“Local news reflects the mood of a community. We tell the stories, we balance, we are in the community, we do our homework, we inform and share. It is award-winning journalism – it is done right.” – Gord Gillies, Global News Anchor, Calgary
Global News is committed to covering local news. We have a strong, committed team of news reporters and anchors who are connected and engaged: reporters who take pride in their city and in doing their job delivering stories with local context and lots of personality. The stories that matter to our viewers also matter to our Global News team.
WATCH: Anchors from Global News in Calgary and Edmonton remember the stories that impacted them personally.
Local News as an information pipeline
WATCH: Global News reporter Fletcher Kent reporting live as the wildfire raged across Fort McMurray.
The fire that ravaged Fort McMurray over the summer was a time when Albertans came together to help each other. It was a tragedy, but it was also a time that showed Canadian spirit: we are strong, we are compassionate and we help each other in times of need.
WATCH: Global News anchor Gord Steinke talks about the difficulties facing first responders.
Gord Steinke, who was anchoring the desk as the wildfires raged, believes the role Global News played was essential to ensuring the safety of the public by working with people on the ground to communicate information.
WATCH: One of the most memorable stories from the Fort McMurray re-entry.
“News becomes the information pipeline. I spoke to many emergency responders, county officials and firefighters who said that they were watching our video coverage, looking closely to determine and help make decisions on how to effectively fight the fire, and using us to help get information to the province,” he said.
The 2013 Calgary flood was another tragedy that struck Alberta and another time when Global’s live coverage proved so important to the community. Calgary news anchor Gord Gillies understood how critical Global News coverage was for the public.
“As the flood was unfolding, it was a critical time to give Calgarians a view and the information that they needed,” Gillies said.
“It was happening and we were giving them updates in real time. People were turning to us. This was go time, this is what we do.”
READ MORE: Hardest Hit Families Finally Going Home, Hwy 63 Renamed ‘Responder’s Way’, Thousands Return Home
WATCH: Volunteer firefighter breaks down after a home he was trying to save was lost.
“While covering the wildfire, I met this volunteer firefighter helping on the front lines,” Global Calgary news anchor Paul Haysom said.
“It was an emotional time for all and this big, tough, rugged firefighter broke down sharing the story of while he was fighting to save a home in flames, he saw the name of a little girl on the wall in her burning bedroom. He did what he could to save that house, and protect that bedroom for that little girl, but it burned. He wanted the family to know he tried.”
READ MORE: Paul Haysom’s stories from Fort McMurray
“After his story was shared, that family reached out hoping to meet this guy and the little girl wanted to say, ‘thank you’ for trying to save my room. By sharing this story, News ‘connected’ these two families. It was an amazing story.”
Check out more on Global’s Stories that Matter: