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CBC News Editors' Blog

Connecting with the audience

Monday, November 5, 2007 | 03:10 PM ET

Posted by Tim Richards, Senior Producer Online and Interactivity BC Region

Recently, my colleague Jon Dube discussed how our network news site has begun to tap into our audience to enrich our coverage and tell new stories.

Here in British Columbia we have tried to do the same by engaging our audience on issues from hard news, like our recent civic strike, to softer topics like movie reviews from the Vancouver International Film Festival.

In response we have received many interesting story ideas that we have been able to tell on radio, TV and the web. Just in the last several weeks we have told stories about rental scams, controversial use of Tasers by police and allegations of racism at Revenue Canada, all thanks to our audience.

We've also put out a call for photos on breaking news stories and people have responded. From the recent plane crash in Richmond to a fire at a local watering hole, our audience has enhanced our coverage by providing timely images on stories as they happen.

It hasn't all been serious, though. For example, we've had a huge response to a call for pictures of Wild Animal Encounters from around B.C. Each week, more people share photos. Some favourites of mine include a spy-hopping orca, a nursing black bear, and a heron being chased by a duck.

We've tried to listen too, putting your questions to our reporters on topics like the increase in gang-style targeted killings in the Lower Mainland to the Air India Inquiry and real estate.

This week veteran CBC Sports broadcaster Steve Armitage takes questions on the B.C. Lions and their prospects for another Grey Cup victory.

Whatever the topic our goal has always been the same, to make a stronger connection with British Columbians and to draw on their knowledge and experience to improve the quality of our coverage.

We hope to find new ways to involve you in the future and we'll be testing some of our ideas on you soon.

Let us know what you think and please share your ideas for how we can do it better.

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Comments

Nick Wade

I think the efforts made by the CBC to make news more than what it is. I think the opinions of all Canadians should be heard, Maybe advertising a little more about getting feed back from the audience might help to? not just on CBC websites .

Posted November 15, 2007 03:10 PM

Jane

The problem with the CBC news especially with BC is that they take one story and talk about it all day. So you can listen for five minutes and know what the rest of the day's news will be. Take this taser story, it's so one sided it's pathetic. You don't hear any interviews with the airport security, staff or anybody else who works there. Why not interview CBSA? How did a non English speaking person manage to get through customs? How about interview a mental health worker to analyze his state of mind? What causes someone to behave that way? Clearly this was odd behaviour. There are so many unanswered questions; him getting tasered is the result of so many errors. CBC should hop off the tabloid bandwagon and start asking real questions.

Ps. the forums should be monitored more thoroughly - there is a lot of offensive and abusive language.

Posted November 16, 2007 03:53 PM

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