Series S00475 - CBC files

Series consists of documents created or accumulated by Knowlton Nash in the course of his work with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The records are generally arranged in chronological order (files with the title, "CBC," in the file list), but many documents were pulled together into subject files on a particular topic. The series includes letters and memoranda involving programming and journalism issues, including the evolving nature of television news coverage, the impact of ratings, and journalistic appointments, as well as mementos from political conventions covered by Nash. These records cover a wide range of topics, including: contract negotiations between Nash and the CBC; Nash's proposals for changes to news reporting; the CBC Correspondents Association; the federal government's control over news coverage during the October Crisis, 1970; protection of sources, including legal action against Nash; the impact of controversial programs, such as the hearings over "Air of death" that dealt with air pollution in 1967 to 1968, and libel actions involving various CBC correspondents; the departure of Lloyd Robertson for CTV News in 1976; the policy governing access by prime ministers to the CBC for broadcasts; Nash's statement to the Canadian Radio and Television Commission regarding the CBC's application to renew its license in 1978; the action by the Canadian Union of Public Employees against the CBC and Knowlton Nash in an attempt to stop journalists from reading the news on television, 1978 to 1980; development of The National and The Journal and the move of nightly news to 10:00 p.m.; Nash's decision to step down as Chief Correspondent in 1988 and his retirement in 1992; news specials on the 50th anniversary of D-Day in 1994; presentations to the CBC Board of Directors on the future on television news reporting during retreats from 1996 to 2001; and an unpublished manuscript on the news show, The Fifth estate. The series also includes several published reports on the CBC, its history, mandate, policies, and future.