Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 19, 2015

This week’s episode of Open Sources Guelph will feature a mixed bag of issues from startling acts of violence, to the future federal election, to the demise of a would-be media giant. It’s a tricky balance discussing the incredibly sad news of people being killed to the still sad, but kind of schadenfreude-y, conversation about the passing of Sun News, but to parapharase a great news anchor, that’s the kind of week it’s been. From Copenhagen, to Halifax, to right here on our own backyard, the Royal City, it’s been another busy seven days in the news. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 19, 2015” →

10 Reasons Why Sun News Network Failed

The untimely demise of Sun News Network Friday left about 200 media professionals out of work, which is sad considering the current sorry state of the media business. Still, if Sun News is looking for someone to blame for their fortunes, then they need only to look in a mirror. True, the lack on any desire on the part of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunication Commission (CRTC) to make Sun News mandatory for national cable boxes might have had something to do with it too, but for the most part, here are the 10 reasons why Sun News bombed. Continue reading “10 Reasons Why Sun News Network Failed” →

“Pale Blue Dot” Turns 25 Today!

On this day in 1990, the Voyager I space probe, the only man-made object to so far to leave our solar system and travel into interstellar space, took a series of photographs commonly referred to as “The Family Portrait.” On the suggestion of astronomer Carl Sagan, NASA turned the cameras on Voyager around as it flew past Pluto to look at our solar system from its outer end. At a distance of about 6 billion kilometers from Earth, on February 14, 1990, Voyager I made history again. Continue reading ““Pale Blue Dot” Turns 25 Today!” →

Charlie Angus Coming to Guelph to Spark Election Fever for NDP

A lot of the local news for the upcoming Federal Election has been in regards to the very busy race for the Liberal nomination, but what of other opposition parties? The NDP hopes to make their presence felt in the suddenly vacant Royal City riding by bringing in a trusted representative to rile up the base. Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus will be at the Bullring at the University of Guelph on Sunday February 22 to do a fundraising concert to “build momentum” for the 2015 election. Continue reading “Charlie Angus Coming to Guelph to Spark Election Fever for NDP” →

Is This the End of Sun News?

According to reports, this will not be a very happy Valentine’s Day for employees of the Sun News Network. Reports are making the rounds today that QMI, the owner of the upstart cable news channel, is unable to reach a deal with Zoomer Media for the purchase of the network, and, as consequence may force them to close down operations. The deadline for Zoomer, which is owned by former City TV patriarch Moses Znaimer, is Friday February 13, but sources are saying that the deal’s fallen through, and that pink slips may be coming for staff as early as tomorrow. Continue reading “Is This the End of Sun News?” →

Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 12, 2015

In another very busy news week, the issues run the gambit from the superfluous to the super serious. The Supreme Court opened up the rights of Canadians further in what might be its most contentious decision since it upheld the rights of same sex couple to marry. From there the discussion turns to political betrayal, media betrayal and the latest from a forgotten war zone. Just another week on Open Sources Guelph. Continue reading “Open Sources Show Notes for Thursday February 12, 2015” →

Harper Shuffles Cabinet; Adams Shuffles to Liberals

It’s another busy start to the week in Ottawa as the fallout of John Baird’s sudden resignation as Foreign Affairs Minister continues to affect business as usual on Parliament Hill. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, forced to fill such an important vacancy in his cabinet, shuffled some of his key advisers into different positions. But that all important news was drowned out by party politics as a controversial member of Harper’s caucus crossed the floor to Justin Trudeau and the Liberals. Continue reading “Harper Shuffles Cabinet; Adams Shuffles to Liberals” →