Tuesday was a dark day for media in Lloydminster with the announcement the local TV station will cease to exist. CKSA and CITL television are no more.
Read more: Column: Esso Cup Fever
Although the station’s owners and staff have changed many times over the years, one thing has remained a constant. It’s served as a jumping-off point for countless broadcast journalists currently located throughout the country, many I remain friends with today.
I’ve been a working journalist in Lloydminster for 11 years and feel fortunate to continue the (usually) thankless work we do. I moved to Lloyd to fill the role as the Meridian Booster’s sports editor in June 2014 after a 14-month stint with the High River Times.
When I moved to Lloyd, there were two newspapers and a TV station. Each paper had at least five journalists. The television station, however, had at least four (it might have been more) sports journalists, a weather person, an agriculture reporter, a handful of anchors, plus management and control-room operators and production staff.
Although considered “the competition,” there was a time when staff from both papers and the station would meet for wing Wednesdays and spend weekends partying together. Of course, there was competition when it came to the work we produced, the camaraderie was second to none and it was clear we were in the industry because we loved the work we did.
When the Booster was bought by The Source in 2016, I was nervous. I wasn’t sure what my future in the industry looked like in Lloyd and was scared losing that “big corporate” backing would mean the end of my career here. Boy was I wrong.
Working for a locally owned and operated publication turned out to be a godsend. Nine years later, almost all the regional publications I once worked with have either gone to strictly online or shut down completely.
Turns out, the locally owned publications have the passion and care to keep the community informed. They’re also willing to take risks when it comes to investing in the business to keep it going … because they care. Ours is, anyways.
Local media needs support now more than ever. Sure, you, the reader, may not agree with everything you read week after week, but know us journalists do the job because we love it. We’re not in it for the money, or lack thereof in most cases. As former Booster editor Dana Smith said when I asked about salary before being hired, “We’re not lighting cigars with $100 bills.”
The list of broadcast journalists who got their start in the Border City is long. The ones I remain in contact with are proud to call it a first job and probably wouldn’t be where they are today without the opportunities they got in Lloyd.
Whether it’s CTV Global Calgary or Edmonton, TSN and Olympic Games coverage all over the world, these hard-working journalists all got their start in the small market of Lloydminster.
Claire Hanna got her start in Lloydminster before moving on to TSN and has great memories of her time here.
“I can honestly say that working at CKSA was a career highlight. I had so much creative freedom with my storytelling, I got to cover a wide range of sports and I loved travelling to places like Bonnyville and Marshall, connecting with the community. Our weekend news team had this great bond of wanting to contribute to strong journalism and sink our teeth into the industry,” she said.
“I’ll never forget the day I received an email from news director Stacy Commer saying there was a sports reporter position opening at the station and that I should apply.”
Jasmine King also got her start in broadcast in Lloydminster and now calls the Global Edmonton home.
“Getting to start my career in Lloydminster was so special. I got to meet so many great people and it really was a place to earn your stripes and learn how to be a journalist,” she said.
“So many things I learned in the Border City, I still use to this day. I am so grateful to get a chance there. Without small market, local news, so many things are missed. There are stories no matter where you are but when it is only covered by outlets in bigger cities, hours away, you miss that touch of local journalism.
“It hurts us all when we lose that aspect of story telling.”
I reached out to several other former CKSA staff but unfortunately didn’t hear back before our print deadline. This column will be updated as additional responses come in.
For those who lost their jobs this week, especially those just starting out in the business, hold your heads high. You’re a talented and passionate group who fell victim to the corporate world. Be proud of everything you accomplished while you were here.
Read more: Column: Memories from the Civic
I am saddened to hear this about the tv station where i worked first. I started at CKSA-CITL and CKSA radio right after graduating from NAIT in December 1977. The two years i spent there, gave me a good opportunity to grow. i am approaching the end by 48th year in broadcasting, which has all but two years been spent in Thunder Bay. I have been the News Director for CKPR-Rock 94 radio since 2005, but have spent much time in TV and Radio news and sports under various roles. I fondly remember my days in Lloydminster (i lived for a short time right across the street from the station, an apartment building behind the grocery store) seeing a local broadcaster shutting down is disheartening, and also its a huge loss for the the city and the many communities it served.