Joan Donaldson
Encyclopedia
Joan Marsha Donaldson was a Canadian journalist, and was the founding head of CBC Newsworld
. She came to Newsworld from CBC
's main network.
Born in Toronto
, Donaldson first joined the CBC in 1967 as an editor with National Radio News. During her time with CBC Radio, she served as Senior Editor of The World at Six
, Sunday Morning Magazine and various news specials. She reported from Viet Nam during the war, and later produced Michael Maclear
's Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War
, a series of documentary films on the conflict. In 1971, Donaldson went to CBC Winnipeg as the producer of the popular early evening news show 24 Hours.
Two years later, she returned to the network in Toronto as a producer on Newsmagazine and news specials.
After a five-year stint as a field producer on CTV
's W5
, Donaldson joined Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in 1975 as an instructor in Broadcast Journalism, in addition to teaching at the University of Western Ontario
in the Journalism Program for Native People.
Donaldson returned to the CBC in 1985 as Co-ordinator of Regional Programming, TV News and Current Affairs.
Donaldson was appointed head of CBC Newsworld during its inception stages in 1987 and oversaw the launch of the new specialty service in 1989.
In October 1990, Donaldson was hit by a bicyclist in Montreal
. She suffered brain damage and was in a coma for two years; left a quadriplegic, she was unable to continue her career.
She was 60 years old when she died from complications of her injuries, in Victoria, British Columbia
.
During the 1980s, she was married to Arthur Gelgoot, an accountant. The couple divorced. Gelgoot died in 2004.
The Donaldson Scholarship
is dedicated to her invaluable contributions to Canadian journalism.
CBC Newsworld
CBC News Network is a Canadian English language Category C specialty news channel owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . It broadcasts into over 10 million homes in Canada. It is the world's third-oldest television service of this nature, after CNN in the United States and...
. She came to Newsworld from CBC
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...
's main network.
Born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Donaldson first joined the CBC in 1967 as an editor with National Radio News. During her time with CBC Radio, she served as Senior Editor of The World at Six
The World at Six
The World at Six is the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's national dinner-hour radio newscast, airing Monday to Friday from 6 to 6:30 p.m. local time on CBC Radio One....
, Sunday Morning Magazine and various news specials. She reported from Viet Nam during the war, and later produced Michael Maclear
Michael Maclear
Michael Maclear is an award-winning Canadian journalist, documentary filmmaker,and former correspondent for various CBC programs and for CTV's W5.He is the great-great-grand-nephew of South African astronomer Sir Thomas Maclear....
's Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War
Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War
Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War, a 26-part Canadian television documentary on the Vietnam War, was produced in 1980 by Michael Maclear. The series aired in Canada on CBC Television, in the United States and in the United Kingdom on Channel 4....
, a series of documentary films on the conflict. In 1971, Donaldson went to CBC Winnipeg as the producer of the popular early evening news show 24 Hours.
Two years later, she returned to the network in Toronto as a producer on Newsmagazine and news specials.
After a five-year stint as a field producer on CTV
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...
's W5
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...
, Donaldson joined Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in 1975 as an instructor in Broadcast Journalism, in addition to teaching at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
in the Journalism Program for Native People.
Donaldson returned to the CBC in 1985 as Co-ordinator of Regional Programming, TV News and Current Affairs.
Donaldson was appointed head of CBC Newsworld during its inception stages in 1987 and oversaw the launch of the new specialty service in 1989.
In October 1990, Donaldson was hit by a bicyclist in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. She suffered brain damage and was in a coma for two years; left a quadriplegic, she was unable to continue her career.
She was 60 years old when she died from complications of her injuries, in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
.
During the 1980s, she was married to Arthur Gelgoot, an accountant. The couple divorced. Gelgoot died in 2004.
The Donaldson Scholarship
Donaldson Scholarship
The Joan Donaldson Newsworld Scholarship is awarded annually by CBC Newsworld to aspiring journalists in honour of Newsworld's former head, Joan Donaldson. As many as eight recipients are chosen from journalism programs from across Canada. It is considered as one of the highest awards in Canadian...
is dedicated to her invaluable contributions to Canadian journalism.