Anti-Elitism versus Anti-Intellectualism: What the CBC is Doing Right and Wrong

Abstract

This is a dis­cus­sion of the pro­gram­ming changes that CBC Radio adopted between 2007 and 2008. It looks at the unin­tended influ­ence of the soci­etal trend toward anti-intellectualism in the CBC’s pro­gram­ming deci­sions. I begin by exam­ing the motives for the CBC’s changes, and why they might have adopted the atti­tudes that they did. I then explore the con­fu­sion between anti-elitism and anti-intellectualism, dis­cuss the prob­lems that these have caused for the CBC, and sug­gest an alter­na­tive approach.