The tangled garden is bracing reading on the failure to. On the one hand stursberg proves himself to be an incredibly astute observer of what was wrong with the cbc. Sins, secrets and successes inside the cbc by richard stursberg. Beginning in 2004, he served as the head of english services for the cbc first for television. Apr 20, 2012 richard stursberg on top of the cbc building in vancouver in 2008.
Sins, secrets and successes inside the cbc kindle edition by stursberg, richard. Richard stursberg s knowledge and experience across a wide range of cultural organizations in canada make this an important and informative book on a topic of vital significance. Sins, secrets and successes inside the cbc, written by richard stursberg, takes readers inside and reveals the deep contradictions that make up the corporation. At the same time this is an engaging account for any reader who wants to continue to enjoy canadian stories and hear canadian voices in the media and on our screens. Stursberg has spent decades working in media matters, advising governments and the private sector. In this book richard stursberg offers a brief account often based on his. T here is a strong unifying theme in richard stursberg s memoir of his years at the cbc. Those hazel eyes haunted kai nagatas dreams when he was a young cbc journalist. Aug 10, 2010 the cbcs anythingtoboostratings executive vp richard stursberg has left the building some say he was escorted out after six years of transforming the cbc from the sober public broadcaster. Apr 05, 2012 richard stursberg is the former head of cbcs english services. Richard stursberg, head of cbc s english services, is leaving after six years in the position. Far from being a dry account of daytoday business, this book provides an informative, and rarely flattering perspective of the confused inner workings of canada. Sins, secrets and successes inside the cbc by richard stursberg at indigo. Jun, 2012 ive had the privilege of working at the cbc, canadas public broadcaster, for over nine years.
Richard stursbergs memoir of his years in cbc programming raises the question. Richard stursberg is the former head of cbcs english services. Sins, secrets and successes inside the cbc richard stursberg. He was executive vice president of cbc radio canada from october 1, 2004 to august 6, 2010, narrated in his 2012 memoir the tower of babble.
He was executive vice president of cbcradio canada from october 1, 2004 to august 6, 2010, narrated in his 2012 memoir the tower of babble life and career. Stursberg was recruited by cbc president robert rabinovitch who understood and. Stursberg has a history in the industry particularly cbc and suggests that canadian media is in serious financial jeopardy and potential extinction as advertiser dollars are leaving local tv, newspapers, radio to be placed with the faang companies facebook, amazon, apple. He went to university in canada, france and the united kingdom. The book is a memoir detailing stursbergs experience as the vicepresident in charge of english services at the canadian broadcasting corporation cbc between october 2004 and august 2010. He has served as assistant deputy minister of culture and broadcasting in the federal government, president of the canadian cable television association, president of starchoice and cancom, chairman of the canadian television fund, executive director of telefilm canada. Apr 27, 2012 tower of babble chronicles stursbergs tumultuous cbc stint from 2004 to 2010, a stretch largely defined by the ongoing debate over what a public broadcaster is and should be. Richard stursberg and university of toronto professor stephen armstrong. A canadian cultural manifesto for the digital age, richard stursberg, the former head of english services at cbc, looks at how canada can provide a counterweight to the u. Richard stursberg reveals a cbc study indicated conservatives.
Stursberg cooks up a book that will raise the blood pressure of his former employees. Inside the cbc tower of babble with richard stursberg. Canadian cultural institution including the cbc is convincing. The cbc s anythingtoboostratings executive vp richard stursberg has left the building some say he was escorted out after six years of transforming the cbc from the sober public broadcaster. The book explores the future of canadian culture in a digital age. The tower of babble with author richard stursberg cbc. Lacroix announced his departure friday in a statement to employees. The tower of babble, by richard stursberg the globe and mail. View richard stursbergs profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. Richard stursberg book attacks cbc heavyweights the star.
Richard stursberg to publish memoir of his time at cbc the. Richard barclay stursberg is an entertainment executive. Before that, he was executive director of telefilm canada and achieved the largest share for canadian movies at the domestic box office in history. He was executive vice president of cbcradio canada from october 1, 2004 to august 6, 2010.
As far as he was concerned, cbc tv was plagued by elitism, mediocrity and, worst of all, indifference to its audience. Richard stursberg was born in london, england and grew up in new york where his father was working as united nations correspondent. Stursberg issues rallying cry to protect canadian media amid encroaching u. Eleven reasons cbcers lovedhated richard stursberg toronto life. Richard stursberg author richard stursberg is the former head of cbc s english services. Tonight, stursberg at first glance certainly appears to be an amiable fellow, to borrow the words of rob russo, the evenings host and ottawa. As a cbc consumer i found a lot of his stories touched me through my personal experience watching the cbc stursberg writes well and clearly. Richard stursbergs new book includes one particularly perceptive. The tower of babble, richard stursbergs anxiously awaited new book about. Stursberg launched a new strategy to attract viewers by providing programming that was above all else. Sins, secrets and successes inside the cbc, stursberg. In this book richard stursberg offers a brief account often based on his insiders the tower of babble. A globe and mail top 100 book of 2012 the ultimate cbc insider exposes the controversies, successes and dead ends of his time at the top. Richard stursberg was born in london, england and grew up in new york in the same neighbourhood as fifty cent, the distinguished rapper and social critic.
Kirstine stewart leaves the cbc to run twitter canada. Through the course of my happy six years there, began richard stursberg. When richard was appointed executive vicepresident of cbc. Sins, secrets and successes inside the cbc is a canadian nonfiction book written by richard stursberg. In 2004, cbc television had sunk to its lowest audience share in its history. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover richards connections and jobs at similar companies. A globe and mail top 100 book of 2012 the ultimate cbc insider exposes the controversies, successes and dead ends of his time. Stursbergs tough and eloquent memoir is as much an elegy as a chronicle of his stormy halfdecade at the helm of cbcs english television. The liveliest parts of the tower of babble, richard stursbergs book about his six turbulent years as head of cbcs english services, are. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the tower of babble. The tower of babble sins, secrets and successes inside the. In stursbergs portrait, the cbc is a kingdom plagued by constant budget cuts yet another round this spring, an obtuse and obstructive board, rebellious employees, malevolent rivals from the private sector and a howling mob of annex intellectuals and the plutocrats of rosedale opposing all changes in the corporations programs. From such lame book adaptations as heartland and douglas.
Inside the cbc tower of babble with richard stursberg ottawa. Apr 11, 2012 to cut to the chase, the liveliest parts of the tower of babble, richard stursbergs anxiously awaited new book about his six turbulent years as head of cbcs english services, are the. When richard stursberg took over as head of english services at the cbc in july 2004, he was determined to set a new course for the mother corps television operations. In the 2000s he served as the cbcs executive vicepresident, an experience he described in his previous book, the tower of babble. The titles notso subtle biblical reference is a hint at stursbergs view of the ceeb as the place that business common sense forgot, and the book serves largely. Canda the national film financing agency and executive vice president of english services at the cbc.
Michaels feature interview with former cbc executive richard stursberg about his news book the tower of babble. The cbcs anythingtoboostratings executive vp richard stursberg has left. Apr 27, 2019 as a former canadian broadcaster, i was attracted to this book after watching richard stursberg interviewed on bnn. Richard stursberg richard barclay stursberg is an entertainment executive. A canadian cultural manifesto for the digital age ebook written by richard stursberg. Sins, secrets and successes inside the cbc, is a memoir of his tumultuous sixyear ride at the helm of english canadas greatest cultural institution. May 16, 2012 stursberg mentions in the book that he was fired in 2010 after he expressed disagreements with the president, hubert lacroix, and some members of the cbc board, who questioned his emphasis on. The tower of babble by richard stursberg overdrive rakuten. For most of his adult life, he has been involved with media. Richard stursberg, head of cbcs english services, is leaving after six years in the position. Jul 24, 2012 the tower of babble by richard stursburg is a exciting and interesting read about stursburgs six years as president of english language services at the cbc. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the tangled garden. Stursbergs greatest concern, however, is about the impact these corporate giants are having on the news media.
Free shipping and pickup in store on eligible orders. Here he lays out the reasons for the lockout and fully explains how cbc management. The book begins with a brief history of how liberal and conservative administrations in the. Oct 14, 2011 richard stursberg, former cbc executive vicepresident english services, poses for a photograph in vancouver, b. The former cbc veep shook up my work world, got fired and wrote a book. How did someone so fundamentally out of sympathy with public broadcasting get the job in the first place. Clearly, the cbcs president and board have decided that richard stursbergs definition he had appointed kirstine stewart is the right one. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Chatting with stursberg, my exboss and archnemesis the tyee. T here is a strong unifying theme in richard stursbergs memoir of his years at the cbc. In stursbergs portrait, the cbc is a kingdom plagued by constant budget cuts yet another round this spring, an obtuse and obstructive board, rebellious employees, malevolent rivals from the private sector and a howling mob of annex intellectuals and the.
Lacroix gave no reason for stursbergs departure, which is effective friday. The best chapter in the book is about the lockout of cbc employees in 2005. Richard stursberg richard stursberg is a leading expert on canadian media and culture, and an experienced cultural executive. As a former canadian broadcaster, i was attracted to this book after watching richard stursberg interviewed on bnn. The tower of babble, like richard stursberg, is a mass of contradictions. He was executive vice president of cbcradio canada from october 1, 2004.
May 14, 2012 for much of the past decade, richard stursberg was one of the most powerful men in canadian media. Stursberg issues rallying cry to protect canadian media amid. Richard stursberg on top of the cbc building in vancouver in 2008. Stursberg, a former head of both telefilm and the cbcs english services, offers an.
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