Executive to take time off amid fallout from Lisa LaFlamme departure from Bell Media

TORONTO-

A Bell Media executive is taking a leave of absence from work amid fallout from the ousting of Lisa LaFlamme as anchor of the company’s flagship newscast.

An internal memo from Bell Media says vice president of news Michael Melling is immediately taking time off to spend time with his family.

The Canadian media conglomerate came under fire after LaFlamme announced earlier this month that she had been fired from the CTV National News anchor in a video posted to social media.

In the video, the longtime TV reporter said she was blindsided by the news.

Bell Media said terminating LaFlamme’s contract after 35 years was a business decision and that it wanted to move the role of main news anchor in a « different direction ».

The internal memo says Melling’s decision reflects his and Bell Media’s desire to support the newsroom and do what’s best to help the team weather the « current circumstances. »

This report from The Canadian Press was first published on August 26, 2022.