I was in the media room at the 1992 JUNOS on the night Alanis Morrisette won the award for Most Promising Female Vocalist and recorded the backstage question and answer session with reporters.
Continue reading “Audio: Alanis Morrisette at the 1992 JUNOS”
Former network radio reporter John McKay was already in the second decade of his career in the late 1980s when he was assigned by Broadcast News (BN), now the Canadian Press, to the Washington D.C. bureau. His job was to report the Canadian perspective on American issues including a free trade deal between Canada and the U.S. and acid rain legislation. But a few other high profile events occurred while he was there.
Continue reading “Episode 19: John McKay, former network radio reporter”
John McKay covered some big stories during his radio news career, but the one report everyone wanted to talk to him about was the Canadian re-write he gave to Billy Joel’s 1989 hit song We Didn’t Start the Fire. Continue reading “Audio: John McKay’s Canadian version of a Billy Joel hit”
Ann Medina discusses her career as a national television reporter with ABC and NBC in the U.S, and in Canada on the CBC, where she worked as a foreign correspondent. Part history lesson, part journalism lecture Ann tells great stories about her life on the road covering a variety of stories including a U.S Presidential election, the middle east, Syria circa 1984 and ‘that hunk’ Dustin Hoffman.
Inevitably when you’re on a reporting assignment you sometimes have to spend your own money to pay for gas, parking, a taxi and occasionally a meal. Every radio company I worked for reimbursed me for any expense I’d incurred as long as I had the receipt and it fell in line with the company rules. Continue reading “Audio: Boom go the radio expenses”
If you want to know how to properly shake a persons hand, follow the lead of a politician as they have mastered the combination of a good grip, perfect posture, eye contact,a smile and a hello. Continue reading “Political handshakes”
One item on my list of lifetime-coolest-moments-ever was being in the audience at the 2013 Farm Aid concert watching folk singer Pete Seeger steal the show.
“Friends, at age 94 I don’t have much voice left,” Seeger said.
“But, here’s a song I think you know. And if you sing it, why, I think we’ll make a good sound,”
Despite, as he put it, his lack of voice, the audience heard him loud and clear. They stood for his two song set, sang along and took video and pictures as a keepsake of the memorable event. Continue reading “Video: Pete Seeger’s final performance”
David Suzuki has entered, what he calls, “the death zone”. In an interview, the Canadian environmentalist explained that turning 80 is a time when you, “reflect on your own mortality and are compelled to speak from the heart.” Continue reading “David Suzuki turns 80!”
The Philadelphia Media Network is operating under a new business model. The owner of the newspapers, the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, and the web portal, philly.com, is a for profit company, owned by the non-profit Philadelphia Foundation. Joe speaks with Publisher, Terrance Egger about the organization’s shift to: “keep journalism alive.”
Continue reading “Episode 11: Publisher of the Philadelphia Media Network, Terrance Egger”
Every Sunday, if the Pope is at the Vatican, he will speak to those who gather outside St. Peter’s Square. The Pontiff usually appears from the window of his apartment at 12 noon, delivers a short message, says a prayer, and then offers his blessing. The entire appearance lasts up to 20 minutes. I have been to two of these ceremonies; once, while back-packing through Europe, and the other time as a radio reporter. Continue reading “Blessings on the front lawn”
In 1994, “The Raptors” was one of ten contenders, in a contest to name the newly formed, Toronto NBA team. The day the list of names was released, I was given the radio news assignment to ask people what their choice would be. Continue reading “Episode 9: How the Toronto Raptors were named”
Physician-Assisted Dying will become a reality in Canada in 2016. This episode deals with a town hall meeting that I attended in Toronto in January of 2016. Continue reading “Episode 8: Physician-Assisted Dying”
American activist, Gloria Steinem discusses self-esteem and “outrageous acts” in a 1992 interview.
Every year we buy a real Christmas tree to decorate our house for the month of December.
That tree, officially kicks off the holiday season for us.
Continue reading “Episode 3: In search of the perfect Christmas tree.”
I first watched CBC television anchor Knowlton Nash deliver the news during the American hostage crisis in Iran in the early 1980′s. Continue reading “What I learned from Knowlton Nash”
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