The Agenda
The Agenda | |
---|---|
Presented by | Steve Paikin |
Country of origin | Canada |
No. of episodes | unknown |
Production | |
Production locations | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Original release | |
Network | TVO |
Release | September 25, 2006 present | –
The Agenda with Steve Paikin, or simply The Agenda, is the flagship current affairs television program of TVOntario (TVO), Ontario's public broadcaster. Anchor Steve Paikin states that the show practices long-form journalism. Each hour-long program covers no more than two topics.[1]
The show airs weekdays on TVO at 8:00 and 11:00 p.m., and episodes are available on demand at the show's website and through mobile media.
The show is to end at the conclusion of its 19th season, with the final episode airing on June 27, 2025. The Agenda will be replaced in the fall of 2025 with The Rundown, which is to feature “original journalism and in-depth analysis exploring social, political, cultural and economic issues that impact Ontarians.” Paikin will not host the new show, but will continue with the network on a part-time basis as co-host of the weekly political podcast #onpoli, and as a columnist on TVO's website as well as hosting public events for the network.[2]
History
[edit]The program's creation was announced as part of programming and re-structuring changes at TVO in June 2006.[3] It replaced Studio 2, a current affairs program that was hosted by Paikin and Paula Todd;[3] it also subsumed Paikin's Fourth Reading, which continued for a number of years as a weekly panel discussion segment on The Agenda.[4] Todd concurrently launched her own weekly talk show, Person 2 Person, on the network.[3]
For a period, on the last Thursday of every month, the program broadcast live from the University of Toronto Munk Centre for International Studies, and focused on world issues with Paikin taking questions from the live audience and online.[5]
In 2012, TVO restructured its program lineup, terminating the programs Allan Gregg in Conversation and Big Ideas.[6] Some lectures that would have been broadcast via Big Ideas were instead covered by The Agenda. The network also devoted more resources to expanding the program "as a multi-platform hub for civic engagement in the big issues of the day".
Journalist Nam Kiwanuka joined the show in 2016 as a contributing reporter and substitute anchor when Paikin was absent, and was the full-time host of the program during the summer months when the show is branded as The Agenda in the Summer.[2]
The show was one of five Canadian Screen Award nominees for Best News or Information Series at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021, and Paikin was nominated for Best Host or Interviewer in a News or Information Program or Series.[7]
Website
[edit]The Agenda's website provides access to past episodes, podcasts, and the show’s blogs The Inside Agenda and The Fifth Column, as well as Paikin's blog. Video blogs, timelines of key events, slide shows, and polls, surveys and statistics are also available online.
References
[edit]- ^ Amy Kenny, "Paikin muses on 20 TVO years: The Agenda host says nightly live show is 'a marathon'". Hamilton Spectator, January 8, 2013.
- ^ a b "TVO's 'The Agenda with Steve Paikin' to end after 19 seasons". Toronto Star. April 22, 2025. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
- ^ a b c Andrew Cohen, "TVOntario's makeover". Kingston Whig-Standard, July 17, 2006.
- ^ Jim Coyle, "Legislature fades from media radar". Toronto Star, September 15, 2008.
- ^ Lawrence Solomon, "Keeping Canadian students in the dark on climate". National Post, January 30, 2010.
- ^ Tony Wong, "Tough times at TVO, CBC: Canadian channel cuts up to 40 jobs, cancels Saturday Night at the Movies". Toronto Star, November 14, 2012.
- ^ Katie Scott (March 30, 2021). "2021 Canadian Screen Awards nominations revealed". eTalk.