Written by: Michelle Dias, vice president, CPRS Toronto
As I write this The Brandon Gonez Show launch party on Instagram live has just concluded with almost 2,000 live viewers from the Toronto-area locked in to feel and experience the upcoming show’s excitement. It’s the eve of his new YouTube show and he is celebrating the kickoff with federal politicians, celebrated athletes, as well as, recognizable Canadian celebrities, such as Jagmeet Singh and Tessa Virtue. There is something about the charisma of Brandon Gonez that shines through the Instagram Live as I listen to guest speaker Marci Ien comment, “I love you, I love you”, as she congratulates Brandon on his first show. I had the opportunity to speak to Brandon this week and talked to him about why he decided to launch the show.
Earlier in the year, when Brandon announced he would be leaving Bell Media’s 24-hour News Channel CP24, it was a shock for his devoted fan base; fans that follow him across channels on TikTok and Instagram to see his unique take on the day’s events. But for Brandon, the new show marks an opportunity for him to share his voice and call to attention issues that he feels are not covered in today’s popular media. In my interview, he highlights that there is an issue in today’s media landscape, especially in the greater Toronto area as TV-viewers only have a handful of news outlets providing us with daily perspectives. As a native of Brampton, he hopes to be the voice of those who feel marginalized and not represented in the media today.
Early in the interview, he comments that he is “betting on himself” and feels like it is the right time to not only start up his show but also Gonez Media. With sponsors such as Hennessey and Seneca College, his sales team has already built up avenues to create sustainable, well-produced content.
So, what can viewers expect? The show will be delivered on YouTube weekly and focus on four different segments, the first segment is, “News you can use”. In Brandon’s words, this segment is for people who can’t sit down at the TV daily and listen to the evening news, this will be condensed bite-sized information. The second segment “Open and Honest”, is for candid interviews, with athletes or local celebrities. This segment will give viewers backstage access to the views and opinions of individuals they admire.
As described by Brandon, he is having a hard time pulling the third segment, “Your Voice” together because of the pandemic. The concept of “Your Voice” will be to cast light on issues, and experiences of everyday citizens. And the last segment will be a welcomed relief for Toronto-audiences, a “Good News” segment focused on positivity.
Listen to the full interview recording here.
For more information about Brandon’s show and to view the segments check out his YouTube channel.