By Canadian Press

Executive to take leave amid fallout from Lisa LaFlamme’s departure from Bell Media

Aug 26, 2022 | 5:11 PM

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

An internal Bell Media memo says vice-president of news Michael Melling is taking leave effective immediately to spend time with family.

The Canadian media conglomerate has been facing criticism after LaFlamme announced earlier this month that she had been let go from anchoring CTV National News in a video posted in social media. 

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

Bell Media said terminating LaFlamme’s contract after 35 years was a business decision and it wanted to move the chief news anchor role in a “different direction.”

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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 move past the “current circumstances.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 26, 2022.

The Canadian Press