Cbc
Introduction
In the words of Prime Minister R.W. Bennett Canadian Broadcasting could be "a great agency for the communication of matters of national concern and the diffusion of national thought and ideas." Does the CBC fulfil the mandate originally set forward by the Aird Commission? Does the CBC's current mandate reflect its original purpose? How has the CBC coped with the changes brought about by technology? Theses are questions that must be answered if the CBC is to preserve Canada's unique cultural environment from the ever growing threat of Americanization. It must make an honest and focused effort to meet the needs of all Canadians. The CBC has been a significant cultural force in Canada since the inception of the CBRC in the 1930's and continues to foster national unity today in the form of the CBC. If the CBC is going to continue to provide a Canadian voice, it must undergo serious change to meet the new challenges that technology has presented. Faced with satellite television that offers hundreds of chancels and the popularity of the Internet, Canadians have never had more foreign influences present in the media. This cultural imperialism is a clear threat to Canadian culture, a threat that must be taken seriously by all Canadians. We watch American television and films, we read American books and magazines far more often than we watch or read Canadian media. The effect of this cannot be taken lightly. We are in danger of cultural assimilation, now more than ever.
The CBC was created, in part, to counter the influx of American media in Canada. Ironically there is a significant presence of American programming on CBC television. This is counter productive and hypocritical. This paper will examine the forces which led to the creation of the CBC, its mandate, both historically and contemporarily and finally, make suggestions for the future.
The Aird Commission
In 1928 the Canadian broadcasting scene...
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