Lorne Saxberg
Encyclopedia
Lorne Saxberg was a Canadian television journalist and one of many on-air anchors on CBC Newsworld
.
Saxberg was born in Thunder Bay
, Ontario and joined the CBC's radio arm. As host of Ontario Morning
in the late 1980s, he was known for his keen mind, calm demeanour, and melodious voice. "He had a full, rich voice not often heard in modern radio," said Canadian freelance broadcaster James Careless, who worked with Saxberg at Ontario Morning. "He was truly a class act both on and off the air."
Saxberg left Ontario Morning to become one of the original CBC Newsworld TV anchors from the latter's start in 1989. Saxberg served with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
for 27 years and was popular with news audiences. He was also an active volunteer with the Canadian Media Guild.
Saxberg received an Edward R. Murrow Award award for his work on the coverage of the 60th anniversary of the bomb at Hiroshima
. Saxberg took a leave of absence from CBC Newsworld to work at Japan's NHK
public broadcaster as a trainer and announcer from 2004. He died in a snorkeling accident in Phuket
, Thailand, where he was on vacation. He was 47 years old.
Ken Becker, a Newsworld producer who worked with Saxberg, said: "He was the consummate pro and an exceptional journalist...When he was in the anchor chair, you knew you could throw Lorne any story – from the outbreak of war to the birth of a panda at the zoo – and he'd deliver it to the viewer with exactly the right tone."
"He brought to every story a vast knowledge on nearly every subject, a reporter's curiosity and an appreciation of fine writing," Becker said. Once, following a report on the Russia
n precursor of Naked News
, Saxberg began to remove his tie as he ended the newscast.
in 1987. When home, Saxberg often worked in the store and as the summer resort town's harbourmaster
.
In Toronto, however, Saxberg – who was openly gay – was known for being playfully flamboyant with his wardrobe, often wearing a snakeskin
jacket and leather pants when socializing with friends at bars in the Church and Wellesley
area.
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...
.
Saxberg was born in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario and joined the CBC's radio arm. As host of Ontario Morning
Ontario Morning
Ontario Morning is a Canadian radio program, which airs on most CBC Radio One transmitters in Southern Ontario except for the originating stations in Toronto, Ottawa and Windsor....
in the late 1980s, he was known for his keen mind, calm demeanour, and melodious voice. "He had a full, rich voice not often heard in modern radio," said Canadian freelance broadcaster James Careless, who worked with Saxberg at Ontario Morning. "He was truly a class act both on and off the air."
Saxberg left Ontario Morning to become one of the original CBC Newsworld TV anchors from the latter's start in 1989. Saxberg served with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
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...
for 27 years and was popular with news audiences. He was also an active volunteer with the Canadian Media Guild.
Saxberg received an Edward R. Murrow Award award for his work on the coverage of the 60th anniversary of the bomb at Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
. Saxberg took a leave of absence from CBC Newsworld to work at Japan's NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
public broadcaster as a trainer and announcer from 2004. He died in a snorkeling accident in Phuket
Phuket Province
Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
, Thailand, where he was on vacation. He was 47 years old.
Ken Becker, a Newsworld producer who worked with Saxberg, said: "He was the consummate pro and an exceptional journalist...When he was in the anchor chair, you knew you could throw Lorne any story – from the outbreak of war to the birth of a panda at the zoo – and he'd deliver it to the viewer with exactly the right tone."
"He brought to every story a vast knowledge on nearly every subject, a reporter's curiosity and an appreciation of fine writing," Becker said. Once, following a report on the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n precursor of Naked News
Naked News
Naked News, billing itself as "the program with nothing to hide", is a subscription website featuring a real television newscast. The show is prepared in Toronto and runs daily, with 25-minute episodes 6 days per week. The female anchors read the news fully nude or strip as they present their news...
, Saxberg began to remove his tie as he ended the newscast.
Personal life
Saxberg often returned home to visit his family, who bought a general store in the small town of Silver IsletSilver Islet, Ontario
Silver Islet refers to both a small rocky island and a small town site located at the tip of the Sibley Peninsula in northwestern Ontario. It was the first silver mine in Ontario....
in 1987. When home, Saxberg often worked in the store and as the summer resort town's harbourmaster
Harbourmaster
A harbourmaster is an official responsible for enforcing the regulations of a particular harbour or port, in order to ensure the safety of navigation, the security of the harbour and the correct operation of the port facilities.-Responsibilities:Harbourmasters are normally responsible for issuing...
.
In Toronto, however, Saxberg – who was openly gay – was known for being playfully flamboyant with his wardrobe, often wearing a snakeskin
Snakeskin
Snakeskin may refer to:*Snakeskin, a material that is made from the skin of a snake*Snakeskin , a song by Australian band Gyroscope*Snakeskin , a New Zealand film*Snakeskin , a side project of Tilo Wolff from Lacrimosa*Snakeskin Glacier...
jacket and leather pants when socializing with friends at bars in the Church and Wellesley
Church and Wellesley
Church and Wellesley is an LGBT-oriented community located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is roughly bounded by Gerrard Street to the south, Yonge Street to the west, Charles Street to the north, and Jarvis Street to the east, with the core commercial strip located along Church Street from...
area.
External links
- Accident kills CBC broadcaster Lorne Saxberg
- CBC News Anchor dies Brooks Bulletin
- Church Street anchor sadly missed, fabFab (magazine)fab is a Canadian magazine which targets the gay community. The magazine publishes biweekly issues in Toronto, Ontario. It publishes alternate weeks to the city's other biweekly gay publication, Xtra!...
- News anchor dead at 48, Canada.comCanWest News ServicePostmedia News is a national news agency with correspondents in Canada, Europe, and the United States and is part of the Canadian newspaper chain owned by Postmedia Network Inc.-History:...
- Saxberg body sent to Bangkok for autopsy, Phuket Gazette, May 10, 2006
- Broadcaster's spirit lives, Toronto StarToronto StarThe Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, August 21, 2006 - Memorial page to Saxberg