Barbara Frum
Encyclopedia
Barbara Frum, OC
(September 8, 1937 – March 26, 1992) was a Canadian
radio and television journalist
, acclaimed for her interviews for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
.
, the oldest of three children of Harold Rosberg and Florence Hirschowitz Rosberg. Frum’s father, who was born in Kielce
, Poland
and emigrated to Canada as a child with his parents in 1913, was the proprietor of Rosberg’s Department Store in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Frum's mother was born in New York City, and moved to Canada in 1935, the year she got married. Frum grew up across the river in Niagara Falls, Ontario
. She studied history at the University of Toronto
, where she graduated with a BA
in 1959. In 1957, she married Toronto dentist Murray Frum, who later became a real estate developer. They had two children and adopted a third, an aboriginal
child.
as one of the first hosts of As It Happens
, a newsmagazine program which used the telephone to conduct live interviews with newsmakers and other witnesses to news events, as well as quirky human interest stories. Frum's skills as a tough, incisive and well-informed interviewer quickly made the program one of CBC Radio's most popular and enduring programs (it still airs today, in virtually the same format), and she continued to host until 1981.
Between October 1974 and July 1975, she hosted her own self-titled
talk show
, first locally-broadcast in Toronto until May 1975 before the program moved to the national CBC network for seven shows in June and July 1975. The shows featured both interviews with personalities and special segments devoted to isolated topics.
In 1981, CBC Television created The Journal, a newsmagazine series which would follow The National each night at 10:22 p.m., and Frum and Mary Lou Finlay
were hired as the show's hosts. On January 11, 1982, The Journal debuted as a showcase for features which delved more deeply into the day's news than the traditional newscast format of The National.
The show included field reports, short documentaries, public forums, debates, business, sports, and arts and science news, but Frum's interviews were the show's centrepiece, and made it one of Canadian television's most popular programs. After the first year, Frum became the sole host of the program, although Finlay continued to be associated with the program as a reporter and documentarian
. Frum interviewed many notable people, including British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
and Nelson Mandela
.
She angered many in 1989 when she refused to acknowledge that the École Polytechnique massacre
by a killer who proclaimed as he shot and stabbed women, "I hate feminists!" was an attack on women and feminism, saying: "Why do we diminish it by suggesting that it was an act against just one group?" on December 7, 1989 on The Journal.
Frum was frequently parodied on CODCO
by Greg Malone
, whose portrayal involved the recurring catchphrase "But are you bitter?" Frum and Malone (in his Frum drag) also presented a Gemini Award together.
Frum was also the inspiration for the muppet "Barbara Plum", host of "The Notebook", on Canadian Sesame Street (later reworked as Sesame Park
). In the Canadian animated series The Raccoons
, Frum herself portrayed a reporter called "Barbara LaFrum", who interviewed Cyril Sneer after his pigs told her of his unsavoury business practices.
in 1979.
on March 26, 1992. The illness had been first diagnosed in 1974, but only a small circle of family and friends knew about it. On the evening of her death, virtually the entire broadcasts of both The National and The Journal were a tribute to her and a retrospective of her career. Among the many tributes was an editorial cartoon depicting her at the gates of Heaven with a reporter's notebook, insisting on interviewing God. Several other editorial cartoons simply depicted The Journal' s set with an empty anchor chair.
Following her death, instead of hiring a new host for The Journal the CBC radically revamped its entire approach to news programming, The National and The Journal were merged into a new program called Prime Time News
. The atrium in the CBC Centre
in Toronto was named 'Barbara Frum Atrium' in her honour.
The Toronto Public Library
branch, located at 20 Covington Rd in a largely Jewish neighborhood, donated by Murray Frum, was opened shortly after Frum's death, and named 'Barbara Frum Library' in her honour. Frum was in the foreground on the Canadian stamp honouring CBC in 1999, a television biography, “The Life and Times of Barbara Frum”, was broadcast on CBC in 2002, and a day lily has been named the 'Barbara Frum Day Lily' in recognition of her enthusiasm for gardening.
Frum's daughter Linda
, a conservative author and journalist wrote a bestselling biography of her mother in 1996. She was appointed to the Canadian Senate
as a Conservative
supporter by Prime Minister Harper in August 2009. Frum's son David
is a right-wing political journalist and author of several books. He is credited with coining the phrase "Axis of Evil" while speech writer for George W. Bush
. Frum's adopted son Matthew, a native child the Frums adopted in the 1960s during the so called Sixties Scoop
, had problems as a teenager, and ultimately reclaimed his aboriginal roots and renewed contact with his birth parents.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(September 8, 1937 – March 26, 1992) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
radio and television journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, acclaimed for her interviews for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
.
Personal life
Barbara Frum was born Barbara Rosberg in Niagara Falls, New YorkNiagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
, the oldest of three children of Harold Rosberg and Florence Hirschowitz Rosberg. Frum’s father, who was born in Kielce
Kielce
Kielce ) is a city in central Poland with 204,891 inhabitants . It is also the capital city of the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship since 1999, previously in Kielce Voivodeship...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and emigrated to Canada as a child with his parents in 1913, was the proprietor of Rosberg’s Department Store in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Frum's mother was born in New York City, and moved to Canada in 1935, the year she got married. Frum grew up across the river in Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls is a Canadian city on the Niagara River in the Golden Horseshoe region of Southern Ontario. The municipality was incorporated on June 12, 1903...
. She studied history at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
, where she graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1959. In 1957, she married Toronto dentist Murray Frum, who later became a real estate developer. They had two children and adopted a third, an aboriginal
Aboriginal peoples in Canada
Aboriginal peoples in Canada comprise the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The descriptors "Indian" and "Eskimo" have fallen into disuse in Canada and are commonly considered pejorative....
child.
Career
After her graduation, Frum undertook volunteer work in the community, and began writing for the Toronto Star as a freelancer, specializing in social-issues stories. In 1971, she joined CBC RadioCBC Radio One
CBC Radio One is the English language news and information radio network of the publicly-owned Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. It is commercial free and offers both local and national programming...
as one of the first hosts of As It Happens
As It Happens
As It Happens is a long-running interview show on CBC Radio One in Canada. Its 40th anniversary was celebrated on-air on 18 November 2008. It has been one of the most popular and acclaimed shows on CBC Radio; it is also distributed in the United States by Public Radio International.The bulk of the...
, a newsmagazine program which used the telephone to conduct live interviews with newsmakers and other witnesses to news events, as well as quirky human interest stories. Frum's skills as a tough, incisive and well-informed interviewer quickly made the program one of CBC Radio's most popular and enduring programs (it still airs today, in virtually the same format), and she continued to host until 1981.
Between October 1974 and July 1975, she hosted her own self-titled
Barbara Frum (TV series)
Barbara Frum was a Canadian talk show which aired on CBC Television between October 1974 and July 1975. Barbara Frum interviewed various guests including Michael Magee, Charlotte Gobeil, Paul Rimstead, Allan Fotheringham, and Jack Webster and in the premiere episode her guests included Roman...
talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
, first locally-broadcast in Toronto until May 1975 before the program moved to the national CBC network for seven shows in June and July 1975. The shows featured both interviews with personalities and special segments devoted to isolated topics.
In 1981, CBC Television created The Journal, a newsmagazine series which would follow The National each night at 10:22 p.m., and Frum and Mary Lou Finlay
Mary Lou Finlay
Mary Lou Finlay is a Canadian radio and television journalist, best known for hosting various programs on CBC Radio and CBC Television.Finlay graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1967 with a BA in English and French literature...
were hired as the show's hosts. On January 11, 1982, The Journal debuted as a showcase for features which delved more deeply into the day's news than the traditional newscast format of The National.
The show included field reports, short documentaries, public forums, debates, business, sports, and arts and science news, but Frum's interviews were the show's centrepiece, and made it one of Canadian television's most popular programs. After the first year, Frum became the sole host of the program, although Finlay continued to be associated with the program as a reporter and documentarian
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. Frum interviewed many notable people, including British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
and Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
.
She angered many in 1989 when she refused to acknowledge that the École Polytechnique massacre
École Polytechnique massacre
The École Polytechnique Massacre, also known as the Montreal Massacre, was a hate crime perpetrated on December 6, 1989 at the École Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Twenty-five-year-old Gamil Rodrigue Liass Gharbi, who had changed his name to Marc Lépine, armed with a legally obtained...
by a killer who proclaimed as he shot and stabbed women, "I hate feminists!" was an attack on women and feminism, saying: "Why do we diminish it by suggesting that it was an act against just one group?" on December 7, 1989 on The Journal.
Frum was frequently parodied on CODCO
CODCO
CODCO was a Canadian comedy troupe from Newfoundland, best known for a sketch comedy series which aired on CBC Television from 1987 to 1992....
by Greg Malone
Greg Malone (actor)
Greg Malone is a Canadian impressionist and actor.He is well known for the CODCO television series and his impersonations of Barbara Frum, Jean Chrétien, and Queen Elizabeth II....
, whose portrayal involved the recurring catchphrase "But are you bitter?" Frum and Malone (in his Frum drag) also presented a Gemini Award together.
Frum was also the inspiration for the muppet "Barbara Plum", host of "The Notebook", on Canadian Sesame Street (later reworked as Sesame Park
Sesame Park
Sesame Park was a Canadian version of Sesame Street. In its first format, it was referred to as Canadian Sesame Street and was a re-edited version of the American series; it adopted a new format and the Sesame Park title in 1996....
). In the Canadian animated series The Raccoons
The Raccoons
The Raccoons is a Canadian animated television series which was originally broadcast from 1985 to 1991 with four preceding television specials beginning in 1980. The series was created by Kevin Gillis, and produced at Atkinson Film-Arts first-hand from 1984 to 1985, then at Hinton Animation Studios...
, Frum herself portrayed a reporter called "Barbara LaFrum", who interviewed Cyril Sneer after his pigs told her of his unsavoury business practices.
Awards and honours
Frum received four Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) Awards, won the National Press Club of Canada Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Journalism in 1975, and was named to the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
in 1979.
Death and legacy
Frum died of chronic leukemiaLeukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
on March 26, 1992. The illness had been first diagnosed in 1974, but only a small circle of family and friends knew about it. On the evening of her death, virtually the entire broadcasts of both The National and The Journal were a tribute to her and a retrospective of her career. Among the many tributes was an editorial cartoon depicting her at the gates of Heaven with a reporter's notebook, insisting on interviewing God. Several other editorial cartoons simply depicted The Journal
Following her death, instead of hiring a new host for The Journal the CBC radically revamped its entire approach to news programming, The National and The Journal were merged into a new program called Prime Time News
Prime Time News
thumb|Title screen used from 1992 to 1994. A different opening used for the 1994-95 season was essentially identical to the open used by The National from 1995-97...
. The atrium in the CBC Centre
Canadian Broadcasting Centre
The Canadian Broadcasting Centre, located in Toronto, Ontario, is the broadcast headquarters and master control point for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's English-language television and radio services...
in Toronto was named 'Barbara Frum Atrium' in her honour.
The Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library
Toronto Public Library is a public library system based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest public library system in Canada and in 2008, had averaged a higher...
branch, located at 20 Covington Rd in a largely Jewish neighborhood, donated by Murray Frum, was opened shortly after Frum's death, and named 'Barbara Frum Library' in her honour. Frum was in the foreground on the Canadian stamp honouring CBC in 1999, a television biography, “The Life and Times of Barbara Frum”, was broadcast on CBC in 2002, and a day lily has been named the 'Barbara Frum Day Lily' in recognition of her enthusiasm for gardening.
Frum's daughter Linda
Linda Frum
Linda Frum is a Canadian author and journalist, and a Conservative member of the Canadian Senate since 2009.Frum was born in Toronto, Ontario, the daughter of Barbara Frum, a journalist and Murray Frum, a real estate developer. Her brother is the political author and journalist David Frum...
, a conservative author and journalist wrote a bestselling biography of her mother in 1996. She was appointed to the Canadian Senate
Canadian Senate
The Senate of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the House of Commons, and the monarch . The Senate consists of 105 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister...
as a Conservative
Conservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
supporter by Prime Minister Harper in August 2009. Frum's son David
David Frum
David J. Frum is a Canadian American journalist active in both the United States and Canadian political arenas. A former economic speechwriter for President George W. Bush, he is also the author of the first "insider" book about the Bush presidency...
is a right-wing political journalist and author of several books. He is credited with coining the phrase "Axis of Evil" while speech writer for George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. Frum's adopted son Matthew, a native child the Frums adopted in the 1960s during the so called Sixties Scoop
Sixties Scoop
The term Sixties Scoop was coined by Patrick Johnston in his 1983 report Native Children and the Child Welfare System. It refers to the Canadian practice, beginning in the 1960s and continuing until the late 1980s, of apprehending unusually high numbers of children of Aboriginal peoples in Canada...
, had problems as a teenager, and ultimately reclaimed his aboriginal roots and renewed contact with his birth parents.