There was a time when I would have campaigned to host my own morning show. Back then, the opportunity never really presented itself. Now it’s here, and it’s not what I really want to do! …
All Hail the (temporary) Morning Queen! Read More »
Last weekend’s fireworks brought to mind what fireworks will always remind me of – The Benson and Hedges Symphony of Fire at Ontario Place in Toronto. Yes, kids, there was a time when cigarette companies could sponsor giant events. The SOF was launched in several Canadian cities in 1990 and I was delighted to emcee the Toronto version for several summers. …
Throwback Thursday – Fire in the Sky Read More »
Nudism versus naturism; they’re two very different things, although to the untrained eye, they’re both collections of naked people. My eBook, The Naked Truth, chronicled my summer as an employee of a nudist resort. My visit late last month to Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park was a different experience. …
Nudism-Naturism Revisited Read More »
Word is getting around that First Thing With Mike Stubbs and Lisa Brandt is no more. It was just about one year ago that Mike and I started working together and we had lots of laughs, collaborations, and great moments on the air. But Mike was always clear with me; First Thing was his second thing when it came to professional satisfaction. …
Reporting on sports is my least favourite part of my job as a newscaster. This is not new. I don’t generally watch sports, with limited exceptions. And I’ve never been such a fan that my happiness – even in the short term – depends on a bunch of people I don’t know scoring more points than a bunch of other people. No offence to rabid fans, it’s just not how I’m wired. Sometimes I’m a band-wagon jumper, but I generally just don’t really care. …
People are often surprised to learn how far back Derek and I go. We worked together at CKSL in London in the early 1980s. After that, we also worked at CKNX in Wingham, although our decisions to go there were separate and although we were pals, we weren’t “together” at the time. Our history is very When-Harry-Met-Sally. But this is about CKNX, which turned 90 on the weekend with an open house, a big birthday bash and the event we attended, an alumni BBQ. …
Our Favourite 90-year-old Read More »
A colleague died suddenly at work a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t know him well, but he was a friendly, cheery guy who always made a point of saying good morning. People who worked closely with him were devastated and he was clearly well liked around the building. …
There Must Be Some Misunderstanding Read More »
The Grammar Nazi. You have nothing to fear from her! …
Don’t Fear the Nazi Read More »
There’s a TV show we watch regularly that ends with nearly everybody on screen, and in our living room, with tears in their eyes. And the other night, I figured out why I like it so much. It’s because it shows the way I think wealthy people should behave. Instead of accumulating more stuff than they could ever use, they could spread a little of it around and improve the lives of those who need a hand up. …
I hope you’ll add to this list. Some of these things are a little “inside” but some are recognizable to radio listeners who have no knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes. …
Broadcasting Pet Peeves Read More »
It wasn’t the golden age of television, but it’s an age that no longer exists. CKNX-TV in Wingham used to create original programming and host its own newscasts and commercials. It was a “thing”. And when I worked there, from 1986-1990, there were many opportunities to be part of that thing. …
Throwback Thursday – Prime Time Television Read More »
There are so many people doing so much good for others, and it’s one of the biggest advantages of my life and career that I get to meet so many of them. …
…you have a bunch of mugshots of wanted criminals on your computer! …
You Know You’re a Journalist When… Read More »
Two younger broadcasters I work with recently made decisions that made me want to stand up and cheer for them. …
Smart Young Women Read More »
There aren’t too many people to look up to in broadcasting anymore. Thousands who thought Jian Ghomeshi was all that sure got a slap upside the head in the past year or so. And the business is less stable than ever. Even some of the well-liked, long running hosts find themselves at the wrong end of a pink slip. Take Jennifer Valentyne. She was let go from CITY-TV after 17 years simply because they found a cheaper way to do what she does. …
Throwback Thursday: Scott Shannon, Still Tops Read More »
One of the first people I met when I moved back to London was Derek’s friend Kevin Bulmer. Kevin is a former on-air guy in radio, a singer-songwriter, Dad to two great lads and a whole lot of other cool things. He also hired me to work at Delaware Speedway several summers ago. Now we also work in the same building. …
One thing I’ve never been called, is a best-selling author! I have written four books and they’ve all had varying degrees of minor success. My most popular book, The Naked Truth, continues to sell a few dozen copies each month. Every author dreams of best-seller status, but a book marketer in Texas decided to expose the notion of what that means these days. …