'Save CH,' Facebook petition urges
February 13, 2009
Elisabeth Johns
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/512906
Residents are rallying to save CHCH News from the chopping block.
A Facebook group called "Save CHCH News" has attracted more than 9,100 people in just one week.
An online petition posted yesterday gathered more than 40 signatures in one hour alone.
CHCH has been gutted by layoffs and program cuts. It's one of five community stations across Canada that Canwest is considering to either reprogram or sell.
CHCH general manager Patrick O'Hara said closing the station is the "worst-case scenario."
The Facebook group and petition were created by Jodi Hinkson, a 32-year-old Hamilton mom and an avid CHCH watcher.
"I believe that there would be a great disservice to the communities that CH serves if the station goes dark," Hinkson said in an e-mail. "I wanted to make some noise and rally the viewers behind finding a way to ensure Canwest, or any potential buyer, that we care about our station."
She said the group also hopes to send a message to the CHCH staff that viewers "stand behind them."
She plans to send the petition to Canwest Global and the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).
People can sign the petition at gopetition.com/online/25272.html. The link is also listed in the Facebook group.