Ross McLaughlin to Replace Lynda Steele as CTV Vancouver Consumer Guru

 NEWS RELEASE  2015-08-24

Continuing its long tradition of helping viewers make informed decisions about the products and issues that affect their pocketbooks, CTV Vancouver today announced the launch of the all-new consumer news segment, “McLaughlin On Your Side”. Kicking off Tuesday, Sept. 8 on CTV News at Six, award-winning investigative and consumer affairs journalist Ross McLaughlin is tapped to lead the nightly newscast’s popular consumer advocacy segment that places viewer issues at the forefront, helping viewers become better, more informed consumers, and save money.

(Ed. note: The previous CTV consumer advocate, Lynda Steele, is moving to afternoon talk show host at Vancouver’s CKNW AM 980.)

“I’m honoured to work with such a talented team here at CTV Vancouver and I am eager to meet our viewers as well, to help them navigate the landscape in resolving sometimes complicated consumer issues, in addition to bringing our viewers useful information every day,” said McLaughlin. “It’s a privilege to be able to help make positive and meaningful change in our community and there is no better medium to do that than television, specifically CTV Vancouver!”

“Ross is an incredibly talented journalist, whose investigative storytelling has not only earned him a shelf full of coveted journalism awards, but has also had a positive and often profound impact on viewers in the communities where he’s worked,” said Les Staff, News Director, CTV Vancouver. “We are delighted to welcome Ross to CTV Vancouver, as he joins our like-minded team of reporters, all of whom are committed to making a positive impact on our community each and every day.”

An award-winning investigative consumer reporter with 18 Emmys and four Edward R. Murrow Awards, McLaughlin has built a career on exposing injustice and giving a voice to those who can’t be heard. With a career spanning radio and television in both Canada and the U.S., in 2002 and 2003 McLaughlin worked as part of the on-air team at nationally syndicated program Celebrity Justice, digging into high-profile celebrity court cases, including Michael Jackson, Robert Blake, and Winona Ryder’s shoplifting trial. His work as an investigative journalist led to national television appearances, including Larry King Live, Good Morning America, The O’Reilly Factor Court TV, and MSNBC.

Earlier McLaughlin was the Consumer Investigative Reporter for KIRO-TV in Seattle. He pioneered undercover investigative techniques, including his landmark Odometer Rollback, where he captured a used-car dealer’s scheme on camera, an industry first. McLaughlin received top honors for his work from the National Association of Consumer Advocates. 

A dual U.S. and Canadian citizen, McLaughlin was nationally recognized as the “Trouble Shooter,” Canada’s first consumer investigative television journalist, which earned him national recognition.  Prior to moving to the U.S. in 1996, McLaughlin also anchored weekday newscasts at ITV (now Global) in Edmonton, Alberta.   

He began his broadcasting career as a radio host and producer in Calgary and Medicine Hat, Alberta.

McLaughlin studied Broadcast Journalism at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary, and attended Royal Roads Military College in Victoria.