2008 RTNDA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award Winners

TORONTO, March 25 /CNW/ - RTNDA Canada - The Association of Electronic
Journalists is pleased to announce that seven individuals will be honoured
with the 2008 RTNDA Lifetime Achievement Awards. The awards will be presented
at the RTNDA Regional Pro Dev Seminars in Kamloops, BC on April 26, 2008,
Calgary, AB on May 10, 2008, Fredericton, NB on May 31, 2008 and at the
Central Awards Banquet on June 19th during the RTNDA National Conference in
Ottawa, June 19 to 21.

The 2008 RTNDA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are:

Doug Collins celebrates 42 years in broadcast news this year. He entered
the business right out of high school, taking a summer job with CBC Radio in
Prince Rupert. In the early 70's, he made the move to Kamloops where he began
his long relationship with the city's heritage station CFJC TV/JC-55/CIFM. At
CFJC Doug learned the craft of reporting for radio AND television, doing
double duty, covering stories for both media at once. But he always preferred
radio and carved out a niche for himself as the news director/news
anchor/morning desker. Doug also produced his "One Man's Opinion" editorials
for both radio and television. In his long career Doug has hosted live radio
talk shows and special coverage for municipal, provincial, and federal
elections -- often single-handedly juggling in-studio guests, reporters in the
field and callers, all while keeping one eye on the wires and the other on a
television set.

Vicki Gabereau is a three time ACTRA Award Winner for best radio
host-interviewer and Canada's undisputed Queen of Talk. Vicki began her radio
career in 1975 in Brampton, Ontario. After running for mayor of Toronto in
1976, her radio career really took off. She worked as summer host on CBC
Radio's "Morningside" and as co-host on CBC Edmonton's morning radio show.
Eventually, after much canvassing and tenacity on her part, she was named host
of CBC's "Variety Tonight" in October of 1981, starting in Toronto and then
moving to Vancouver. In 1985, "Variety Tonight's" format was changed and the
hour-long evening interview program - "Gabereau" - was born. September 22,
1997 marked the premiere of "Gabereau Live"; where the wit and vibrancy that
is unquestionably Vicki Gabereau rolled out live traveling east to the rest of
the country from CTV's Vancouver Television (VTV) studios.

Vern Koop has been with QR77 (CHQR) since 1975 after getting his feet wet
in small town Alberta radio. He has been reading the morning news on QR77
since he started with the station. That means for many Calgarians, he has been
the voice they wake up to for 32 years! Vern is very active in his church and
volunteers for a variety of activities and boards including QR77's Pledge Day,
an annual radiothon benefiting the Calgary Children's Foundation.

Mike McCourt has been in the broadcast industry for more than 40 years as
a reporter, anchor and commentator. He has seen and done more than most
journalists would ever dream of. Mike was the first Canadian television
journalist in Communist China, interviewed PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, has had
cocktails with the Queen of England, Prince of Wales and Princess Diana. He
interviewed every Prime Minister from Diefenbaker to Mulroney. Mike is
currently reporting for Citytv Calgary.

Tom Young is a "newsman's newsman" - a leading talk show host and
journalist in New Brunswick for more than three decades. Tom has been involved
in radio since his Canadian Army days of 1962. He started in commercial radio
in Leamington, ON in 1963. Each weekday on "The Afternoon News with Tom Young"
on Rogers News-Talk stations in Saint John, Halifax and Moncton, Tom navigates
listeners through the real issues and concerns facing Maritimers today.

Dan McLean began his career with CHCH-TV in 1972 and has been the
station's main anchor for 25 years. He is the face and voice of news in
Hamilton, Halton and Niagara. Dan's commitment to the community goes far
beyond his television role. In addition to his newsroom responsibilities, he
is a model for community involvement. Over the years, Dan has hosted hundreds
of local charity events and fundraising galas...including events featuring
Bill Clinton and George Bush, New York Governor Mario Como, British Prime
Minister Margaret Thatcher and Prince Charles.

Gord Harris has been in the broadcast news industry for over 30 years, 29
of those as a morning news anchor. He taught journalism for over 25 years at
Fanshawe College and the University of Western Ontario. Gord also operated a
private radio news and voice consulting business. His list of awards includes
many RTNDA Sam Ross Awards for Best Radio Commentary. Gord is currently
Program Director at AM640 (CFMJ) Toronto.

"On behalf of RTNDA Canada, let me congratulate these exceptional
broadcasters," said Bob McLaughlin, President of RTNDA Canada. "The RTNDA
Lifetime Achievement Award is one of the highest honours bestowed in our
industry and these recipients are very deserving of this award."
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.

RTNDA Canada is the voice of electronic journalists and news managers in
Canada. The members of RTNDA Canada recognize the responsibility of broadcast
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 RTNDA Canada Code of Ethics adopted by the Canadian
Broadcast Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in our
profession.