Canada: Global News Layoffs Send Chilling Message To Women Journalists Facing Harassment

Location: Canada
Date: March 3, 2023

At least four women journalists were laid off from Canadian news outlet Global News. Those affected include prominent journalists Rachel Gilmore and Teresa Wright who received death threats for their reporting. This decision sends a chilling message to Canadian women journalists facing online harassment. Media companies should support their female employees. Laying off women journalists in a vague restructuring effort is not acceptable. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is astonished by this decision and demands Corus Entertainment provide an explanation.

On March 3, journalist Rachel Gilmore tweeted that she and three of her Global News colleagues Teresa Wright, Heidi Lee, and Irelyne Lavery had been let go from the news outlet. The journalists lost their jobs in a restructuring of Corus Entertainment, the owner of Global News. The number of jobs cut in the company is unknown. According to union Unifor cuts have impacted online journalists and online video journalists. The sports department at Global News in Edmonton, Alberta has also been decimated. “It is becoming impossibly difficult for media workers to face the news of restructuring and layoffs on a regular basis,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Journalists are the backbone of our democracy. We need to save local news by investing in newsrooms – not cutting them.”

Talented women journalists let go from Global News

Rachel Gilmore broke numerous important stories during her time at Global News. She has been both lauded and threatened for her coverage of the far-right. Last month, Rachel Gilmore was awarded the Tara Singh Hayer Memorial Award by the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CFJE) for her courageous reporting. CFWIJ has documented numerous occasions when Gilmore was harassed online. In July 2022, she was targeted by an organized trolling campaign for her coverage of Conservative Party of Canada and its leader Pierre Poilievre. 

Hi friends! ✨

I’m heartbroken to share I have been laid off from Global News.

I poured my heart and soul into the work I did alongside amazing colleagues, and I dealt with some horrifying backlash for it.

But I wouldn't change a thing.

— Rachel Gilmore (@atRachelGilmore) March 2, 2023

I am among some really great colleagues who have been affected by these layoffs.

It’s a bad day for journalism and for democracy when reporters lose their jobs.https://t.co/6pyRkelr51

— Teresa Wright (@ReporterTeresa) March 2, 2023

Another reporter affected by layoffs? Yep, that's me!

Despite my personal feelings on the matter, I am very proud of the journalism I have been able to share at Global.

To the sources I've met along the way, thank you for letting me tell your stories. https://t.co/dkDZpZaCca

— Irelyne Lavery (@irelynelavery) March 2, 2023

Teresa Wright is an award-winning journalist who covered health for Global News. She has more than 15 years of experience and previously worked for The Canadian Press and The Guardian. Wright received two Atlantic Journalism Awards for her political reporting. She has also been vocal about the online abuse she has endured. In January 2023, Wright shared death threats and abusive messages she received on Twitter.  

Heidi Lee worked for the Toronto branch of Global News as a national online journalist. In 2022 she won the John H. McDonald Awards for Excellence in Student Journalism: News Reporting Award along with her colleagues at The Eyeopener. Before joining Global News, Heidi wrote for J-Source and Hong Kong Free Press.

Irelyne Lavery covered health care and politics for Global News. The Toronto-based journalist also worked at the Toronto Star and Daily Hive.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is deeply concerned by layoffs at Global News. This is the second series of cuts it has made in three years. Downsizing newsrooms limits their capabilities and damages democracy. The loss of four talented women journalists from Global News is disappointing. Rachel Gilmore and Teresa Wright have experienced horrific harassment due to their work for the outlet. It is vital that news companies support their female employees, laying off these journalists in an unclear restructuring effort is unacceptable. We stand in solidarity with all journalists that have been laid off and demand Global News and Corus Entertainment explain their decision. 

I’m among those who were laid off at Global News yesterday. Though the time was short, I’m thankful for the opportunities.

With that being said, I’m looking for work! Send me a DM or email me at leeheidiws@gmail.com.

— Heidi Lee (@hiheidilee) March 3, 2023

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.