Michael Melling, the vice president of news at CTV parent Bell Media, “has decided to take time off from his current role to spend time with his family,” according to an internal memo sent Friday and obtained by the CBC News. “His decision reflects our shared desire to support the newsroom and do our best to help the team overcome the current circumstances and focus on delivering the stories that matter to Canadians.” Melling faced criticism for LaFlamme’s abrupt departure from CTV, which prompted allegations of sexism and ageism. He took over as head of news in January. LaFlamme revealed last week that she was “blindsided” by Bell Media’s decision to terminate her contract. “At 58, I still thought I had a lot more time to tell more of the stories that affect our daily lives,” he said in an online video. WATCHES | LaFlamme signs for the last time:
CTV National News anchor Lisa LaFlamme announces she’s been let go
LaFlamme said she was “blindsided” as Bell Media ended her contract after more than 30 years.
