CBC IN SKILL SHARE Enduring project links bilateral media

CBC IN SKILL SHARE

Enduring project links bilateral media

By Alec Jordan

Canada-Japan ties extend beyond the powerful connection of trade pacts. There is also a wealth of strong cultural and other bonds.

One of them is the relationship that exists between the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK). For more than two decades, NHK has been recruiting mid-career CBC journalists to work with them for stints of two to four years. During this time, they go on leave from CBC and become NHK employees, afterwards returning to their former positions.

The title for these visiting journalists has changed over the years; once called specialists, they are now known as consulting producers. Their responsibilities vary from helping revise scripts and providing vocal coaching, to going out on location and covering stories. While they work full time for NHK, they can also file stories, as freelancers, about Japan for CBC.

HAVE WORDS, WILL TRAVEL Greg Reaume, managing editor at CBC News, is in charge of the program from CBC’s side. He explained that, when there are new openings, NHK notifies CBC, which puts out an announcement regarding applying for the program. After having lodged their initial applications, successful candidates take tests that include script rewriting and general knowledge about Japan and Asia. Then they are interviewed in person by NHK staff who visit Toronto.

Reaume said that the program gives CBC journalists the rare chance to work overseas: “We have a lot of staff that like the lure of working in foreign bureaus, but we don’t have that many foreign bureaus or opportunities to work abroad. So a lot of our staff find the idea of going and working in Japan — notwithstanding all the challenges — quite appealing. From our point of view, it’s a great outlet.”

Given the distance involved, Reaume is impressed by NHK’s dedication in coming to Toronto to do the interviews in person. “They always make a point of coming; I’m kind of surprised. I would have thought that it’s quite expensive, and you could do it remotely these days. But they take it very seriously and they want to actually meet with the candidates and make their assessment that way.”

He explains that NHK is looking for a mix of qualities in the journalists that they choose: “They want people who are smart — great journalists who are responsible. They also want people who communicate very well and get along well with people, because I think they’re well aware that Japan is a very different kind of cultural setting. There are patterns of behaviour

Greg Reaume Managing editor at CBC News

“I think that the reason why Canada has this partnership with Japan is that we feel some similarities … we have this kind of polite kinship.”