Eight Individuals to Receive 2013 Lifetime Achievement Awards

TORONTO, March 6, 2013 /CNW/ - RTDNA Canada - The Association of Electronic Journalists is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2013 RTDNA Lifetime Achievement Awards in each of our four regions.

"It is a great pleasure to honour industry leaders who have contributed significantly to our profession of electronic journalism," says RTDNA Canada President Ian Koenigsfest. "The recipients of this most prestigious award are broadcasters recognized by our colleagues for continued excellence, passion and commitment to our craft. They are all role models to us and will inspire generations of journalists who follow."

The Lifetime Achievement Award was created in 2002 to recognize individuals who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service and continued excellence during the course of their career in broadcast journalism.

Here are the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award recipients from the four regions of Canada:

BC REGION

Radio - Bill Good

Bill Good has been a trusted voice and face on radio and TV in British Columbia for more than 47 years. From hosting Hockey Night in Canada, the 1972 Summit Series, through to the 2010 Winter Olympics, Bill is truly a giant in this region's media landscape. Now in his 25^th year as host of The Bill Good Show on CKNW, Bill provides his listeners with a firm and balanced approach to a vast array of issues. His show is currently ranked number one for Adults 18+. He has interviewed every Canadian Prime Minister since Pierre Trudeau, as well as an amazing "Who's Who" of Canadian business leaders. Bill has been recognized by many organizations for his media and voluntary work.

Television - Ian Haysom

Ian Haysom is News Director of Global British Columbia and Regional Director of Global News.  He is a lifelong journalist who trained as a newspaper reporter in England, and worked in Fleet Street before coming to Canada. Ian quips he's done every job in newspapers...from delivering them to editing them. He has been a reporter, editor, film critic, columnist and feature writer.  Ian has worked on a number of newspapers in Canada, including the Ottawa Journal and Citizen, and was national correspondent for Southam News. He was editor-in-chief of The Vancouver Province andThe Vancouver Sun, before moving to television news 15 years ago. Ian has been News Director at CHEK-TV and for the past decade has been at the helm of Global BC. He continues to write a weekly column for the Victoria Times-Colonist.

PRAIRIE REGION

Radio - Ed Mason

Ed Mason was on the air when John F. Kennedy was shot. That was 50 years ago and today he is still breaking news on Corus Radio in Edmonton. Ed, nicknamed Uncle Eddie or Uncle Ed, began his radio career in 1963 with CFAR in Flin Flon, Manitoba. Over a dozen years, he worked at radio stations across the country including CHUM Toronto. In 1975, Ed moved to Edmonton to anchor the morning news and serve as News Director at CHQT. His ability to write and tell a story that draws in listeners, whether it's to tug at their heartstrings or tickle their funny bone, is brilliant.  Young announcers hold him in awe, but soon find that Ed is very approachable and will teach them how to generate and retain sources. These young broadcasters will be part of the legacy Ed will leave when he finally hangs up his microphone.

Television - Bob Maloney

Former broadcaster Bob Maloney spent almost 36 years in broadcasting in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, starting with CKOS TV/CICC TV in March 1977 as a reporter and camera person. As at any small station, his responsibilities extended well beyond the job he was hired to do. Over the years, Bob was a news anchor, News Director, a master of the commercial voice-over and an active ambassador on behalf of the television station. Later in his career, Maloney became Station Manager. Bob retired from broadcasting in the fall of 2012 after being elected Mayor of Yorkton. For nine years previous, he had served his community as a city councilor. Bob is remembered for many things, not least of which is the foundation he offered to countless young broadcasters starting their careers. Bob also understood early the importance of "local reflection" in news and other programming - long before it became a rallying cry to save local TV.

CENTRAL REGION

Radio - Don Cameron

Don started his broadcast career in 1956 at CJRW in Summerside, P.E.I. calling games for the Summerside Aces. From there, in quick steps, he moved to St. Catharines, Ontario and then Kitchener-Waterloo where he was Sports Director at CKCR and later CKKW. During his career, Don covered the K-W Dutchmen at the 1960 Squaw Valley Winter Olympics, but he may be best known as the voice of the Kitchener Rangers for whom he still broadcasts. People in Kitchener have a nickname for him - "The Legend" - and he lives up to that. Don is a consummate professional and, according to colleagues, one of the most humble men they have ever known.  Aside from broadcasting, he is involved with his church and affiliated service clubs. Among other activities, he is the organizing spirit behind "Potato Night," in which, for the last 16 years, K-W residents have brought in donations of potatoes and cash which are matched by a local supermarket. His commitment to his work and his community are exemplary.

Television - Bob McIntyre

Bob McIntyre began his long career in broadcast journalism in radio newsrooms at stations in Brockville, Hamilton and Toronto. In 1972, he came to CKVR (CTV Barrie) first as news anchor, then News Director, then Manager of News and Public Affairs. Since 1983, he has been the station's much-loved weather specialist. For more than 10 years, Bob has been battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma. His endless optimism about his condition has made him a very public source of inspiration for many others dealing with cancer. Bob is also a private pilot and was named an Honorary Colonel of the Air Command Academy at CFB Borden in 2010.

ATLANTIC REGION

Radio - Bob MacEachern

Bob MacEachern joined CIGO Radio in Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia as a part-timer in 1979 while still in high school, and has been there ever since. Today, he is the President/General Manager and owner of 101.5 The Hawk along with his wife, Brenda. Bob has done it all, from overnight DJ, to Music/Program Director and News Director, a position he held for almost 20 years. He has covered news events, anchored live event coverage and continues to deliver newscasts on a daily basis. Bob sees the station as part of the infrastructure of the community and connects with listeners through creativity, innovation and respect for tradition. When he's not at the station, Bob is active in a number of community and volunteer organizations.

Television - Bill Jessome

Bill Jessome is one of the founding figures of Maritime television. Born in Sydney, Nova Scotia, he was perhaps the best-known local television news anchor in the history of Cape Breton. Bill is also known throughout Atlantic Canada for his anchoring and reporting on many news stories, and especially for his exhaustive research and masterful storytelling about Maritime Mysteries. This veteran reporter is also the author of several books on the ghostly tales and supernatural Maritime history. Now retired, Bill has contributed greatly to broadcast journalism over several decades, and he has inspired many other young reporters.

Lifetime Achievement Award recipients will be honoured in their region at the following conferences:

BC Region, Burnaby - Executive Hotel & Suites - April 6, 2013

Prairie Region, Winnipeg - Red River College - April 6, 2013

Atlantic Region, Halifax - Nova Scotia Community College - April 13, 2013

National Conference, Toronto, Metropolitan Hotel -- June 13-15, 2013

RTDNA Canada is the voice of electronic journalists and news managers in Canada. The members of RTDNA Canada recognize the responsibility of electronic journalists to promote and to protect the freedom to report independently about matters of public interest and to present a wide range of expressions, opinions and ideas. The RTDNA Canada Code of Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in the profession.

SOURCE: RTDNA Canada