RTNDA Canada Votes to Change Name

TORONTO, June 24, 2011 /CNW/ - RTNDA Canada - The Association of Electronic Journalists - has voted to change the name of the organization to adapt to the changes in the profession. In a vote at the Annual General Meeting at the National conference being held this weekend in Halifax, the membership agreed to change the acronym to include the word "Digital". For the last 49 years, the acronym was short for Radio-Television News Directors Association. That will soon change to RTDNA, or Radio-Television Digital News Association - The Association of Electronic Journalists.

"Flipping those two letters, from "News Directors" to "Digital News" makes us more inclusive," said President Andy LeBlanc. "Whether we are the news director, a reporter, a student, or an educator, we are all striving to achieve the same outcome: superb electronic journalism. Digital technology means we are no longer limited to radio and television - electronic journalists are also online."

In addition to the name change, the membership amended articles in the Association Constitution to make all practicing electronic journalists voting members. Previously, only members who were news directors and news managers were eligible to vote on Association matters.

Amendments were also made to the Code of Ethics to reflect the technology shifts that have affected electronic journalism. Many of the changes amend "broadcast" to "electronic" and other modifications in the language acknowledge that news is delivered online and mobile in addition to television and radio, and that the equipment used is now not only for broadcast. "These amendments are an adaptation to the digital age," said LeBlanc. "The Code remains the industry standard for electronic journalism - and all the principles of ethical journalism remain."

Members are attending the annual national conference in Halifax today and Saturday, June 25^th, concluding Saturday evening with the National Awards Gala.

We are the voice of electronic journalists and news managers in Canada. Members recognize the responsibility of broadcast journalists to promote and to protect the freedom to report independently about matters of public interest and to present a wide range of expressions, opinions and ideas. Our Code of Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, is used as the industry standard to measure fairness and accuracy in the profession.