The first week without The Great Canadian Talk Show was almost done and Cathy Rushton was already looking forward to holiday cheer.
The Red River College vice-president and her fellow employees, acting on the 'suggestion' from their boss RRC president Stephanie Forsyth to silence the popular show after being pressured by Winnipeg Free Press editor Margo Goodhand, had connived a way to sidestep the Board of the non-profit that ran Kick-FM on the Princess St. campus.
The "Executive Committee" of Cre Comm Inc., which included Rushton and Creative Arts Department Chair Larry Partap, had "held a meeting" on November 2nd and "made a decision" to "refocus the station" and give the boot to all non-student hosts to make sure to be rid of Marty Gold.
It was Friday and Cathy Rushton wanted to wrap up the week of concocting cover-ups.
Two days earlier, Dean of Business Graham Thomson, who was the first member of Kick-FM's Board to learn of Goodhands' (false) complaint and immediately offered to find a way to kill the show "without too much trouble", had been blindsided. A recent RRC graduate and ex-Kick FM host pointed out that no existing shows had needed to be canceled to make time for student programming in the past, and that the new policy made no sense.
http://tgcts.blogspot.com/2011/03/thomson-told-rushton-only-one-excuse.html
"Feeling a bit stupid", Thomson had forwarded the email to Rushton to let her know that "a strict policy of students only is not likely in the best interests of the station" but that "allowing 'outsiders' will leave us open to criticism and we may have to hang out hats on the 4-6 timeslot thing."
Now, finally, the weekend beckoned -- if only those pesky listeners would stop blindsiding Thomson with their damn logic.
One of the many bloggers who had been given a voice during the civic election and contributed to the show, John Dobbin, was also seeing through the cover-up story, and he wrote a story about it at 4.03 PM on Friday, November 12th.
http://johndobbin.blogspot.com/2010/11/latest-on-great-canadian-talk-show.html
"I spoke to Dean of Students Graham Thomson this afternoon for an explanation about the cancellation of The Great Canadian Talk Show.
In short, I said that the station seemed to have a good student representation on the show and I asked whether the show should have been given an opportunity to demonstrate that.
I put forward that there was a few shows on Kick FM that were run and operated by volunteers and asked if they were all in trouble.
Thomson indicated he was taking notes from all the people who called and he explained what the radio licence called for."
Dobbin didn't buy it.
"I pressed him on that and said I wasn't sure that the show didn't meet a lot of the requirements of student participation and could have done more if the college had given the opportunity.
To close the conversation, Thomson indicated that he thought Marty Gold would have the opportunity to re-apply for a radio slot. In other words, it looks as if an appeal might be happening.
I have not heard confirmation of this but it could mean that the show with some tweaks could be given the opportunity for a come back. I await further information."
When Rushton got the Google Alert about 'Marty Gold' and saw the hyperlink of Dobbin's blog post that included "re-apply for a radio slot", she blackberry'd a terse one-liner to Thomson at 6.25 PM.
"Please tell me that you didn't say that Marty could re-apply."
The next afternoon, Thomson finally came up with a reply to calm his agitated boss-lady.
He had no choice but to lie to Dobbin about the appeal process because, after all, he had already lied to the students and public about the real reason for the show being canceled - and he admitted it had nothing to do with the "timeslot thing" either.
"This guy suggested that Marty come back in a much reduced role, with students doing a lot on-air ...
since we have publicly said that we have no issue with Marty per se, I didn't want to say there's no way we'd have him back."
So the lies concocted by Red River College are exposed once and for all, by Graham Thomson.
* TGCTS being canned had nothing to do with hearing more RRC students on Kick-FM.
* It had nothing to do with the prime time slot being required for students' shows.
* And the Dean of Business, Graham Thomson, admitted the fix was in to sink any appeal by Marty Gold and the listening community at the Annual General Meeting on December 9th to return to TGCTS to the Kick-FM schedule.
"There's no way we'd have him back".
Rushton, an expert in rationalizing the morality and damaging effects of College officials making false and misleading statements (in her case, about Sam Katz and Vic Toews "complaining about" TGCTS), once again found a way to make herself and her henchman feel good.
It must have been Dobbin's fault for not getting it.
And Rushton again shared with Thomson her dismissive contempt for the general community, as she had for the Winnipeg Police Association and others who supported the radio show she made sure was permanently censored for the "journalistic style and inappropriate role modeling".
"It sounds like the guy took what you said and turned it into more.
Somebody needs to find on air time for Marty somewhere else and give the "people" back their voice so he'll leave us alone.
Maybe Shaw cable would like him ! "
Her faith restored in the superiority of Red River College's management to the peons who pay their salaries like John Dobbin, and having shed herself of any obligation to share the airwaves with nasty bloggers and the rest of the great unwashed that has unknowingly subsidized the station she was treasurer of to the tune of $275,000, Cathy Rushton turned her attention to more important concerns.
"Are you going to the College "Christmas" party tonight? if so, see you later!"
Coming up: Freedom of Information documents reveal: the "Executive Committee" deception not only duped Kick-FM Directors, but unfortunately for them, one of their own members; how business is done, Graham Thomson - style; the wit and wisdom of Kick-FM chairman David Wiebe.
Other news:
- Yes, a unique plan for ongoing podcasts with new technology is in development;
- Spirited Kenny using Twitter to contact Premier Greg Selinger about his press secretary Jay Branch refusing to apologize for spreading falsified quotes to Red River College and trying to censor his show;
- Marty Gold to speak to city council on Wednesday to oppose the Parking Authority business plan and defend inner city residents, businesses and social agencies from being fleeced;
- TGCTS alum update: Shannah-Lee, Shecky and Young Josh continue to enjoy success as professional broadcasters; Stacia hired by Wpg. Chamber of Commerce to organize social media; Caed hired by rural radio station.
