Lisa Laflamme Gets Mad Over Being Interviewed By Ctv Exec Senior Company Official Says

Shortly after Michael Melling became head of CTV News, he raised questions about anchor Lisa LaFlamme’s hair. According to a senior CTV executive present at the meeting, Mr. Melling asked who had approved the decision to “gray Lisa’s hair.” The subject of Ms. LaFlamme’s hair color came up again one day when she noted that it was taking on a purple hue in the studio lighting. Later, Mr. Melling would be the one to tell Ms. LaFlamme that she had been removed from her role as anchor of CTV National News, one of the country’s most popular newscasts — a surprise removal she announced earlier this week. Ms. LaFlamme had been on the job since 2011 and with the network for 35 years, and still had less than two years left on her contract. In 2020, she made headlines and won praise from women across the country when she decided to stop dying her hair and let her natural silver locks grow out. She explained the decision in the network’s annual review special, saying that due to the pandemic she was unable to visit her hair dyer and had to spray her roots every day before going on air. “I finally said, ‘Why bother?’ I’m turning gray.’ Honestly, if I had known that lockdown could be so liberating on this front, I would have done it much earlier.” Opinion: Lisa LaFlamme deserved more than Bell Media Opinion: The job of journalism is ruthless. Lisa LaFlamme is just the latest victim Ms. LaFlamme’s sudden ouster has sparked anger, confusion and speculation at CTV. The Globe spoke with three current staff members at the company. Two said they had noticed tensions between Mr. Melling and Ms. LaFlamme, as well as between him and the show’s executive producer, Rosa Hwang. The Globe is not naming the staff members because they were not authorized to speak. Mr Melling and Ms LaFlamme clashed over stories, network priorities and resources – most visibly when it came to coverage of the Queen’s platinum jubilee and the war in Ukraine. Mr. Melling and CTV declined to comment. Ms. LaFlamme directed The Globe in a video statement she posted on Twitter earlier this week. In that two-minute clip, Ms. LaFlamme said that, on June 29, she was told that Bell Media, CTV’s parent company, had made a “business decision” to terminate her contract. She added that she has been asked to keep this information confidential until the details of her departure are clarified. “I was blindsided and continue to be shocked and saddened by Bell Media’s decision,” she said. “At 58, I still thought I would have much more time to tell more of the stories that affect our daily lives. Instead, I leave CTV humbled by the people who believed in me to tell their story.” One of the staff members of the news bulletin recalled a dispute that took place at the time of the start of the war in Ukraine. The network was sending a crew into the country to cover the Russian invasion. Ms. LaFlamme advocated for CTV to reserve hotel rooms in Krakow, Poland, in case crew members needed to be quickly evacuated from Ukraine. Mr Melling raised concerns about the cost. After a protracted argument, the rooms were booked. Later, when it came time to arrange coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, there was again a scramble for money. One staff member recalled that Mr Melling said sending crew to Britain was not worth the expense. “Michael said, ‘We’re not going. Cancel. It’s not worth it. Let’s cover it from Toronto,’” the staff member recalls. “We have to cover the queen! She’s also the Queen of Canada,” the staff member recalled Ms. LaFlamme saying. “The plan had already been set for the coverage and talks had already taken place with our broadcast partners in the UK” After more arguments, a restricted group was allowed to make the trip, but had to miss out on an expensive filming location near Buckingham Palace. Instead, they covered the jubilee from a hotel balcony in Trafalgar Square, which was significantly cheaper, but further away from the event. In a video released via Twitter Monday, CTV National News anchor Lisa LaFlamme said Bell Media informed her on June 29 of the “professional decision” to terminate her contract. LaFlamme had worked for the network for 35 years. The Globe and Mail Disputes over resources and news priorities are not unusual in newsrooms, the staff member said, but what was unusual in this case was the tone of the discussions. Mr. Melling did not respond well to pushback from Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang, the source said. Under Mr. Melling’s predecessor, Wendy Freeman, there were frequent discussions about coverage, the source said, and there was always mutual respect because Ms. Freeman was seen as a journalist. But Mr. Melling is seen as the Bell executive most involved with the business side of CTV. “Traditionally, that role [head of CTV news] he’s supposed to be the top reporter in the newsroom,” the staff member said. Another staff member said Mr Melling is rarely seen walking around the newsroom. Mr. Melling joined Bell Media in 2003 as an editorial assistant at BNN Bloomberg. According to his LinkedIn profile, he spent five years as a reporter before becoming news director in Southwestern Ontario in 2010. From there, he quickly rose through the ranks, with five more promotions in a decade. Before taking over for Ms. Freeman, who held the top role for 12 years, Mr. Melling was the general manager of CTV News Toronto, CP24 and BNN Bloomberg. He also holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, according to his LinkedIn. Staff members said that Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang were tough and sometimes very demanding, but that they were also respectful, professional and made sure everyone had a chance to express their opinion. CTV employees and members of the public have raised questions about whether ageism and sexism could have played a role in Ms. LaFlamme’s departure. In interviews, staff members complained that, so far, CTV she has not dealt with her departure. The Globe obtained a portion of a draft memo to be sent to the newsroom Thursday. In the memo, an unidentified network executive addresses a sore point for many: that Ms. LaFlamme was not given a send-off and an on-air celebration like her predecessor, Lloyd Robertson. The memo said Ms. LaFlamme had the opportunity to “return to the studio and have her CTV career properly celebrated.” It adds that after Ms. LaFlamme was informed of the decision to terminate her contract, she was allowed to continue working and covered the recent papal visit. “He chose not to say goodbye to the audience during a CTV National newscast,” the memo reads. “While I wish things were different, I also respect her decision.” Our Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

title: “Lisa Laflamme Gets Mad Over Being Interviewed By Ctv Exec Senior Company Official Says Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-30” author: “Dawn Mcdougall”

Shortly after Michael Melling became head of CTV News, he raised questions about anchor Lisa LaFlamme’s hair. According to a senior CTV executive present at the meeting, Mr. Melling asked who had approved the decision to “gray Lisa’s hair.” The subject of Ms. LaFlamme’s hair color came up again one day when she noted that it was taking on a purple hue in the studio lighting. Later, Mr. Melling would be the one to tell Ms. LaFlamme that she had been removed from her role as anchor of CTV National News, one of the country’s most popular newscasts — a surprise removal she announced earlier this week. Ms. LaFlamme had been on the job since 2011 and with the network for 35 years, and still had less than two years left on her contract. In 2020, she made headlines and won praise from women across the country when she decided to stop dying her hair and let her natural silver locks grow out. She explained the decision in the network’s annual review special, saying that due to the pandemic she was unable to visit her hair dyer and had to spray her roots every day before going on air. “I finally said, ‘Why bother?’ I’m turning gray.’ Honestly, if I had known that lockdown could be so liberating on this front, I would have done it much earlier.” Opinion: Lisa LaFlamme deserved more than Bell Media Opinion: The job of journalism is ruthless. Lisa LaFlamme is just the latest victim Ms. LaFlamme’s sudden ouster has sparked anger, confusion and speculation at CTV. The Globe spoke with three current staff members at the company. Two said they had noticed tensions between Mr. Melling and Ms. LaFlamme, as well as between him and the show’s executive producer, Rosa Hwang. The Globe is not naming the staff members because they were not authorized to speak. Mr Melling and Ms LaFlamme clashed over stories, network priorities and resources – most visibly when it came to coverage of the Queen’s platinum jubilee and the war in Ukraine. Mr. Melling and CTV declined to comment. Ms. LaFlamme directed The Globe in a video statement she posted on Twitter earlier this week. In that two-minute clip, Ms. LaFlamme said that, on June 29, she was told that Bell Media, CTV’s parent company, had made a “business decision” to terminate her contract. She added that she has been asked to keep this information confidential until the details of her departure are clarified. “I was blindsided and continue to be shocked and saddened by Bell Media’s decision,” she said. “At 58, I still thought I would have much more time to tell more of the stories that affect our daily lives. Instead, I leave CTV humbled by the people who believed in me to tell their story.” One of the staff members of the news bulletin recalled a dispute that took place at the time of the start of the war in Ukraine. The network was sending a crew into the country to cover the Russian invasion. Ms. LaFlamme advocated for CTV to reserve hotel rooms in Krakow, Poland, in case crew members needed to be quickly evacuated from Ukraine. Mr Melling raised concerns about the cost. After a protracted argument, the rooms were booked. Later, when it came time to arrange coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, there was again a scramble for money. One staff member recalled that Mr Melling said sending crew to Britain was not worth the expense. “Michael said, ‘We’re not going. Cancel. It’s not worth it. Let’s cover it from Toronto,’” the staff member recalls. “We have to cover the queen! She’s also the Queen of Canada,” the staff member recalled Ms. LaFlamme saying. “The plan had already been set for the coverage and talks had already taken place with our broadcast partners in the UK” After more arguments, a restricted group was allowed to make the trip, but had to miss out on an expensive filming location near Buckingham Palace. Instead, they covered the jubilee from a hotel balcony in Trafalgar Square, which was significantly cheaper, but further away from the event. In a video released via Twitter Monday, CTV National News anchor Lisa LaFlamme said Bell Media informed her on June 29 of the “professional decision” to terminate her contract. LaFlamme had worked for the network for 35 years. The Globe and Mail Disputes over resources and news priorities are not unusual in newsrooms, the staff member said, but what was unusual in this case was the tone of the discussions. Mr. Melling did not respond well to pushback from Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang, the source said. Under Mr. Melling’s predecessor, Wendy Freeman, there were frequent discussions about coverage, the source said, and there was always mutual respect because Ms. Freeman was seen as a journalist. But Mr. Melling is seen as the Bell executive most involved with the business side of CTV. “Traditionally, that role [head of CTV news] he’s supposed to be the top reporter in the newsroom,” the staff member said. Another staff member said Mr Melling is rarely seen walking around the newsroom. Mr. Melling joined Bell Media in 2003 as an editorial assistant at BNN Bloomberg. According to his LinkedIn profile, he spent five years as a reporter before becoming news director in Southwestern Ontario in 2010. From there, he quickly rose through the ranks, with five more promotions in a decade. Before taking over for Ms. Freeman, who held the top role for 12 years, Mr. Melling was the general manager of CTV News Toronto, CP24 and BNN Bloomberg. He also holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, according to his LinkedIn. Staff members said that Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang were tough and sometimes very demanding, but that they were also respectful, professional and made sure everyone had a chance to express their opinion. CTV employees and members of the public have raised questions about whether ageism and sexism could have played a role in Ms. LaFlamme’s departure. In interviews, staff members complained that, so far, CTV she has not dealt with her departure. The Globe obtained a portion of a draft memo to be sent to the newsroom Thursday. In the memo, an unidentified network executive addresses a sore point for many: that Ms. LaFlamme was not given a send-off and an on-air celebration like her predecessor, Lloyd Robertson. The memo said Ms. LaFlamme had the opportunity to “return to the studio and have her CTV career properly celebrated.” It adds that after Ms. LaFlamme was informed of the decision to terminate her contract, she was allowed to continue working and covered the recent papal visit. “He chose not to say goodbye to the audience during a CTV National newscast,” the memo reads. “While I wish things were different, I also respect her decision.” Our Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

title: “Lisa Laflamme Gets Mad Over Being Interviewed By Ctv Exec Senior Company Official Says Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-24” author: “Katherine Weaver”

Shortly after Michael Melling became head of CTV News, he raised questions about anchor Lisa LaFlamme’s hair. According to a senior CTV executive present at the meeting, Mr. Melling asked who had approved the decision to “gray Lisa’s hair.” The subject of Ms. LaFlamme’s hair color came up again one day when she noted that it was taking on a purple hue in the studio lighting. Later, Mr. Melling would be the one to tell Ms. LaFlamme that she had been removed from her role as anchor of CTV National News, one of the country’s most popular newscasts — a surprise removal she announced earlier this week. Ms. LaFlamme had been on the job since 2011 and with the network for 35 years, and still had less than two years left on her contract. In 2020, she made headlines and won praise from women across the country when she decided to stop dying her hair and let her natural silver locks grow out. She explained the decision in the network’s annual review special, saying that due to the pandemic she was unable to visit her hair dyer and had to spray her roots every day before going on air. “I finally said, ‘Why bother?’ I’m turning gray.’ Honestly, if I had known that lockdown could be so liberating on this front, I would have done it much earlier.” Opinion: Lisa LaFlamme deserved more than Bell Media Opinion: The job of journalism is ruthless. Lisa LaFlamme is just the latest victim Ms. LaFlamme’s sudden ouster has sparked anger, confusion and speculation at CTV. The Globe spoke with three current staff members at the company. Two said they had noticed tensions between Mr. Melling and Ms. LaFlamme, as well as between him and the show’s executive producer, Rosa Hwang. The Globe is not naming the staff members because they were not authorized to speak. Mr Melling and Ms LaFlamme clashed over stories, network priorities and resources – most visibly when it came to coverage of the Queen’s platinum jubilee and the war in Ukraine. Mr. Melling and CTV declined to comment. Ms. LaFlamme directed The Globe in a video statement she posted on Twitter earlier this week. In that two-minute clip, Ms. LaFlamme said that, on June 29, she was told that Bell Media, CTV’s parent company, had made a “business decision” to terminate her contract. She added that she has been asked to keep this information confidential until the details of her departure are clarified. “I was blindsided and continue to be shocked and saddened by Bell Media’s decision,” she said. “At 58, I still thought I would have much more time to tell more of the stories that affect our daily lives. Instead, I leave CTV humbled by the people who believed in me to tell their story.” One of the staff members of the news bulletin recalled a dispute that took place at the time of the start of the war in Ukraine. The network was sending a crew into the country to cover the Russian invasion. Ms. LaFlamme advocated for CTV to reserve hotel rooms in Krakow, Poland, in case crew members needed to be quickly evacuated from Ukraine. Mr Melling raised concerns about the cost. After a protracted argument, the rooms were booked. Later, when it came time to arrange coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, there was again a scramble for money. One staff member recalled that Mr Melling said sending crew to Britain was not worth the expense. “Michael said, ‘We’re not going. Cancel. It’s not worth it. Let’s cover it from Toronto,’” the staff member recalls. “We have to cover the queen! She’s also the Queen of Canada,” the staff member recalled Ms. LaFlamme saying. “The plan had already been set for the coverage and talks had already taken place with our broadcast partners in the UK” After more arguments, a restricted group was allowed to make the trip, but had to miss out on an expensive filming location near Buckingham Palace. Instead, they covered the jubilee from a hotel balcony in Trafalgar Square, which was significantly cheaper, but further away from the event. In a video released via Twitter Monday, CTV National News anchor Lisa LaFlamme said Bell Media informed her on June 29 of the “professional decision” to terminate her contract. LaFlamme had worked for the network for 35 years. The Globe and Mail Disputes over resources and news priorities are not unusual in newsrooms, the staff member said, but what was unusual in this case was the tone of the discussions. Mr. Melling did not respond well to pushback from Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang, the source said. Under Mr. Melling’s predecessor, Wendy Freeman, there were frequent discussions about coverage, the source said, and there was always mutual respect because Ms. Freeman was seen as a journalist. But Mr. Melling is seen as the Bell executive most involved with the business side of CTV. “Traditionally, that role [head of CTV news] he’s supposed to be the top reporter in the newsroom,” the staff member said. Another staff member said Mr Melling is rarely seen walking around the newsroom. Mr. Melling joined Bell Media in 2003 as an editorial assistant at BNN Bloomberg. According to his LinkedIn profile, he spent five years as a reporter before becoming news director in Southwestern Ontario in 2010. From there, he quickly rose through the ranks, with five more promotions in a decade. Before taking over for Ms. Freeman, who held the top role for 12 years, Mr. Melling was the general manager of CTV News Toronto, CP24 and BNN Bloomberg. He also holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, according to his LinkedIn. Staff members said that Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang were tough and sometimes very demanding, but that they were also respectful, professional and made sure everyone had a chance to express their opinion. CTV employees and members of the public have raised questions about whether ageism and sexism could have played a role in Ms. LaFlamme’s departure. In interviews, staff members complained that, so far, CTV she has not dealt with her departure. The Globe obtained a portion of a draft memo to be sent to the newsroom Thursday. In the memo, an unidentified network executive addresses a sore point for many: that Ms. LaFlamme was not given a send-off and an on-air celebration like her predecessor, Lloyd Robertson. The memo said Ms. LaFlamme had the opportunity to “return to the studio and have her CTV career properly celebrated.” It adds that after Ms. LaFlamme was informed of the decision to terminate her contract, she was allowed to continue working and covered the recent papal visit. “He chose not to say goodbye to the audience during a CTV National newscast,” the memo reads. “While I wish things were different, I also respect her decision.” Our Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

title: “Lisa Laflamme Gets Mad Over Being Interviewed By Ctv Exec Senior Company Official Says Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-02” author: “Michael Rodriguez”

Shortly after Michael Melling became head of CTV News, he raised questions about anchor Lisa LaFlamme’s hair. According to a senior CTV executive present at the meeting, Mr. Melling asked who had approved the decision to “gray Lisa’s hair.” The subject of Ms. LaFlamme’s hair color came up again one day when she noted that it was taking on a purple hue in the studio lighting. Later, Mr. Melling would be the one to tell Ms. LaFlamme that she had been removed from her role as anchor of CTV National News, one of the country’s most popular newscasts — a surprise removal she announced earlier this week. Ms. LaFlamme had been on the job since 2011 and with the network for 35 years, and still had less than two years left on her contract. In 2020, she made headlines and won praise from women across the country when she decided to stop dying her hair and let her natural silver locks grow out. She explained the decision in the network’s annual review special, saying that due to the pandemic she was unable to visit her hair dyer and had to spray her roots every day before going on air. “I finally said, ‘Why bother?’ I’m turning gray.’ Honestly, if I had known that lockdown could be so liberating on this front, I would have done it much earlier.” Opinion: Lisa LaFlamme deserved more than Bell Media Opinion: The job of journalism is ruthless. Lisa LaFlamme is just the latest victim Ms. LaFlamme’s sudden ouster has sparked anger, confusion and speculation at CTV. The Globe spoke with three current staff members at the company. Two said they had noticed tensions between Mr. Melling and Ms. LaFlamme, as well as between him and the show’s executive producer, Rosa Hwang. The Globe is not naming the staff members because they were not authorized to speak. Mr Melling and Ms LaFlamme clashed over stories, network priorities and resources – most visibly when it came to coverage of the Queen’s platinum jubilee and the war in Ukraine. Mr. Melling and CTV declined to comment. Ms. LaFlamme directed The Globe in a video statement she posted on Twitter earlier this week. In that two-minute clip, Ms. LaFlamme said that, on June 29, she was told that Bell Media, CTV’s parent company, had made a “business decision” to terminate her contract. She added that she has been asked to keep this information confidential until the details of her departure are clarified. “I was blindsided and continue to be shocked and saddened by Bell Media’s decision,” she said. “At 58, I still thought I would have much more time to tell more of the stories that affect our daily lives. Instead, I leave CTV humbled by the people who believed in me to tell their story.” One of the staff members of the news bulletin recalled a dispute that took place at the time of the start of the war in Ukraine. The network was sending a crew into the country to cover the Russian invasion. Ms. LaFlamme advocated for CTV to reserve hotel rooms in Krakow, Poland, in case crew members needed to be quickly evacuated from Ukraine. Mr Melling raised concerns about the cost. After a protracted argument, the rooms were booked. Later, when it came time to arrange coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, there was again a scramble for money. One staff member recalled that Mr Melling said sending crew to Britain was not worth the expense. “Michael said, ‘We’re not going. Cancel. It’s not worth it. Let’s cover it from Toronto,’” the staff member recalls. “We have to cover the queen! She’s also the Queen of Canada,” the staff member recalled Ms. LaFlamme saying. “The plan had already been set for the coverage and talks had already taken place with our broadcast partners in the UK” After more arguments, a restricted group was allowed to make the trip, but had to miss out on an expensive filming location near Buckingham Palace. Instead, they covered the jubilee from a hotel balcony in Trafalgar Square, which was significantly cheaper, but further away from the event. In a video released via Twitter Monday, CTV National News anchor Lisa LaFlamme said Bell Media informed her on June 29 of the “professional decision” to terminate her contract. LaFlamme had worked for the network for 35 years. The Globe and Mail Disputes over resources and news priorities are not unusual in newsrooms, the staff member said, but what was unusual in this case was the tone of the discussions. Mr. Melling did not respond well to pushback from Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang, the source said. Under Mr. Melling’s predecessor, Wendy Freeman, there were frequent discussions about coverage, the source said, and there was always mutual respect because Ms. Freeman was seen as a journalist. But Mr. Melling is seen as the Bell executive most involved with the business side of CTV. “Traditionally, that role [head of CTV news] he’s supposed to be the top reporter in the newsroom,” the staff member said. Another staff member said Mr Melling is rarely seen walking around the newsroom. Mr. Melling joined Bell Media in 2003 as an editorial assistant at BNN Bloomberg. According to his LinkedIn profile, he spent five years as a reporter before becoming news director in Southwestern Ontario in 2010. From there, he quickly rose through the ranks, with five more promotions in a decade. Before taking over for Ms. Freeman, who held the top role for 12 years, Mr. Melling was the general manager of CTV News Toronto, CP24 and BNN Bloomberg. He also holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, according to his LinkedIn. Staff members said that Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang were tough and sometimes very demanding, but that they were also respectful, professional and made sure everyone had a chance to express their opinion. CTV employees and members of the public have raised questions about whether ageism and sexism could have played a role in Ms. LaFlamme’s departure. In interviews, staff members complained that, so far, CTV she has not dealt with her departure. The Globe obtained a portion of a draft memo to be sent to the newsroom Thursday. In the memo, an unidentified network executive addresses a sore point for many: that Ms. LaFlamme was not given a send-off and an on-air celebration like her predecessor, Lloyd Robertson. The memo said Ms. LaFlamme had the opportunity to “return to the studio and have her CTV career properly celebrated.” It adds that after Ms. LaFlamme was informed of the decision to terminate her contract, she was allowed to continue working and covered the recent papal visit. “He chose not to say goodbye to the audience during a CTV National newscast,” the memo reads. “While I wish things were different, I also respect her decision.” Our Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.

title: “Lisa Laflamme Gets Mad Over Being Interviewed By Ctv Exec Senior Company Official Says Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-29” author: “Earl Filley”

Shortly after Michael Melling became head of CTV News, he raised questions about anchor Lisa LaFlamme’s hair. According to a senior CTV executive present at the meeting, Mr. Melling asked who had approved the decision to “gray Lisa’s hair.” The subject of Ms. LaFlamme’s hair color came up again one day when she noted that it was taking on a purple hue in the studio lighting. Later, Mr. Melling would be the one to tell Ms. LaFlamme that she had been removed from her role as anchor of CTV National News, one of the country’s most popular newscasts — a surprise removal she announced earlier this week. Ms. LaFlamme had been on the job since 2011 and with the network for 35 years, and still had less than two years left on her contract. In 2020, she made headlines and won praise from women across the country when she decided to stop dying her hair and let her natural silver locks grow out. She explained the decision in the network’s annual review special, saying that due to the pandemic she was unable to visit her hair dyer and had to spray her roots every day before going on air. “I finally said, ‘Why bother?’ I’m turning gray.’ Honestly, if I had known that lockdown could be so liberating on this front, I would have done it much earlier.” Opinion: Lisa LaFlamme deserved more than Bell Media Opinion: The job of journalism is ruthless. Lisa LaFlamme is just the latest victim Ms. LaFlamme’s sudden ouster has sparked anger, confusion and speculation at CTV. The Globe spoke with three current staff members at the company. Two said they had noticed tensions between Mr. Melling and Ms. LaFlamme, as well as between him and the show’s executive producer, Rosa Hwang. The Globe is not naming the staff members because they were not authorized to speak. Mr Melling and Ms LaFlamme clashed over stories, network priorities and resources – most visibly when it came to coverage of the Queen’s platinum jubilee and the war in Ukraine. Mr. Melling and CTV declined to comment. Ms. LaFlamme directed The Globe in a video statement she posted on Twitter earlier this week. In that two-minute clip, Ms. LaFlamme said that, on June 29, she was told that Bell Media, CTV’s parent company, had made a “business decision” to terminate her contract. She added that she has been asked to keep this information confidential until the details of her departure are clarified. “I was blindsided and continue to be shocked and saddened by Bell Media’s decision,” she said. “At 58, I still thought I would have much more time to tell more of the stories that affect our daily lives. Instead, I leave CTV humbled by the people who believed in me to tell their story.” One of the staff members of the news bulletin recalled a dispute that took place at the time of the start of the war in Ukraine. The network was sending a crew into the country to cover the Russian invasion. Ms. LaFlamme advocated for CTV to reserve hotel rooms in Krakow, Poland, in case crew members needed to be quickly evacuated from Ukraine. Mr Melling raised concerns about the cost. After a protracted argument, the rooms were booked. Later, when it came time to arrange coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June, there was again a scramble for money. One staff member recalled that Mr Melling said sending crew to Britain was not worth the expense. “Michael said, ‘We’re not going. Cancel. It’s not worth it. Let’s cover it from Toronto,’” the staff member recalls. “We have to cover the queen! She’s also the Queen of Canada,” the staff member recalled Ms. LaFlamme saying. “The plan had already been set for the coverage and talks had already taken place with our broadcast partners in the UK” After more arguments, a restricted group was allowed to make the trip, but had to miss out on an expensive filming location near Buckingham Palace. Instead, they covered the jubilee from a hotel balcony in Trafalgar Square, which was significantly cheaper, but further away from the event. In a video released via Twitter Monday, CTV National News anchor Lisa LaFlamme said Bell Media informed her on June 29 of the “professional decision” to terminate her contract. LaFlamme had worked for the network for 35 years. The Globe and Mail Disputes over resources and news priorities are not unusual in newsrooms, the staff member said, but what was unusual in this case was the tone of the discussions. Mr. Melling did not respond well to pushback from Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang, the source said. Under Mr. Melling’s predecessor, Wendy Freeman, there were frequent discussions about coverage, the source said, and there was always mutual respect because Ms. Freeman was seen as a journalist. But Mr. Melling is seen as the Bell executive most involved with the business side of CTV. “Traditionally, that role [head of CTV news] he’s supposed to be the top reporter in the newsroom,” the staff member said. Another staff member said Mr Melling is rarely seen walking around the newsroom. Mr. Melling joined Bell Media in 2003 as an editorial assistant at BNN Bloomberg. According to his LinkedIn profile, he spent five years as a reporter before becoming news director in Southwestern Ontario in 2010. From there, he quickly rose through the ranks, with five more promotions in a decade. Before taking over for Ms. Freeman, who held the top role for 12 years, Mr. Melling was the general manager of CTV News Toronto, CP24 and BNN Bloomberg. He also holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University, according to his LinkedIn. Staff members said that Ms. LaFlamme and Ms. Hwang were tough and sometimes very demanding, but that they were also respectful, professional and made sure everyone had a chance to express their opinion. CTV employees and members of the public have raised questions about whether ageism and sexism could have played a role in Ms. LaFlamme’s departure. In interviews, staff members complained that, so far, CTV she has not dealt with her departure. The Globe obtained a portion of a draft memo to be sent to the newsroom Thursday. In the memo, an unidentified network executive addresses a sore point for many: that Ms. LaFlamme was not given a send-off and an on-air celebration like her predecessor, Lloyd Robertson. The memo said Ms. LaFlamme had the opportunity to “return to the studio and have her CTV career properly celebrated.” It adds that after Ms. LaFlamme was informed of the decision to terminate her contract, she was allowed to continue working and covered the recent papal visit. “He chose not to say goodbye to the audience during a CTV National newscast,” the memo reads. “While I wish things were different, I also respect her decision.” Our Morning Update and Afternoon Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.