.gif)
Gordon Donaldson (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Archibald Gordon Clark Donaldson (August 18, 1926 – June 2001) was a Scottish
-Canadian
author and journalist. He appeared on television and also produced television programming.
. He went to school until he was 16 and then worked for the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. In 1944 he joined the British Army
. Donaldson explained his ambitions by saying, "I became a reporter at 16 and never wanted to be anything else, except a foreign correspondent."
During the close of World War II
, Donaldson worked for the British Intelligence Corps. He did much reporting on anti-Semitism
in Germany
after the war. After immigrating to Canada with his wife Nina in 1954, Donaldson took up a job at the newspaper Toronto Telegram
, and indeed one of his obituaries recalls him as having worked for the paper "during the wild circulation wars with the Toronto Star in the 1950s and 1960s." As part of that competition between the papers, in 1955, under the auspices of the Toronto Telegram Donaldson built the first fallout shelter
in Canada and lived in it for two days while the Telegram published articles about it. Between 1963 and 1966 he was based in Washington, D.C.
while working for the Toronto Telegram, and while in Texas the United States Secret Service
attacked him for being too near to U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
. Donaldson began working for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
in 1966. In his work for the CBC, Donaldson covered space exploration
, including the visits to the Moon
. Afterwards, he worked for Canadian Television
and was featured on the television series W-FIVE
.
As a television producer, Donaldson's credits included The Military Man (1970) on the Canadian Forces
during the Pearson
-Trudeau
years. He also produced a documentary on Vladimir Lenin
.
Donaldson's written works include histories such as Battle for a Continent. His biographies on the Prime Ministers of Canada, contained in a single volume, was published in 1969 under the title Fifteen Men. With continual updates starting in 1975, it eventually had to be renamed Sixteen Men and Eighteen Men. It was finally titled The Prime Ministers of Canada after Kim Campbell
became Canada's first woman prime minister. As Donaldson said in his 1993 preface, "Twenty Persons didn't have the same ring to it."
One critic recommended The Prime Ministers of Canada for students, saying it was "straightforward and thoroughly enjoyable," and "accessible and helpful." Canadian humourist Will Ferguson
, in his book Bastards & Boneheads, cited Donaldson's book on the prime ministers as one of the two "most rewarding" sources on prime ministers, along with Michael Bliss
' Right Honourable Men. However, Ferguson gave some criticism, in that Donaldson allegedly used "the word 'squaw
'" more than once, which was "somewhat disturbing."
In 1984, Donaldson became president of the Toronto Press Club and also worked for its News Hall of Fame
. In the latter position in 1999, he added Conrad Black
to the Hall of Fame, being quoted by the press as saying that Black "opened a new page in Canadian journalism history, when he launched a national daily newspaper [The National Post
] to flourish from coast to coast." In 2001 the media also reported Donaldson's addition of Tara Singh Hayer
to the Hall of Fame. Donaldson also wrote an autobiography. However, at the time of his death it was not published.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
-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...
author and journalist. He appeared on television and also produced television programming.
Early life
Donaldson was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. He went to school until he was 16 and then worked for the Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. In 1944 he joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. Donaldson explained his ambitions by saying, "I became a reporter at 16 and never wanted to be anything else, except a foreign correspondent."
Career
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Donaldson worked for the British Intelligence Corps. He did much reporting on anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
after the war. After immigrating to Canada with his wife Nina in 1954, Donaldson took up a job at the newspaper Toronto Telegram
Toronto Telegram
The Toronto Evening Telegram was a conservative, broadsheet afternoon newspaper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the Conservative Party at both the federal and provincial level. The paper competed with the liberal Toronto Star...
, and indeed one of his obituaries recalls him as having worked for the paper "during the wild circulation wars with the Toronto Star in the 1950s and 1960s." As part of that competition between the papers, in 1955, under the auspices of the Toronto Telegram Donaldson built the first fallout shelter
Fallout shelter
A fallout shelter is an enclosed space specially designed to protect occupants from radioactive debris or fallout resulting from a nuclear explosion. Many such shelters were constructed as civil defense measures during the Cold War....
in Canada and lived in it for two days while the Telegram published articles about it. Between 1963 and 1966 he was based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
while working for the Toronto Telegram, and while in Texas the United States Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
attacked him for being too near to U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. Donaldson began working 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...
in 1966. In his work for the CBC, Donaldson covered space exploration
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
, including the visits to the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
. Afterwards, he worked for Canadian Television
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
and was featured on the television series W-FIVE
W-FIVE
W5 is a Canadian news magazine television series produced by CTV News. The program is currently initially broadcast Saturday nights at 7 p.m...
.
As a television producer, Donaldson's credits included The Military Man (1970) on the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
during the Pearson
Lester B. Pearson
Lester Bowles "Mike" Pearson, PC, OM, CC, OBE was a Canadian professor, historian, civil servant, statesman, diplomat, and politician, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for organizing the United Nations Emergency Force to resolve the Suez Canal Crisis...
-Trudeau
Pierre Trudeau
Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau, , usually known as Pierre Trudeau or Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was the 15th Prime Minister of Canada from April 20, 1968 to June 4, 1979, and again from March 3, 1980 to June 30, 1984.Trudeau began his political career campaigning for socialist ideals,...
years. He also produced a documentary on Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
.
Donaldson's written works include histories such as Battle for a Continent. His biographies on the Prime Ministers of Canada, contained in a single volume, was published in 1969 under the title Fifteen Men. With continual updates starting in 1975, it eventually had to be renamed Sixteen Men and Eighteen Men. It was finally titled The Prime Ministers of Canada after Kim Campbell
Kim Campbell
Avril Phædra Douglas "Kim" Campbell, is a Canadian politician, lawyer, university professor, diplomat, and writer. She served as the 19th Prime Minister of Canada, serving from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993...
became Canada's first woman prime minister. As Donaldson said in his 1993 preface, "Twenty Persons didn't have the same ring to it."
One critic recommended The Prime Ministers of Canada for students, saying it was "straightforward and thoroughly enjoyable," and "accessible and helpful." Canadian humourist Will Ferguson
Will Ferguson
William Stener "Will" Ferguson is a Canadian writer and novelist best known for his humorous observations on Canadian history and culture....
, in his book Bastards & Boneheads, cited Donaldson's book on the prime ministers as one of the two "most rewarding" sources on prime ministers, along with Michael Bliss
Michael Bliss
John William Michael Bliss, CM, FRSC is a Canadian historian and award-winning author. Though his early works focused on business and political history, he has written several important medical biographies, including of Sir William Osler...
' Right Honourable Men. However, Ferguson gave some criticism, in that Donaldson allegedly used "the word 'squaw
Squaw
Squaw is an English language loan-word, used as a noun or adjective, whose present meaning is an indigenous woman of North America. It is derived from the eastern Algonquian morpheme meaning 'woman' that appears in numerous Algonquian languages variously spelled squa, skwa, esqua, sqeh, skwe, que,...
'" more than once, which was "somewhat disturbing."
In 1984, Donaldson became president of the Toronto Press Club and also worked for its News Hall of Fame
Canadian News Hall of Fame
The Canadian News Hall of Fame is a museum that honours individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to journalism in Canada. The Hall of Fame is operated under the auspices of the Toronto Press Club and is housed within the Ontario Club at 30 Wellington St. W. in Toronto...
. In the latter position in 1999, he added Conrad Black
Conrad Black
Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, OC, KCSG, PC is a Canadian-born member of the British House of Lords, and a historian, columnist and publisher, who was for a time the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. Lord Black controlled Hollinger International, Inc...
to the Hall of Fame, being quoted by the press as saying that Black "opened a new page in Canadian journalism history, when he launched a national daily newspaper [The National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
] to flourish from coast to coast." In 2001 the media also reported Donaldson's addition of Tara Singh Hayer
Tara Singh Hayer
Tara Singh Hayer, OBC was a Sikh Canadian newspaper publisher who was murdered.Hayer was born in Paddi Jagir, a small village in Punjab, India...
to the Hall of Fame. Donaldson also wrote an autobiography. However, at the time of his death it was not published.