Anne Marie Mediwake Has Quit

[marvian]

Alan Carter is still with Global - but in an off-air Management role. I always thought Alan and Carolyn make a good anchor combo (they would do well anchoring News Hour Final together).

I agree ... Leslie isn't that great. I would suspect removing him would not be easy - he comes with a bit of baggage (used to be News Director at Global Montreal ...).

Since Anne Marie has left, I have not tuned into the News Hour @ 6 ... I've been watching CTV News at 6.

Thanks for the info Vanessab. I thought Alan Carter did a great job on air. He was personable, funny, smart ...just an all around good journalist. Leslie could learn a thing or two from him! :D

[vanessab]

In my opinion, the following would be suitable replacements for Anne Marie ...
-Robin Gill (Global National)
-Sarika Sehgal (Previously with CBC, Toronto 1, CHCH)
-Galit Soloman (CTV Toronto)
-Carolyn Jarvis (just finishing watching the Saturday edition of Global National - she has great on-air prescence ...)
-Laura DiBattista (City Tv Toronto)
-Marci Ien (CTV)
-Marcia MacMillan (CTV)

[artudo123]

I guess that's the reason he's still around when far better journalists have been let go or left. I knew there had to be a reason why his job was always safe even though he is CLEARLY not the best person for the anchor position. If the big wigs at Canwest would only grow a set of...you know what...and boot who they SHOULD boot, they may have a fighting chance of competing with the other stations.

In the meantime, Leslie seems to be sitting pretty -- must be nice to have that kind of influence.

Journalism is what I consider to be a "high risk" field. There is no such thing as guaranteed employment. Job security is 10x better at Wal-Mart than it is with a broadcaster. Contracts don't mean squat either. If you have a contract you can easily be bought out of it. You would think having an anchor position such as Anne-Marie you'd be set for life. Yeah apparently not. I highly respect Leslie but the amount of influence he has scares me. Not that broadcasters need to walk around shaking wondering if they'll have a job tomorrow but I think being too comfortable is also not a good sign and that scares me.

[vanessab]

Watching Global National now ... Robin in anchor chair ... why does Global split the weekend anchoring duties between Carolyn Jarvis and Robin? Tara Nelson used to anchor both Saturday and Sunday ....

I remember Robin when she joined Global Ontario ... she was the weekend weather person - she didn't stay in that role for long. She should return to anchor News Hour ...

[artudo123]

I just wanted to give another FYI that I heard from a source close to Anne Marie that her departure was unplanned and came as a shock to all Global employees. She was making a good chunk of money in the chair too. She announced it 2 weeks beforehand that she was off and that yes the word is circulating that CBC was in talks with her to develop something that should be seen within a few months. My source says that despite her departure being a shock it was on the absolute best of terms.

[vanessab]

That is good to hear. However, one person's opinion - they bumped the wrong News Hour Anchor ...

[artudo123]

My source (who works at Canwest) says though he's the last one to know anything she left voluntarily and didn't think she was pressured to go nor was she asked. But he admits that may not be true and its just hearsay. Regardless I think her future is better at CBC anyways.

[vanessab]

Anne Marie will do well where ever she lands. Global's loss is most definitely another network's gain.

More curious at this point to see who will replace her, and when ...

[vanessab]

Alex Pierson is anchoring the Weekend Evening News tonight - She certainly would add a different dimension to the News Hour ...

[artudo123]

Alex Pierson is anchoring the Weekend Evening News tonight - She certainly would add a different dimension to the News Hour ...

She was a great anchor on CityNews.

[TVViewer]

Alex filled in for Carolyn as Weekend anchor when Carolyn was on maternity leave, I think Leslie and Alex would make a good team.

Although when Anne-Marie first announced she was leaving the plan was to find a replacement, I wouldn't be surprised if they stick with Leslie as solo-anchor for a bit and see how that works out, it's certainly cheaper than hiring another anchor.

As for Robin Gill, she just relocated to Vancouver a few months ago for Global National, i'm not sure if she would want to move again (same goes for Carolyn Jarvis)

[vanessab]

Alex is someone who does well when she is co-anchoring (she did well on Citytv as the co-anchor of the 11pm News), where as some do better anchoring solo (i.e.: Carolyn MacKenzie). Leslie and Alex would stand out from the competition in the Toronto market.

As an aside ... why do Robin Gill and Carolyn Jarvis share the weekend Global National Anchoring duties?

[TVViewer]

Alex is someone who does well when she is co-anchoring (she did well on Citytv as the co-anchor of the 11pm News), where as some do better anchoring solo (i.e.: Carolyn MacKenzie). Leslie and Alex would stand out from the competition in the Toronto market.

As an aside ... why do Robin Gill and Carolyn Jarvis share the weekend Global National Anchoring duties?

I'm not sure, I don't think it was planned, it just kinda worked out that way, both work as reporters during the week so it's not like Global is paying them a big anchor salary

[hambone]

http://www.mediajobsearchcanada.com/...sp?jobID=13197

[vanessab]

Glad to see the posting process has commenced ... can't wait to see how this plays out ...

[DavidToronto]

The title says it all. Anne Marie Mediwake will be on CBC Newsworld.

I understand that the reason for leaving Global was that she didn't
want to go out into the field to report. She prefers the newsdesk.

[vanessab]

Good stuff - not sure I would want to be 're-classified' either if I were Anne Marie ... when will she make her debut on Newsworld? Any idea on the time slot?

[artudo123]

In my opinion Newsworld is a better opportunity. It's national and it'sviewership is much larger. I hope Global is regretting their decision but it appears Anne-Marie will be quite happy in her new role.

[vanessab]

September 30, 2009, 10:22 am

SUPPER HOUR POWERHOUSE JOINS CBC NEWS:
ANNE-MARIE MEDIWAKE TO ANCHOR ON NEWSWORLD


Anne-Marie Mediwake, former supper hour anchor on Global TV, is joining CBC News this fall as an anchor on CBC Newsworld.

“Anne-Marie is a well-respected news anchor and journalist—a powerhouse, really—and we’re delighted to welcome her to the CBC News team,” said Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor-in-chief, CBC News. “Anne-Marie’s ability to make positive connections and build a strong rapport with her audience makes her an ideal anchor for bringing breaking news to our viewers.”

Anne-Marie Mediwake has enjoyed a celebrated and distinguished career in television news since 1993. Her passion for storytelling took her to stations throughout Alberta, her home province—writing, producing and hosting news, current events and lifestyles programs. She moved to Ontario in 1999 and joined CTV in 2001.

While there, she reported for CanadaAM, Newsnet and CTV National News. Mediwake moved to Global Television in 2004. That year, the tsunami hit Sri Lanka, her birth country. She took a small crew and her father to the devastated region and produced the documentary “A Journey Home”.

In 2008, she experienced her greatest success—giving birth to triplets. With humour and honesty, she shared her journey through pregnancy and entry into motherhood in a popular, weekly column in The National Post.

“I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to report on a variety of stories in my television career and I am very excited to take this experience and passion to CBC News viewers,” said Mediwake. “I have never been one to shy away from any story and I look forward to continuing my love for storytelling at CBC.”

[artudo123]

Though we all knew Anne Marie quit I just find it so funny that just weeks ago she said she wanted to spend more time with her family and KABOOM 3-weeks later she is already sick of them. OK I'm being sarcastic but I am just playing the devil's advocate.