Revealing interviews include: her mother,
who unmasks her spirited daughter; Murray, her husband of
35 years, who speaks of their storybook romance and her unfailing
commitment to their family; her three children, David, Linda
and Matthew; her brother and sister; CBC producer Mark Starowicz;
CBC host Mary Lou Finlay and writers Robert Fulford and June
Callwood, among others.
The most poignant part of this documentary reveals Frum's
courage in dealing with her chronic leukemia. First diagnosed
in 1974, only a small circle of friends knew she had it. Frum
and her family fought hard to keep it that way. She often
worked a grueling 12 to 14 hour day, seemingly undaunted by
the cancer. It was her beautiful flower garden that gave her
solace and sanctuary against the illness that gnawed at her.
From her CBC Radio days as a national presence on As It Happens
from 1971 to 1982, to her highly successful 10 years at the
helm of CBC-TV's flagship show The Journal, Frum had a huge
following. She spent 18 impassioned, hectic, pioneering years
in Canadian broadcasting. On any given weeknight, 1.3 million
Canadians tuned in to watch The Journal, where Frum hosted
approximately 2,600 shows. From the great to the ordinary,
she maintained the same standard of integrity, honesty and
toughness of mind. Her thousands of interviews included people
from every walk of life - presidents, prime ministers, world
leaders.the unemployed fisherman. Each and every interview
was different and revealing.
Original Air Date - September 17, 2002
Links
Barbara
Frum: Pioneering Broadcaster (from CBC Archives)
Barbara
Frum Photo Gallery and Soundbites from
CBC Radio's Ideas
Biography
from the Museum of Broadcast Communications
Barbara
Frum Classic Clips from As it Happens
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