsakumis from speaking his opinion of Christy Clark, and/or the political scene.
So if that is the case, it is safe to surmise that CKNW is not interested in real news and freedom of opinion and speech are not welcome…
CKNW is suffocating from a serious illness, it’s called CENSORSHIP and the symptoms are a rapid loss of talent…
In the case of CKNW it is becoming a tawdry soap opera of deceit spin and lies…
Back to La Traviata as there is nothing on the radio of any substance to listen to…. sad.
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Not yet…
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Ooh, which recording, George? I love the Carlos Kleiber one, with Domingo and a slightly wobbly Cotrubas.
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Ah, that would be my favorite!
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It’s a shame, because I know Jim Mullin from a previous job and he was one of the most level headed, thoughtful (sports) people I’ve ever had to deal with….a true professional.
NW didn’t deserve someone of his calibre on their roster…I hope he goes after them for wrongful dismissal and gets a nice chunk of change out of them.
PS: AGT, I loved the YouTube video!
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Yes, me too Martin, it had a kind of mirror like quality to it; don’t you think?
A kind of “through the looking-glass” familiarity.
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Well, intriguing, sorry for Jim Mullin, but neither the first nor the last.
Why do we keep lambasting the MSM….most of us here agree its going downhill . Why give them more publicity…isn’t this why they don’t give streakers any camera time ?
From what I am gathering, there is always some fresh meat from BCIT and other broadcasting school….could simply be meat in the grinder turnover before contract time.
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Because they are responsible for maintaining the public trust. They are beholden to YOU.
…or they should be.
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Hoof-Hearted
“there is always some fresh meat from BCIT and other broadcasting school….could simply be meat in the grinder turnover before contract time.”
I wonder… Would you feel that way if you were forced out of your job, before retirement, for simply doing your job with integrity?
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Another front to free speech lost. George Orwell is laughing his ass off somewhere. The shift to the internet for real NEWS is continuing unabated. They should be looking to an ever decreasing revenue base.
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Agreed……but I have options and when someone tells me there are 10 sheep in a pen, but I count 10 wolves….ouch….ciao
aka I don’t waste my time listening to talk radio(which I used to love) , barely can stand TV .
If can’t trust them, and I don’t own them….then over to that Alex fella’s blog ( which I hear has a lot of potential !!!! )
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Alex who?!
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I dunno……picture of a good looking Greek guy on Christy’s dartboard.
Must be Yanni ???
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Absolutely MUST be Yanni…
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Thank you for shedding light on yet another blunder, by the ever dwindling NW.
And I am being kind with my words.
No hard hitting questions by Bill Good-Strike One.
The censorship of one Alex T.-Strike Two.
This story-Strike Three.
NW, you are out.
I do not listen anymore to that station, and have replaced them on my browser with News 1130 (Since the debacle with yourself, I actually stopped listening).
One other thing Alex, is it true that Bruce Allen was subbing for Bill Good today. I was told he indeed was, so this perplexes me.
How could a station, so worried about not getting other peoples noses out of joint, employee such a, well, caustic, tell it like it is person, in Allen?
I have loved the guy, since his days at 99.3, at Sound Off, because he told it like it was.
How long will they tolerate this, or has he wilted to the corporate pressure?
I hope you get a radio show soon Alex.
Regards
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NW are a little concerned that a new station might come to the fore and that a real talk show host might emerge.
They should be.
They’ll give Bruce more time to try and keep that segment of the listening public that are completely fed up with the Vanilla Man.
Tick, tock, tick, tock…
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Tick tock indeed…..a new all talk radio station, that actually digs for the real story, would be a welcome change.
Keep us advised…….
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I actually listened to Bruce Allen,
He was a breath of fresh air. Yesterday you could tell there wad some consternation between him and Gellar and Green but they were all cordial with one another.
I think he is too smart for NW brass. A new station would be wise to try and recruit him…nudge nudge wink wink.
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I listened to Bruce Allen the other morning. WHAT a CHANGE from that sycophantic butt licker Bill. He was funny and very outrageous in some of his comments.
Bruce Allen wont last long , he’s not politically correct enough for the milksops that think they “know” programming.
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If you want to hear Jim’s comments that got him in trouble, good luck, the NW audio vault for that hour doesn’t work but no problem if you want to hear his apology. Just a coincidence.
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No surprise.
All of Christy’s shows are gone too.
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I don’t know who Mr. Mullin is, but after reading your opinion of the gentleman I am convinced that his talent is wasted at NW, and hopefully he will be practicing his craft elsewhere, and soon.
While Ms. Shaw and Master Koenigsfest can toss Employees under a bus and then go home and sleep soundly, I can attest to the fact that neither give a damn about their listening audience as well.
I would suggest that the Station’s Advertiser’s certainly are concerned about the listeners, or lack thereof, as it is their hard earned bucks that keep the Station viable.
March 16th I sent an email to the Station that asked 2 pertinent questions.
1. What was the reason that Program Director Carly Nichol cencored a booked guest?
2. What is the Station going to do about it?
Both credible questions deserving credible answers.
The recipients of my email were:
Ian Koenigsfest
Tom Plasteras
Devon Taylor
Liza Yuzda
I have never received a reply.
But to further my position that the Owner and Management couldn’t care less as to how they treat their audience, I have sent two emails, dated weeks apart, asking “what is an appropriate response time to correspondence received”?
No reply. Nothing. Nada.
While I miss Jon McComb and Sean Leslie, I am enjoying NEWS 1130.
Cheers
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Well, I’m with you. I’ve switched every radio I have including in all my vehicles to News 1130 and it’s great.
I listen to NW only if it’s like today when my pal Rob Macdonald PUMMELED Vision Vancouver. Wonderful stuff. And while Bruce Allen is not host material, he’s such a refreshing change to Bill Good’s snorefest.
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Yes, but he sort of gave props to Suzanne Anton too.
Whattup with that? Is Rob up to something?
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No, Rob’s a great friend of mine. He’s just being polite. Macdonald knows all too well what kind of nutbar campaign Suzanne will run.
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Alex;
You know, your penultimate paragraph in this article managed to walk me from my earliest youth, through my teenage years, on through my adult years and finally to my retirement years of today. Talk about nostalgia wrapped up into one paragraph. Ahhh but for to have those years back again.
The mear mention of those names harkens one back to times less complicated, less expensive, less confusing. Have you ever tasted a taste or heard a song that instantly brought you to De Ja Vous all over again, back to days gone by? Your list of ‘NW alumni certianly did it for me.
Mike Boileau
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They’re wonderful people, most of whom were treated like CRAP.
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Me also Mike,
Burns on the line, go ahead Doll.
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Ah…my all time favorite. Pat Burns–the champ.
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I grew up with those names. Webster and Rafe–my god, they made you think they were actaully working on our behalf! Would either of them have been put off the “corruption” files? Not a chance!
Sad days down at Black Rock West.
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Yes indeed.
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Censorship aside…
I worked in radio news for ten years (more than half of that time with Corus at various radio stations in Canada) and can confidently say I felt driven out of the business ALTOGETHER by the poor treatment I got at CKNW. I was a major market, on-air employee (anchor/reporter/producer) who toiled with Corus during the recession with no pay raises or pension contributions only to be denied a pay raise when the bad times were over. Some co-workers got 1 percent – a slap in the face. Talented people are thrown under the bus and drastically underappreciated in the Black Tower. When Mullin says CKNW is a ‘bad employer’, he’s being slightly kind.
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Great perspective.
As someone who was a regular guest on NW I, too, can attest to the shoddy treatment. Unless you are a lemming, you don’t get rewarded.
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Just read in the daily hand-outs that the B. C. Civil Liberties has taken up the cause of assisted suicide to the Supreme Court (B. C.) in an effort to change legislation prohibiting it. I believe that was Mr. Eby’s bailiwick, wasn’t it? Apparently it was the wish of Kathleen Carter to die with “dignity” in Switzerland. (You know that land that refused to take up arms when a butcher was killing people in very undignified ways, and which is famous for laundering filthy money of tyrants and thieves and drug dealers, etc., and … for making Cuckoo Clocks).
She was taken to Zurich by her daughter Lee Carter and her husband, Hollis Johnson. (She, so progressive that she kept her maiden name, and he so untraditional that he didn’t care) in order that she can have a drink of poison, and then refresh her mouth with a piece of ” ..fine Swiss chocolate”. Apparently they have similar laws in Washington State and Oregon, but not the Swiss chocolate, or else they just don’t want to encourage such things, being they don’t want to be burying or sending home indigent cadavers, and having to foot the bill. So gauche, the Americans! In one paper (24H) it was reported that suicide was decriminalized in Canada in 1972. Probably because it was so hard making the charges stick to a corpse, and they almost never paid their fines.
How bloody grotesque and disgusting! These are the kind of innovations we can expect from the Left, folks. Remember that the right to die quickly becomes the duty to die. They have you believe that is only for the “hard cases”, and it has been proven that decisions made on “hard cases” make for bad laws. When they first opened the doors to abortion, it was only for the hard cases, you know, the life of the mother was at stake, or if the pregnancy was the result of gang rape; etc.. It can now proceed on a whim! Sorry, did I wander off subject again?
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Yes you did, but I have a huge problem with people trying to play God. I’m not sure assisted suicide is sometimes much more than murder by some other name.
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The thing that bothers me about this story is how easily the management of CKNW turtled simply because they were threatened with litigation by Brian Burke. Since when did breaking a factual story contravene any laws? Unless Jim Mullin was in on the negotiations and sworn to secrecy, he did nothing wrong. If secrecy was of the utmost importance, then maybe Burke and his cohorts should have been a bit more careful about who knew what.
The fact that Jim Mullin paid for this with his job does not send a very good message for any of the other reporters still working there. If one of them gets a scoop, will he/she now sit on it for fear of reprisal?
It makes one wonder what other news items have been swept under the carpet.
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They, CTV, CBC and now Global are clearly protecting Clark. It’s disgraceful.
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Interesting and not surprising given the players. I used to enjoy Jim Mullins, when he just read the sports and broke local sports stories.
I had noticed in the past year or two that he on occassion would turn into a mini-McCrae with the sarcastic voice, and I had assumed that NW management had asked him to crank up the a-hole factor to cover for Neal when he was off. He seems like a good guy, and his attempts to be more McCrae-like seemed forced and contrived. Why anyone would want to emulate Neal is beyond me, his schtick is tired and his rants often have no basis in fact or reason. Jim is a good broadcaster and may turn up 60 points up the dial, where they could use an infusion of new talent, particularly in the evenings.
Arguably the greatest loss for NW was when Frosty retired. At least he had the good sense and the ability to shut McCrae up when he was venturing, frequently, into idiot territory.
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Frosty “baiting” McCrae was the hight light of my morning! He would goad McCrae into a corner where he would HAVE to ask a coach/manager/owner the most BRUTAL questions ! Because if he didnt> Frosty would call him a wimp the next morning. I LOVED it!
Frosty ? Where fore art thou ?
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I hear from Frosty from time to time. He’s enjoying retirement. But wasn’t he the BEST?! Top drawer.
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Well say Hi from all his fans because they truly miss him a lot.
Sorry, but Philip Till aint no Frosty. He may be a “World Class” reporter but that doesnt mean he can joke and jab. Compared to Frosty, he comes across as a rank amatuer.
Frosty’s wit was laser sharp, laser quick, and ruthlessly funny. I’m sure more than a few of his co-workers(McCrae) breathed a sigh of relief when he retired.
One wonders how much NW’s ratings have fallen in the past 5 years.
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I will, and I agree. Till is not morning material, or talk show material frankly. But a GREAT reporter.
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I also heard that Burke interview and the retraction the next day and thought,” WOW! Someone’s lawyers got their knickers in a twist!”
Didnt realize Burke was such a prick and that CKNW no longer has a spine…..
Jack Webster must be spinning in his grave.
‘NW deserves the falling ratings… slugs swimming in salt have more of a future. Can anyone say ” Shareholders meeting”?
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Yep, sounds about right.
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Jeez, Alex, were there not any good women at CKNW over the last 30 years?!! Shirley Stocker, Fanny Kiefer, who else? You only mentioned guys. I vote for Jill getting that job just because – when are we going to have some females getting some air time. What does it say about our society that we think we have to hear it from men in order to believe it?!! McComb’s not that great and neither is Till.
Good article but I listened to Mullin’s editorial as it happened in real-time and it crossed the line. He imagined what Burke was thinking…of course, he crossed the line.
McRae, on the other hand, showed his mastery shortly thereafter. Here, grasshopper is the correct way to skewer Burke, It was masterful. In fact, McRae is a master. He’s getting better with age. McRae, if you’re reading this, go to bed you old geezer…so you can have the energy to keep skewering Burke, Aqulioony et al. Well done, my man.
FYi, I’ve listened to Mullin for years and always felt that, yes, he got the scoops but his voice was too fake baritone and smarmy, telling one and all how NW (ie Mullin) got the scoop. He was annoying in his success. Just like Sgt Rick the traffic helicopter guy they got rid of. First rule of radio: Don’t be annoying.
In any event, back to the point at hand. We’re connecting the dots. Simmi kissing ass with a lowly female producer rather than go to bat for having you on the show. Now it comes together. Obviously, these young female producers have an exceptionally strong connection with senior station management and Simmi knows the score.
Keep up the good fight!
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Hello Mark:
I missed (and miss) Shirley Stocker, but I didn’t find Fanny any more interesting or compelling an interviewer than I do if I happen upon her show with Shaw. Truth be told, there still aren;t a great deal of women in radio. It isn’t a sexist thing, get over it.
As for your opinions of Mullin, I think you’re off base. He’s a damn fine reporter and broadcaster. And his voice is authentic. That’s how he talks in private life too.
Good to hear from you.
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