Fanshawe Grads Fuel Frenzied Toronto News Scene

Michelle Dube and Ken Shaw - CTV Toronto

Two things really struck me returning from a recent field trip to Toronto.  Colleague Mike Stoparczyk and I accompanied 10 post-graduate TV news students to CBC, cp24 and CTV.

CTV Toronto News Director Steve Cassar 

Here are my lasting thoughts:

1) The Fanshawe Broadcast Journalism graduates still have an affection for our college, for journalism and for telling our current college students about journalism.

2)  Our TV News students are fine ambassadors for the college and young people generally.

FANSHAWE GRADS Michelle Dube (class of '07 MTP Fanshawe/UWO), Ian Caldwell (Class of '83) Steve Cassar (Class of '88), Pat Foran (Class of '86) Katie Simpson (class of '05), Stephanie Smyth (class of '88), Simon Ostler (class of '06) all greeted our students with enthusiastic advice about the TV News industry.  We have always told our students that if you love broadcast journalism, you have automatic friends and mentors - even in high places.  Many of our graduates have worked hard to get jobs in the very competitive Toronto news market.  They are busy.  Yet everyone on a recent field trip took time to make sure every question was answered, every picture taken.  It was like a Masters class.  Thanks to all for being so approachable, kind and helpful.

Simon Ostler and Stephanie Smyth - CP24 

Stephanie Smyth, Simon Ostler and Katie Simpson help make CP24 the choice for breaking news in Toronto.  Each stressed that students should develop Twitter skills as part of their training to be a broadcast journalist.
"You really have to be careful," said Stephanie Smyth from the CP24 breaking news desk.  "It's a great tool for journalists, but it's a resource."
Simon Ostler has over 5,000 twitter followers who help give CP24 up to date on breaking news.

CTV Toronto Managing Editor Ian Caldwell speaks to Fanshawe students

At CTV Toronto in Agincourt, we were able to catch a busy noon hour newscast from the control room.  This intense day featured three live 'hits' in a row, delivered flawlessly by Ken Shaw and Michelle Dube.  While the two anchors smoothly gave the information the control room cooly handled the complex technical requirements to get a show to air.  There were no glitches. What an opportunity for the students to get a real education on daily news.

Michelle Dube with Fanshawe students 

The students soaked up all the advice and asked great questions.  Their genuine interest made a professor proud.  The concern showed by some of the biggest names in the Toronto news business was humbling and much appreciated.  That it supported much of our teaching was a bonus.

As we were boarding the bus the receptionist at CTV noted "We get a lot of students here but not many present themselves better than yours.."

The best part of that comment is that the students were not told to dress properly or behave themselves. They did it on their own.  The business of broadcast journalism is in great hands with the heart and commitment of those at the top of their game - and the next generation.

We also ran into a graduate from last year, Derrick DeBolster, now working with CTV News Channel as a chase producer.  Other graduates at CTV include reporter Ashley Rowe, Canada AM chase producer Erin Gunnell, Discovery Channel producer Jenna McQuiggan.

Katie Simpson - Fanshawe/UWO class of '05