The Journal
Encyclopedia
The Journal was a popular current affairs newsmagazine
on CBC Television
from 1982 to 1992. It aired weeknights at 10:22 pm, following The National at 10:00 pm, and expanding on stories presented on there with in-depth interviews, documentaries, and televised "town hall" meetings. The division of the 10:00 hour into two entirely separate programs, and the length of each, reflect the separation and political tension between the CBC's then-separate news and public affairs production units.
The program premiered on January 11, 1982. In its first season, it was hosted by Barbara Frum
and Mary Lou Finlay
, and was the first network news program in the world hosted by two women without a male co-anchor. However, after the first season Frum became the program's sole host, although Finlay remained with the program as a reporter and documentary producer. Frum anchored on her own until her death in 1992. The program was produced for its entire run by Mark Starowicz
, who had produced As It Happens
for CBC Radio
, which also featured Frum. Guest hosts when Frum was absent from The Journal included Bill Cameron
, Peter Kent
, Keith Morrison
, and Brian Stewart
.
Interviews were generally conducted in the early years of the program using a technique known as the double-ender
, wherein guests were interviewed earlier in the day on videotape and later presented as live using a split screen. As satellite television
technology progressed and became more commonplace, interviews were instead conducted using satellite uplinks.
Beginning in the late 1980s, Friday night's edition of The Journal was frequently given over to arts and literature, under the rubric Friday Night Arts. The Friday arts program was anchored by Daniel Richler
or David Gilmour
. At other times, an entire show—or even, in one case, an entire week of shows—would be devoted to a single topic, usually in the form of the "full-edition documentary"; documentary topics ranged from the serious (aboriginal land claims and the Oka crisis
) to the mundane (a 30-minute exposé on feet). One of the most memorable documentaries was a two-part travelogue
by Allen Abel driving from Budapest
to Bucharest
two days after the fall of the Ceauşescu
regime in Romania
.
The Journal was based on CBC Winnipeg's
successful suppertime program, 24Hours
. It also bore many similarities in its format to the American
program Nightline which premiered three years earlier, in 1979.
debuted with Peter Mansbridge
and Pamela Wallin
as equal cohosts of a package that mixed news and Journal-type features into a single program. That format lasted only two years before reverting to the old National/Journal format, although the name Prime Time News persisted for another year. When the news program returned to the name The National in 1995, the current affairs program became The National Magazine. This subsequently was renamed The Magazine. It was again reintegrated into the first half news program, as The National, in 2001.
also frequently parodied Frum on the sketch comedy series CODCO
.
Newsmagazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published piece of paper, magazine or a radio or television program, usually weekly, featuring articles or segments on current events...
on CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
from 1982 to 1992. It aired weeknights at 10:22 pm, following The National at 10:00 pm, and expanding on stories presented on there with in-depth interviews, documentaries, and televised "town hall" meetings. The division of the 10:00 hour into two entirely separate programs, and the length of each, reflect the separation and political tension between the CBC's then-separate news and public affairs production units.
The program premiered on January 11, 1982. In its first season, it was hosted by Barbara Frum
Barbara Frum
Barbara Frum, OC was a Canadian radio and television journalist, acclaimed for her interviews for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.-Personal life:...
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...
, and was the first network news program in the world hosted by two women without a male co-anchor. However, after the first season Frum became the program's sole host, although Finlay remained with the program as a reporter and documentary producer. Frum anchored on her own until her death in 1992. The program was produced for its entire run by Mark Starowicz
Mark Starowicz
Mark Starowicz, is a Canadian journalist and producer.Born in Worksop, England, the son of son of Polish émigrés, he and his family immigrated to Montreal in 1954. He received a B.A. from McGill University in 1968. In 1964, he started as a reporter for the Montreal Gazette...
, who had produced 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...
for CBC Radio
CBC 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...
, which also featured Frum. Guest hosts when Frum was absent from The Journal included Bill Cameron
Bill Cameron
William "Bill" Cameron was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. A Gemini Award winner, he was a news anchor, television producer, columnist and author...
, Peter Kent
Peter Kent
Peter Kent, PC, MP is a Conservative member of parliament for the riding of Thornhill, and the current Minister of the Environment in the 28th Canadian Ministry.Previously, he was Deputy Editor of Global Television, a Canadian TV network...
, Keith Morrison
Keith Morrison
Keith Morrison is a Canadian, veteran broadcast journalist. Since 1995, he has been a correspondent for Dateline NBC.-Career:...
, and Brian Stewart
Brian Stewart (journalist)
Brian Stewart, one of Canada's most experienced journalists, is host of the foreign affairs show CBC News: Our World as well as senior correspondent of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's flagship news hour The National....
.
Interviews were generally conducted in the early years of the program using a technique known as the double-ender
Double-ender
A phone-sync was a technique used to conduct televised interviews over long distances in the 1980s before satellite television became commonplace, in order to provide video to what would otherwise be an audio-only interview...
, wherein guests were interviewed earlier in the day on videotape and later presented as live using a split screen. As satellite television
Satellite television
Satellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
technology progressed and became more commonplace, interviews were instead conducted using satellite uplinks.
Beginning in the late 1980s, Friday night's edition of The Journal was frequently given over to arts and literature, under the rubric Friday Night Arts. The Friday arts program was anchored by Daniel Richler
Daniel Richler
Daniel Richler is a Canadian arts and pop culture broadcaster and writer. He is the stepson of author Mordecai Richler.-Biography:Born in London, England, his family moved back to his stepfather's hometown of Montreal when Daniel was 15...
or David Gilmour
David Gilmour (writer)
David Gilmour is a Canadian novelist and television journalist.He became managing editor of the Toronto International Film Festival in 1980, a post he held for four years. In 1986, he joined CBC Television as a film critic for The Journal, eventually becoming host of the program's Friday night...
. At other times, an entire show—or even, in one case, an entire week of shows—would be devoted to a single topic, usually in the form of the "full-edition documentary"; documentary topics ranged from the serious (aboriginal land claims and the Oka crisis
Oka Crisis
The Oka Crisis was a land dispute between a group of Mohawk people and the town of Oka, Quebec, Canada which began on July 11, 1990 and lasted until September 26, 1990. At least one person died as a result...
) to the mundane (a 30-minute exposé on feet). One of the most memorable documentaries was a two-part travelogue
Travel literature
Travel literature is travel writing of literary value. Travel literature typically records the experiences of an author touring a place for the pleasure of travel. An individual work is sometimes called a travelogue or itinerary. Travel literature may be cross-cultural or transnational in focus, or...
by Allen Abel driving from Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
to Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
two days after the fall of the Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
regime in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
.
The Journal was based on CBC Winnipeg's
CBWT
CBWT is the CBC's television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is the only CBC station in Manitoba, since Brandon's CKX-TV closed on October 2, 2009....
successful suppertime program, 24Hours
24Hours
24Hours is a one-hour news and current affairs program that was broadcast by CBWT, the CBC television station in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.-History:...
. It also bore many similarities in its format to the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
program Nightline which premiered three years earlier, in 1979.
Cancellation
Frum was so closely identified with the program that following her death in 1992, the CBC chose to revamp its entire approach to news programming rather than replacing Frum. In the fall of 1992, Prime Time NewsPrime 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...
debuted with Peter Mansbridge
Peter Mansbridge
Peter Mansbridge, OC , a Canadian broadcaster and news anchor, is the CBC News Chief Correspondent and anchor of The National, CBC Television's flagship nightly newscast. Mansbridge has received many awards and accolades for his journalistic work including an honorary doctorate from Mount Allison...
and Pamela Wallin
Pamela Wallin
Pamela Wallin, OC, SOM is a former Canadian television journalist and diplomat. On January 2, 2009, she was seated in the Canadian Senate, where she sits as a Conservative.-Early life and career:...
as equal cohosts of a package that mixed news and Journal-type features into a single program. That format lasted only two years before reverting to the old National/Journal format, although the name Prime Time News persisted for another year. When the news program returned to the name The National in 1995, the current affairs program became The National Magazine. This subsequently was renamed The Magazine. It was again reintegrated into the first half news program, as The National, in 2001.
Parodies
On Canadian Sesame Street, the news program was parodied as The Notebook, hosted by a muppet named Barbara Plum. Comedian Greg MaloneGreg 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....
also frequently parodied Frum on the sketch comedy series 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....
.