Martha Watt

George Stroumboloupoulos is the new guy on our national network, CBC.   After about 100 years of plastic haired, ´gentle but stern´ news people, there is a Goth, pierced (and tattooed? I´m not absolutely sure) dude, with an impressive media resume, doing a current affairs program on the mother ship. FREAKY!   <br> <p>George Stroumboloupoulos is the new guy on our national network, <a tearget="new" href="http://www.cbc.ca/thehour">CBC</a>.  After about 100 years of plastic haired, ´gentle but stern´ news people, there is a Goth, pierced (and tattooed? I´m not absolutely sure) dude, with an impressive media resume, doing a current affairs program on the mother ship. FREAKY!  Ok, the content is a bit inconsistent; George has an interesting sense of humor.  Doesn´t really matter: I´m in. </p>

<p>So: why is this a Staffing blog?  Because George is the face of what is to come.  Not only the marginal folk have these body modifications: mommies at the park, cashiers in the store...My son´s special education assistant has a really nice tat on her right arm.  Zach likes it, too.  "It´s like yours, Mom.  Except it´s on a different arm.  And it´s not a tree.  It´s Japanese." </p>

<p>It´s a bit disconcerting, perhaps, to be faced with the unconventional person across the table when interviewing, but think of it this way:  We (the consumer) like to see ´us´ when we spend our time, and our money.  My mom doesn´t care if the woman at the bank has a tattoo (after all, I have one, and I´m nice).  She does care if that person is courteous, and interested in helping her out.</p>

<p>The CBC has done ´diversity´; it´s a pretty true reflection of the culture, actually.  But George is new.  He actually (gasp) swears on the television!  This is not my mother´s news show.  It´s a gamble, for sure, but if I can watch (yawn) current events with Strombo, then I´m pretty sure I´m not the only one.  And I hear he´s also on some ´sexiest Canadian´ list.  Yes, that helps, too.</p>