Corus rebuts misinformation about future of Global News in Alberta after layoffs

After laying off dozens of employees this week, Corus Entertainment is pushing back against claims circulating online that Global News is shutting down local television production in Calgary and Edmonton.

Corus, the Toronto-based parent company of Global News, said Friday that despite layoffs and a restructuring that will centralize some technical production functions in Toronto, local newscasts in Calgary and Edmonton will continue to be produced with local anchors, producers and newsgathering teams.

"To be clear, local news production and newsrooms are not shutting down in Calgary or Edmonton and reports of such are false," a Corus spokesperson said in a statement provided to Postmedia Calgary. "In Calgary and Edmonton, we will continue to maintain our current local newscasts, with separate local content, assignment desks, producers and newsgathering teams."

The company said it is moving to a regional leadership structure in Alberta "to ensure our teams are aligned and equipped to cover the province, while reducing overlap and maximizing the use of our resources."

While positions have been eliminated as part of the restructuring, Corus said it is adding newsgathering roles in both Calgary and Edmonton "to augment our current team of journalists and further support local coverage."

The clarification comes a day after Corus confirmed it plans to centralize production functions of Global News Calgary and Global News Edmonton newscasts as part of a broader restructuring of its news divisions.

Corus said the changes are part of its "ongoing efforts to strengthen and sustain our news operations" and that it remains committed to local journalism, adding it "continues to provide more hours of local news programming in Alberta than any other broadcaster in the province."

Unifor, the union that represents more than 9,000 media workers in Canada, said 43 jobs were eliminated nationally, including 28 in Alberta. According to the union, Alberta's job losses include 18 technical control room staff, 10 off-air newsroom positions including producers, one weather anchor, one assignment editor and one news editor.

Online rumours, misinformation fuel confusion about newsroom changes

Rumours and unconfirmed claims about impending changes to the Global Calgary and Edmonton newsrooms began circulating online Wednesday evening, fueling public confusion about the future of the broadcaster's local television newscasts.

Some of the confusion appeared to stem from an AI-generated overview that incorrectly claimed local news production was "shutting down" in Calgary and Edmonton and that anchor roles were being transferred to Toronto.

Calgary-based blog CMCalgary shared a screenshot of the AI summary with its roughly 181,00 Facebook followers, repeating the claims in a post that generated hundreds of comments.

As the misinformation spread, multiple Alberta-based Global News staffers took to social media to reassure viewers that local newscasts are continuing with local talent.

Tiffany Lizée, chief meteorologist for Global Calgary and Lethbridge, wrote that local newscasts will continue in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge with local reporters, anchors, camera operators and producers.

"Global News is not leaving Alberta," Lizée wrote in a post on X.

Global Edmonton reporter Sarah Ryan responded directly to a social media post sharing the AI-generated summary, disputing its claims.

"This isn't true," Ryan wrote on X. "While we had layoffs, our anchors, reporters, camerapeople, editors, etc. are staying right here."

Expert says communication 'vacuum' allowed misinformation to spread

One communications expert says the confusion highlights the importance of organizations communicating quickly and clearly during periods of significant change.

"Corus lost control of the narrative before it ever spoke," said Shannon Larkins, founder of Blackcoffee Studio, a political brand and reputation agency. "The problem wasn't simply that layoffs occurred. Organizations restructure every day. As soon as rumors started, Corus should have stepped in."

Larkins said the company's delayed public messaging allowed rumours to become the primary source of information.

"The communication vacuum allowed others to define reality before Corus did," Larkins said.

"First, a widely shared post declares that Global Calgary and Edmonton are 'shutting down.' Then employees and their loved ones are forced to take to social media to reassure viewers that local news still exists."

She argued Corus should have proactively explained what was changing, and what was not, before inaccurate information had a chance to spread.

"That wouldn't have eliminated criticism of the layoffs, but it would have reassured audiences before misinformation filled the void."

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