GLOBAL NATIONAL WELCOMES AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST, MELISSA RIDGEN, AS NETWORK MANAGING EDITOR

GLOBAL NATIONAL WELCOMES AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST, MELISSA RIDGEN, AS NETWORK MANAGING EDITOR

For Immediate Release

TORONTO, October 5, 2022 – Global News is thrilled to announce that acclaimed, veteran journalist, Melissa Ridgen, will join the national team as a Network Managing Editor starting October 24. The Network Managing Editor is a new and significant role for the network, and a reflection of Global News’ dedication to telling stories that reflect the communities it serves.

A proud Red River Métis, Ridgen has spent more than 24 years covering crime, courts, politics, business and entertainment for newspapers in four provinces. She joined APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) in 2009 and since 2018 has been a host and producer for the APTN National News.

As the Network Managing Editor, Ridgen will focus on amplifying Indigenous voices and drive investigative and enterprise reporting dedicated to issues concerning First Nations and Inuit peoples. She will play a critical role in identifying and developing stories for Global National and help craft enterprise and investigative stories for The New Reality and Globalnews.ca. Ridgen will also take a lead role in advising and supporting journalists across the network and editorial leaders in the coverage of Indigenous stories.

“This is a unique and critically important role for our news division as we work to improve our journalism to better reflect underrepresented communities,” says Ingrid Bakewell, Director of National News. “Melissa brings more than two decades of editorial experience to Global News, and in addition to being a working journalist, she will be a key leader and mentor to Global News reporters across the country.”

Ridgen is a highly respected and inspiring storyteller. In 2021, Ridgen made history by becoming the first Indigenous journalist representing an Indigenous national TV broadcaster to ask questions to the leaders during a nationally televised Federal election English debate. She is the recipient of two 2021 North American Native Media Awards, a 2016 Canadian Association of Journalists Award and a 1998 Edward Dunlop Award. She was a finalist for the 2013 World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network Awards and has been nominated for several Canadian Screen Awards.

Global News:
Stream free 24/7 local and national Global News content exclusively on the Global TV App, available now on iOS, Android, Chromecast and at watch.globaltv.com. Global News programming is also available through all major TV distributors, including: Shaw, Shaw Direct, Rogers, Bell, Videotron, Telus, Cogeco, Eastlink, and SaskTel and STACKTV, available via Amazon Prime Video Channels, FuboTV, Rogers Ignite TV and Ignite SmartStream.

-30-

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Twitter: @CorusPR, @GlobalNational
Instagram: @globalnational
Facebook: @GlobalNational

Global News is part of the Corus Entertainment Network.

About Corus Entertainment
Corus Entertainment Inc. (TSX: CJR.B) is a leading media and content company that develops and delivers high quality brands and content across platforms for audiences around the world.  Engaging audiences since 1999, the company’s portfolio of multimedia offerings encompass 33 specialty television services, 39 radio stations, 15 conventional television stations, a suite of digital and streaming assets, animation software, technology and media services. Corus is an internationally-renowned content creator and distributor through Nelvana, a world class animation studio expert in all formats and Corus Studios, a globally recognized producer of hit scripted and unscripted content. The company also owns innovative full-service social digital agency so.da, lifestyle entertainment company Kin Canada, leading 2D animation software supplier Toon Boom and children’s book publishing house, Kids Can Press. Corus’ roster of premium brands includes Global Television, W Network, HGTV Canada, Food Network Canada, Magnolia Network Canada, The HISTORY® Channel, Showcase, Adult Swim, National Geographic, Disney Channel Canada, YTV, Global News, Globalnews.ca, Q107, Country 105, and CFOX, along with broadly distributed Canadian streaming platforms STACKTV, TELETOON+, the Global TV App and Curiouscast. For more information visit www.corusent.com.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Cathy Paine
Communications Specialist, Global News & Corus Radio
647-649-1634
cathy.paine@corusent.com

Rishma Govani, Director, Communications, Global News & Corus Radio
416-391-7361
rishma.govani@corusent.com