Click here to return to the main page
Newscast review: Global National for Sunday, March 29 2026
Summary
Tonight’s Global National followed the heavy A-block and short B/C/D blocks formula.
The grouping of stories in each block felt appropriate, though the B-block felt unusually short and could’ve been thrown into any of the other blocks for balance purposes.
With only one reporter appearing on camera, the newscast felt more like one of those voiced over PowerPoint presentations you’d make for a class.
As usual, a hard cut prevented a proper close out.
Opener & A-block
18:30:19 - 18:42:55
The A-block felt packed and purposeful - no fluff, just stories.
But that comes at the expense of most stories being read by Jeff Semple (anchor), with only one on-camera signoff by Melissa Ridgen which despite its 2-box format, felt pre-recorded.
A-block structure
- Opener until 18:31:13 (Jeff Semple)
- 1st story: Avi Lewis wins NDP leadership (Melissa Ridgen; on camera [at end] + scripted throw back) (until 18:34:03)
- NDP history briefer (Semple read) (until 18:34:39)
- 2nd story: War in Iran update (Candice Cole; no appearance) (until 18:37:07)
- 3rd story: Christians mark Palm Sunday in M.E. (Semple read) (until 18:37:49)
- 4th story: Ukraine signs air defence deals with Gulf nations (Semple read) (until 18:38:18)
- 5th story: Surviving Air Canada flight attendant’s family speaks to press (Semple read) (until 18:38:50)
- 6th story: Helicopter crash in New Brunswick (Semple read) (until 18:39:11)
- 7th story: Artemis II moon mission final preparations (Nathaniel Dove; no appearance) (until 18:41:37)
- 8th story: NASA astronaut suffers illness in space (Semple read) (until 18:42:40)
- Teaser to break: Propaganda battle between Washington and Tehran (until 18:42:55)
B-block
18:45:03 - 18:47:49
B-block structure
- 9th story: A.I. impact on propaganda wars (Semple read; visible in interview and virtual set as part of story) (until 18:47:37)
- Teaser to break: Mark Carney’s parliamentary attendance record (until 18:47:49)
C-block
18:50:21 - 18:53:26
C-block structure
- 10th story: Junos awards, Mark Carney expected to attend - two L3s (Semple read) (until 18:50:46)
- 11th story: Carney’s parliamentary attendance record (David Akin; no appearance) (until 18:53:15)
- Teaser to break: World Piano Day (until 18:53:26)
D-block
18:56:09 - 18:59:49
A bit unusual, the D-block consisted of two stories, followed up by a typical Your Canada photo submission close (though tonight’s photo was actually by a Global News staff member) with a hard cut (music interrupted and incomplete) close.
D-block structure
- 12th story: World Piano Day (Hersh Singh; no appearance) (until 18:58:19)
- 13th story: “The Boss” bear breaks hibernation in Alberta (Semple read) (until 18:58:56)
Click here to return to the main page