The West Block

The West Block with Jeff Semple is Global News weekly political and current affairs program. The show digs deep into the breaking news and major stories that impact Canadians’ lives. Through in-depth conversations with political, national, and international newsmakers.

The show is hosted by Jeff Semple who is an award-winning journalist, podcaster, and senior correspondent with Global National based in Ottawa.

Jeff is one of Canada’s most accomplished international correspondents. Over the past two decades, Jeff has reported from more than 40 countries across five continents, including numerous war zones and humanitarian disasters.

Jeff’s groundbreaking reporting from inside Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 2002 received the Best National Enterprise Journalism Award from the Radio Television Digital News Association. Jeff’s reports have also been recognised by the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Online Publishing Awards, and the Michener Awards. His stories have appeared internationally on the BBC, CNN, Sky News, and NPR.

He also hosted the podcast series Russia Rising and China Rising. China Rising was the #1 podcast in Canada on iTunes in 2019 and was named one of Apple’s Top Podcasts of the Year.