RTDNA Appoints First Digital News Chair

TORONTO, Aug. 4, 2011 /CNW/ - RTDNA Canada - The Association of Electronic Journalists - continues to change its DNA as it prepares to celebrate its 50^th anniversary. Earlier this year the Association changed its name to include digital media and now it announces that Andrew Lundy, Director of Globalnews.ca, has accepted the new role of Digital Chair.

In making the announcement RTDNA Canada President Andy Leblanc says Lundy's experience "will help shape the future of the Association as it embraces the reality of digital and social media in news gathering and news broadcasting."

Lundy says he's "thrilled to be part of the RTDNA's digital transition. It's truly an honour to be part of an organization that's served its members so well for decades, and is embracing the future with open arms."

"A recent Angus Reid survey shows almost half of Canadians would give up watching TV before giving up surfing the web," Lundy added. "There's no doubt digital is here to stay. Online keeps growing in prominence and looks poised to become a major force in the next few years."

Across Canada, radio and television networks and stations are enhancing their online operations and using social media to engage their audiences in tandem with their broadcast operations. Lundy says "For most conventional media, audiences are not growing, but Canadians aren't shying away from news; they're just moving to digital platforms and in numbers that really matter."

RTDNA looks forward to developing its digital journalism partnership with radio and television news. The Association will be a voice for all platforms. Digital Chair Andrew Lundy and RTDNA President Andy LeBlanc are available for interviews on the many issues confronting Canadian journalism in the age of Twitter-based news.

RTDNA Canada is the voice of electronic journalists and news managers in Canada. The members of RTDNA Canada recognize the responsibility of broadcast and digital 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. The RTDNA Canada Code of Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in the profession.