We just gathered in our office on the Hill to learn that Craig Oliver, the dean of political scribes here, is, after 17 years, going to step aside as Bureau Chief for CTV in Ottawa. As Craig said, he wanted more time to do what he loves most — find, report, and analyze political stories. He didn’t want to keep up with the daily management grind.
Bob Fife, who is bureau chief for Canwest (National Post) here in Ottawa and a former colleague of mine, has been appointed Bureau Chief here.
Here’s the text of the press release our company just released:
CTV Announces Key News Appointments in Ottawa Bureau
Toronto, ON (February 17, 2005) – Robert Hurst, President, CTV News, today announced two changes to CTV's Ottawa Bureau. Craig Oliver has been appointed the Chief Political Correspondent for CTV News and Robert Fife assumes the role of CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief.
“Craig Oliver approached me last week and asked for a change in his role,” said Hurst.
“I have been managing CTV's Ottawa Bureau for 17 years,” said Oliver “At this point in my life I want to focus on the work I enjoy the most – chasing news, talking to politicians and hosting Question Period.”
Oliver brings a wealth of experience and a passion to reporting on Canadian politics. He has worked in the Canadian news media for more than four decades, a job that has taken him across the country and around the world. Oliver has served as CTV's director of news and current affairs and as producer of Canada AM's inaugural season. He spent more than a decade as CTV's Washington Bureau Chief. The depth of Oliver's experience is evident in the awards he has received. Some of these include: the prestigious Charles Lynch Award; the President's Award for Excellence in Canadian broadcast journalism from the Radio and Television News Directors Association; the Broadcast Hall of Fame award from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters; and two Gemini Awards – one for Best Reportage and the second for Best Overall Broadcast Journalist. In addition to his new role, Oliver will continue to co-host CTV's Question Period on Sundays.
“Robert Fife is one of the most respected journalists on Parliament Hill,” said Hurst. “With Oliver and Fife leading the CTV News Ottawa Bureau, viewers will receive the best and most comprehensive political reporting in Canada.”
As CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief, Fife will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the bureau and will deliver a broad spectrum of stories from the nation's capitol. Previously, Fife was the Ottawa Bureau Chief for CanWest News Service and the National Post. He has covered national politics since 1978, beginning his career in the Parliamentary Bureau of NewsRadio and later United Press International (Canada). Fife was a senior political reporter for the Canadian Press and spent a decade as Ottawa Bureau Chief and political columnist for the Sun Media chain. He is also the author of several books: A Capital Scandal: Politics, Patronage and Payoff; Why Parliament Must Be Reformed; and Kim Campbell: The Making of a Prime Minister. An award-winning journalist, he has appeared regularly on television and radio programs.
Whooee! Davefeller, I watch the Lloyd Robertson TV News Show most nights an' I like that Craig feller. Sum years ago, I was readin' a story sed ol' Craig's nearly blind an' he rememberizes all the stuff he sez an' don't let on t' nobuddy bout that there disability in the eyeball department. Right then an' there I thought that's one helluva fine feller. He's sharp as a tack in the polyticks analyzin' department, too. I hope he don't disappear from offa the TV.
Now, 'bout this new feller Fife. Is any relation t' that there deputy feller Barney Fife? Mebbe I'll be able to see a resemblement when he shows his face on the TV along side o' you an' ol' Lloydfeller.
An speakin' o' ol' Lloydfeller, he's gettin' a might long in the tooth hisself. Any chance ol' Davy AkeyBrakey Akin might step in an' fill his shoes if he ever decides t' throw in the towel?
Anyways, it's good bein' able t' leave a word or two onta the boog of a bigtime mainstreet media feller like yerself. I follered a link from ol' Billfeller Doskotch's boog over here t' yer boog. I jest started up in this here Canajun boogeysphere myself 'bout a week ago an' I'm wandrin' here an' there makin' sum acquaintances. I'd like t' extend a corjal invite fer you t' drop by ol' JimBobby Sez anytime you gotta mind to an' chew the fat.
Yores trooly,
JimBobby