RTNDA announces 2008 lifetime achievement award winners

RTNDA Canada - The Association of Electronic Journalists has announced the seven individuals to be honoured with the 2008 RTNDA Lifetime Achievement Awards. The awards will be presented at the RTNDA Regional Pro Dev Seminars in Kamloops, BC on April 26, 2008, Calgary, AB on May 10, 2008, Fredericton, NB on May 31, 2008 and at the Central Awards Banquet on June 19th during the RTNDA National Conference in Ottawa, June 19 to 21. The 2008 RTNDA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are: Doug Collins celebrates 42 years in broadcast news this year. He entered the business right out of high school, taking a summer job with CBC Radio in Prince Rupert. In the early 70's, he made the move to Kamloops where he began his long relationship with the city's heritage station CFJC TV/JC-55/CIFM. At CFJC Doug learned the craft of reporting for radio AND television, doing double duty, covering stories for both media at once. But he always preferred radio and carved out a niche for himself as the news director/news anchor/morning desker. Doug also produced his "One Man's Opinion" editorials for both radio and television. In his long career Doug has hosted live radio talk shows and special coverage for municipal, provincial, and federal elections -- often single-handedly juggling in-studio guests, reporters in the field and callers, all while keeping one eye on the wires and the other on a television set. Vicki Gabereau is a three time ACTRA Award Winner for best radio host-interviewer and Canada's undisputed Queen of Talk. Vicki began her radio career in 1975 in Brampton, Ontario. After running for mayor of Toronto in 1976, her radio career really took off. She worked as summer host on CBC Radio's "Morningside" and as co-host on CBC Edmonton's morning radio show. Eventually, after much canvassing and tenacity on her part, she was named host of CBC's "Variety Tonight" in October of 1981, starting in Toronto and thenmoving to Vancouver. In 1985, "Variety Tonight's" format was changed and the hour-long evening interview program - "Gabereau" - was born. September 22, 1997 marked the premiere of "Gabereau Live"; where the wit and vibrancy that is unquestionably Vicki Gabereau rolled out live traveling east to the rest of the country from CTV's Vancouver Television (VTV) studios. Vern Koop has been with QR77 (CHQR) since 1975 after getting his feet wet in small town Alberta radio. He has been reading the morning news on QR77 since he started with the station. That means for many Calgarians, he has been the voice they wake up to for 32 years! Vern is very active in his church and volunteers for a variety of activities and boards including QR77's Pledge Day, an annual radiothon benefiting the Calgary Children's Foundation. Mike McCourt has been in the broadcast industry for more than 40 years as a reporter, anchor and commentator. He has seen and done more than most journalists would ever dream of. Mike was the first Canadian television journalist in Communist China, interviewed PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, has had cocktails with the Queen of England, Prince of Wales and Princess Diana. He interviewed every Prime Minister from Diefenbaker to Mulroney. Mike is currently reporting for Citytv Calgary. Tom Young is a "newsman's newsman" - a leading talk show host and journalist in New Brunswick for more than three decades. Tom has been involved in radio since his Canadian Army days of 1962. He started in commercial radio in Leamington, ON in 1963. Each weekday on "The Afternoon News with Tom Young" on Rogers News-Talk stations in Saint John, Halifax and Moncton, Tom navigates listeners through the real issues and concerns facing Maritimers today. Dan McLean began his career with CHCH-TV in 1972 and has been the station's main anchor for 25 years. He is the face and voice of news in Hamilton, Halton and Niagara. Dan's commitment to the community goes far beyond his television role. In addition to his newsroom responsibilities, he is a model for community involvement. Over the years, Dan has hosted hundreds of local charity events and fundraising galas...including events featuring Bill Clinton and George Bush, New York Governor Mario Como, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Prince Charles. Gord Harris has been in the broadcast news industry for over 30 years, 29 of those as a morning news anchor. He taught journalism for over 25 years at Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario. Gord also operated a private radio news and voice consulting business. His list of awards includes many RTNDA Sam Ross Awards for Best Radio Commentary. Gord is currently Program Director at AM640 (CFMJ) Toronto.

RTNDA announces 2008 lifetime achievement award winners

People | 03/25/2008 7:52 pm EDT

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