The other thing the CBC’s in denial about …
If you’re one of my Canadian readers, I bet you wonder if I’m going to write about this story.
Well, I’m not. Enough people are writing about this story (finally, some might say). Nobody really needs my two-cents worth (other than what I already mentioned in my last post).
However, I am going to reference Q in talking about something else I think the CBC is in denial about. So first, let’s have a look at how Q brands itself:
Q is an energetic daily arts, culture and entertainment magazine that takes you on a smart and surprising ride, interviewing personalities and tackling the cultural issues that matter.
Q covers pop culture and high arts alike with forays into the most provocative and compelling cultural trends.
From music icons like Van Morrison and Neil Young; smart conversations with everyone from Al Gore to Barbara Walters; CNN operas; to the branding of politicians… Q brings you big names, big ideas, and those paving the way on the cultural landscape.
Q is your cultural intervention.
But it’s not just Q, the “arts” are also covered on The Next Chapter – which is supposed to cover books, specifically, and Writers and Company, which, from the title, seems self-explanatory and, also, CBC has a whole portal called CBC Books, but you would never – and I mean not ever, if you were an alien coming to earth for the first time, and listening only to CBC, know there is such a thing as self-publishing.
Not only that, you would also have the overwhelming impression that all writers are happy creatures, leading quiet lives, making a living, honoured by their national broadcaster.
You would never have the faintest whiff that there is trouble in “paradise” – you would never know that most writers have day jobs, you would never know their publishers pay them a pittance, and you would never know many of them write for a publisher that has exposed them to a very public battle with the world’s biggest bookseller.
You would also never know that these writers are anything other than clever, creative, and reasonable. And, you know what? Sometimes they are. CBC prides itself on asking tough questions of politicians and business leaders, but writers just get lobbed softball questions about creativity and writing habits.
This is not journalism. This is not cutting edge. This is not representing the world that really exists for a huge proportion of authors. Most importantly, this is not being honest with readers / listeners about how many writers make their living today. When I give presentations about my publishing path, people are fascinated. They have no idea this other world exists. The last school I went to, a student stayed behind and said “all writers visit us and tell us the same things – nobody has ever talked to us about self-publishing. It is SO interesting.”
Shouldn’t our arts-focused, culturally supportive national broadcaster at least be hinting at this truth?
This is where Q (IMHO) is particularly guilty. Remember up above, when we learned that Q: “… covers pop culture and high arts alike with forays into the most provocative and compelling cultural trends.” Remember that? Uh, no. Or, at least, you’re missing out on this one big-time.
Hugh Howey was in Toronto in June – Hugh Howey! – not just a hugely successful self-publisher (so successful he really is mainstream now) but he’s also fascinating, and the face of self-publishing, and hugely articulate and has sway with Amazon (or at least it seems Amazon considers him enough to grant him certain exemptions and privileges – which is great – he’s earned those!).
So, was this compelling guy at the forefront of a cultural trend interviewed on Q? Nope. In fact here’s what was on Q that week. I don’t mean to be rude, or dismissive – I’m sure all these artists work hard, and I’m sure they’re interesting, but, you know, let’s just say, I think there was room for Hugh that week.
Why have I decided to write this now? Well, this week on Q, guest host (because that’s what we’re going to be having for a while, folks) Piya Chattopadhyay had a little chat with Margo Howard. Ms. Howard has brought out a new book, and Q gave her twenty minutes of massive, national / international promotion for that book with a pleasant, easy interview about being an advice columnist.
I knew nothing at all about Ms. Howard until very recently, when she made news for complaining about harsh reviews of her book (the one promoted by Q) in a story titled “Amazon’s Elite Reviewing Club Sabotaged my Book” (I was going to describe this title as “whiny,” but I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you think it is). Ms. Howard was likely surprised by the considerable backlash her story generated wherein many people suggested that, rather than “sabotaging” her book, many reviewers simply didn’t enjoy it.
This is hugely topical at the moment, in light of other recent attacks on / complaints about reviewers by other authors (#NoHale) and one might expect, instead of a complete free promotional ride paid for by Canadian tax dollars, Ms. Howard might have been asked one or two small questions about the role of reviewers in promoting books, how authors should react, and whether – as an advice columnist – she has learned anything from her recent publicity on the subject.
But no. Nothing about that.
And, you know, I don’t think it’s that CBC didn’t want to confront it, it’s that I think THEY HAD NO IDEA.
Which is sad. Which makes me think maybe one of the silver linings that could come out of this whole current shake-up with Q, and its future, would be to make it actually cutting edge. To have it actually cover what’s going on in the arts NOW. Maybe there’s a new host out there who is truly willing to talk about the way the arts world works today, and not the way it’s worked in CBCland for the past several decades.
