Canada: Lisa LaFlamme’s sudden termination sparks sexism, ageism concerns in the media

Location: Canada, Toronto

Date: August 25, 2022

Veteran journalist and Canada’s top news anchor, ​​Lisa Laflamme, was “shocked and saddened” when she faced a “sudden end'' to her contract at CTV - a channel she worked at for 35 years first as a journalist and then as chief anchor. Lisa  announced her departure in a video (link to video) on Twitter, where she explained how she was blindsided by this decision at the peak of her career. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled at the sudden dismissal and stands in solidarity with Lisa. 

While Bell Media, the parent company, called the termination a “business decision”, the CFWIJ has found details that imply otherwise. As Lisa was ranked No. 1 on news ratings, the decision calls into question other factors that contributed to her exit.

CFWIJ Founding Director Kiran Nazish told the Toronto Star that Lisa’s ouster has very much to do with sexism and ageism. “This has to be one of the most publicly ageist events in Canadian media, and I find this to be the case because she is also a woman,” said Nazish.

“Not only that her 35 years of career came to an end so suddenly, but also that she had to keep it confidential for weeks, is excruciatingly unfair. It’s a blatant and concerning misjudgment by CTV management. Nonetheless, for Canadians, Lisa will remain a legacy who brought richness, compassion, and a distinct voice to news anchorship that cannot be replaced.”

After scrutinizing the series of past events, the response and feedback from journalists inside the newsroom, and details backed by some concerning comments from top CTV executives, the CFWIJ has found that this abrupt layoff may have to do primarily with ageism and sexism. After speaking to journalists in the know, two core issues we have found in our research highlight a consistent concern by the Bell Media executives over a) Lisa’s gray hair, and b) a power dynamic.

Apart from crude comments about Lisa’s hair by the top executive, several sources close to the situation disclosed that her  contract was terminated because she pushed back against Michael Melling, the vice president of news at Bell Media. What is alarming to us at the CFWIJ is a variety of both sexist and ageist comments and the treatment Melling has meted out to Lisa and many other female staff in the newsroom. Melling was described by a CTV source as a “company man” who would brag about destroying the careers of those he conflicted with. They clashed on a few professional issues, including the Ukraine coverage budget, for which Lisa wanted more resources than Melling wished to provide. There was also conflict when Lisa stood up for her executive producer Rosa Hwang after Melling tried to shuffle her off of the CTV National News broadcast into a role at their local Toronto news channel, CP24.

Moreover, ageist comments were made by Melling toward Lisa when he remarked “who approved her to go gray” during a company meeting.  As salons were closed during the pandemic, Lisa opted to go natural and let her gray hair grow out. While many celebrated her choice to age gracefully on camera, Melling continued to make inappropriate comments, such as the “purple hue of her hair” under studio lighting. The sudden termination of Lisa’s contract begs the question of how much influence Melling’s approach had on her forced exit.

For greater context, it is important to note that Lisa’s predecessor, Loyd Robertson, retired in 2011 by his own choice at age 77. Outgoing anchors usually have the chance to say goodbye to their viewers in a live sign-off, along with a retrospective on their work. Robertson’s retirement announcement was followed by an on-air sendoff and he was toasted for his more than 40 years at CTV.

Similarly, Peter Mansbridge was afforded nearly a year of runway before he left his job at CBC’s ‘The National’ . Not only was Lisa not given the courtesy and respect of an on-air sendoff, she was also asked to keep the decision confidential from her colleagues and the public until the details of her exit were finalized. As such, CTV National News staff found out about Lisa’s exit at the same time as the public. The implication of this on the CTV members was unsettling, to say the least. Lisa’s colleagues are reportedly “sad and scared”, still with no formal explanation or acknowledgement from the management on the situation.

Lisa’s termination crystallizes the issue of how women in media are treated, which may surprise the public but is all too familiar for the women within it.  Expectations on women in media to abide by misogynistic standards, where criticism and scrutiny by management adheres more to personal presentation than actual career problems, are overwhelming. The lack of due process in Lisa’s dismissal  is indicative of the culture and treatment surrounding women in the media. This is further corroborated by the fact that the employees who spoke to the Star asked to remain anonymous due to job concerns and probable career repercussions.

This leaves us with the disappointing conclusion that sexism and ageism likely influenced the handling of the situation. While CTV announced their regret for the way in which the news of her departure may leave viewers with the wrong impression about how CTV regards Lisa and “her remarkable career”, their initial handling leaves space for wondering whether their efforts are genuine or a desperate PR measure to save company face. Bell Media has likewise apologized and said that it will launch an independent third-party workplace review of their newsroom.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism will be following this case, and will remain in touch with journalists who have been informing us and reacting to the situation publicly. We extend support to Lisa LaFlamme and recognize her as a crucial figure in the country’s journalistic landscape.

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.

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