The Creative School partners with 'Playback' to produce four-part podcast series
In a synergy between The Creative School and media trade journal Playback (external link, opens in new window) , RTA Media instructor and Audience Lab (opens in new window) Senior Policy Fellow Irene Berkowitz (external link, opens in new window) produced and hosted The Sessions (external link, opens in new window) , a four-part podcast series about the Canadian media industry as it leans into the global, online era. The purpose of this series is to unpack, enlighten, and inspire the industry about the challenges and opportunities found in The Online Streaming Act – and how this historic moment will make an impact going forward.
Inspired by the tabling and discussion surrounding The Online Streaming Act (external link, opens in new window) , a new policy that updates the Broadcasting Act, and her frequent OpEd articles on media policy, Berkowitz proposed the idea of a podcast to highly respected Canadian screen industry business news outlet Playback in order to explore the policy debate in greater and more nuanced detail.
The Sessions is a four-part podcast series about the Canadian media industry as it leans into the global, online era. It focuses on the tabling of The Online Streaming Act
“We agreed the gravitas of this moment would transform the industry and concerned everyone, legacy and new media workers, including the careers of all our students. Playback, the Audience Lab, Dean Charles Falzon and The Creative School team loved the idea,” she said. “One conversation led to a few months of meetings between the two to figure out the structure and the content mission. On February 2, 2022, the day Bill C-11 dropped, we sprang into action, fast.”
Bill C-11 works to ensure that Canadian creative projects, including music and stories, are available and accessible to the public. The Bill also supports greater diversity and inclusion in the broadcasting sector.
“Playback was thrilled to partner with The Creative School to facilitate discussion around the Online Streaming Act, and Irene, as well as the entire team, provided truly thought-provoking content that gave insider perspectives on one of the most important pieces of legislation to ever impact our industry,” said Jenn Kuzmyk, VP, Publisher of Playback and Executive Director of the Banff World Media Festival. “Being an RTA alumna myself, I am so proud of the incredible talent that comes through The Creative School, and we look forward to future collaborations.”
The scope of the project allowed Berkowitz to recruit student talent from The Creative School. With the help of RTA Media Professor Lori Beckstead, Berkowitz added two podcast producers to her team: fourth-year RTA Media Production student Samantha McNulty and RTA Media graduate student Ethan Geoffrey Lee.
Host and Executive Producer of The Sessions, Irene Berkowitz
Producer of The Sessions, Samantha McNulty
Producer of The Sessions, Ethan Geoffrey Lee
Media innovators speak on new policies
As The Online Streaming Act significantly impacts The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA), being a group that produces vast amounts of media content, Berkowitz said it was the natural first stop to explore. Bringing in the founding CMPA CEO, Dean Charles Falzon (opens in new window) and the current CMPA CEO, Reynolds Mastin (external link, opens in new window) , as the first guests on the podcast created an enlightening and innovative conversation about the future of media policy.
Charles Falzon, Dean of The Creative School
Reynolds Mastin, CEO of the CMPA
“Our Dean, Charles Falzon, in addition being a prolific, award-winning TV producer, presided over the meetings of the CMPA with CRTC when key aspects of our policy framework were invented,” Berkowitz said. “A conversation between Dean Falzon, who remains so visionary about the industry’s future, and the current CEO of the CMPA, Reynolds Mastin, seemed the perfect kick-off to the series. And it was; their conversation was epic.”
Partnering with Playback
Even with tight turnaround times and tons of moving parts, Berkowitz describes the experience collaborating with Playback as being an exceptionally collaborative experience. As a start-up, it was challenging to simultaneously develop and build basic elements, processes and content: all under hard deadlines. However, with her team, they were able to deliver the four episodes to Playback in time for their weekly releases.
“As executive producer and host, I sourced guests from my extensive “rolodex,” all of whom had to be CEO level, reached out, confirmed them and did the mountain of preparation. Then the team kicked-in to send prep materials, set up the recording, and post-produce. At every step, we were constantly collaborating,” she said.
The Sessions four episodes, featuring key stakeholders, are now available for streaming here (external link, opens in new window) .
The Creative School at Ryerson University
The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.