APTN Welcomes New Faces To The News & Current Affairs Team

Sept. 6, 2007

With exciting new changes slated for the fall season, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) is pleased to welcome new faces and on-air personalities to the News & Current Affairs department.

APTN National News: Daytime welcomes a new face with Holly Bernier taking over the reigns of the daytime news. Holly brings a wealth of experience having previously worked at APTN as a host in promotions, a host and producer of Kids’ CBC, as well as a host for the 2006 NHL Awards. Former Daytime host Cheryl McKenzie will bring an investigative twist as the new host of APTN National News: Contact.APTN National News: Contact will also welcome Paul Barnsley to the team as an investigative reporter. Paul’s last assignment was as national news editor/senior writer for Windspeaker in Edmonton and has been described by the Ryerson review of journalism in 2004 as “one of Canada’s best Aboriginal affairs investigative reporters”.

Working behind the scenes to make the news programs possible is a dynamic team of producers and researchers. APTN News & Current Affairs Winnipeg is pleased to welcome Mark Halsall as national assignment editor. Mark holds a journalism diploma from Vancouver and has had vast experience in the industry since 1990. Norm Byatt joins the team as northern executive producer responsible for the Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit staff and bureaus. Norm brings with him over 20 years of experience consisting of reporting, assignment editor, producer, hosting, and news director. Janet Leader has moved from Yellowknife to take on the role of the eastern executive producer responsible for the Halifax, Montréal, Toronto and Ottawa staff and bureaus. Janet has been with APTN for nearly two years and has brought a wealth of journalism experience to the team. Finally Martha Troian, a university educated teacher and experienced researcher who has recently done work for Lakehead University and Thunder Bay regional health sciences will be joining as a researcher/writer.

“We are very pleased to welcome such a high caliber of Aboriginal talent to our News and Current Affairs department” says Jean LaRose, APTN Chief Executive Officer. “With reports from our 11 bureaus across the country, APTN’s commitment to delivering up to the minute news and current affairs to Canadians across the country will only be further enhanced by our exceptional team of journalists and producers.”

APTN National News: Primetime airs weekdays at 6:30 pm repeating at 11:30 pm ET/PT, with the Daytime edition airing weekdays at 12:30 pm ET/PT. APTN National News: Contact will undergo a time change in November 2007 and will be seen live across the country Wednesdays at 8 pm ET 5 pm PT.

About APTN:
September 1, 2007 marked the eight-year anniversary of the launch of the first national Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in over 10 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite (DTH), telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers.

APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming with 56% offered in English, 28% in Aboriginal languages and 16% in French. For program schedule or for more information, please contact APTN at (204) 947-9331 or toll-free at 1-888-278-8862, or visit the website at www.aptn.ca.