Lynne Russell
Encyclopedia
Lynne Russell was a radio host on the Toronto AM radio station 1010 AM CFRB News Radio
, part of the Astral Media
She is best known for anchoring prime time newscasts on CNN Headline News
from 1983 to 2001, which made her the first woman to anchor a nationally-televised prime time news program. She has also served as a substitute news reader
on then-CBC Newsworld from May 2006 until early 2008. She primarily anchored the one-minute newscasts called "CBC News: Now" at the top of every hour throughout the primetime schedule of then-CBC Newsworld.
, but dropped out and started working at a Colorado
radio station, first as a receptionist, later as a DJ and talk radio
host.
She was a field anchor for WTLV
in Jacksonville, Florida. Afterward she became a co-anchor at WTLV, working at KHON in Honolulu, Hawaii
and KENS in San Antonio before moving to CNN.
Russell and her then-husband, Thomas Beck, moved to Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
in July 2005. Beck, a German citizen, is the current president and CEO of the Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce. They separated in 2010. In May 2006, Russell became a news reader
for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
's CBC Newsworld
all-news cable channel. She has said previously that her goal was to ease herself into the role of news reader
part-time and, as a result, can be seen during the late afternoon and evening hours of Fridays anchoring CBC Newsworld
's one-minute headline-style newscast (CBC News: Now) at the top of every hour, between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. EST. During the summer months, she also fills in as news anchor of various news programs, including the Newsworld's flagship CBC News: Today
.
Russell presented on CFRB-1010 AM radio in Toronto for her new Saturday afternoon show from 2008 to 2010. In 2008 she hosted the 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. time slot.
CFRB (AM)
CFRB, Newstalk 1010, is an AM radio clear-channel station in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, broadcasting on 1010 kHz, with a shortwave radio simulcast by CFRX-SW on 6.070 MHz. The station broadcasts a mix of talk and news throughout the day from its transmitter located in the community of...
, part of the Astral Media
Astral Media
Astral Media Inc. is a Canadian media corporation. It is Canada's largest radio broadcaster with 83 radio stations in eight provinces, and is a major player in premium and specialty television in Canada, including The Movie Network, Super Écran, Family, Teletoon, Canal D, Canal Vie, VRAK.TV,...
She is best known for anchoring prime time newscasts on CNN Headline News
CNN Headline News
HLN, formerly known as CNN Headline News and CNN2, is a cable television news channel based in the United States and a spinoff of the cable news television channel, CNN. Initially airing tightly-formatted 30-minute newscasts around the clock, since 2005, the channel has increasingly aired long-form...
from 1983 to 2001, which made her the first woman to anchor a nationally-televised prime time news program. She has also served as a substitute news reader
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
on then-CBC Newsworld from May 2006 until early 2008. She primarily anchored the one-minute newscasts called "CBC News: Now" at the top of every hour throughout the primetime schedule of then-CBC Newsworld.
Early years
In college, Russell studied nursingNursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
, but dropped out and started working at a Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
radio station, first as a receptionist, later as a DJ and talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host.
She was a field anchor for WTLV
WTLV
WTLV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Jacksonville, Florida. The station broadcasts a digital signal on VHF channel 13. The station is owned by Gannett as part of a duopoly with the area's ABC affiliate, WJXX. The two stations share studios located on East Adams Street in downtown near...
in Jacksonville, Florida. Afterward she became a co-anchor at WTLV, working at KHON in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
and KENS in San Antonio before moving to CNN.
CNN Headline News (Now HLN)
Russell, as popular evening anchor of CNN Headline News, was the first woman to become the regular, solo anchor of a daily evening prime time newscast on a television network.Post-CNN
After CNN, Russell wrote her autobiography, How to Win Friends, Kick Ass, and Influence People (1999), and is a licensed private detective and sheriff's deputy. She has 2nd degree black belt in the martial art of Choi Kwang- do. She also made hand-crafted lampshades and sold them from her Web site, but she stopped the business at least temporarily since moving to Canada in 2005.Russell and her then-husband, Thomas Beck, moved to 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...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in July 2005. Beck, a German citizen, is the current president and CEO of the Canadian German Chamber of Industry and Commerce. They separated in 2010. In May 2006, Russell became a news reader
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
for 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...
's CBC Newsworld
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...
all-news cable channel. She has said previously that her goal was to ease herself into the role of news reader
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
part-time and, as a result, can be seen during the late afternoon and evening hours of Fridays anchoring CBC Newsworld
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...
's one-minute headline-style newscast (CBC News: Now) at the top of every hour, between 6 p.m. and 12 a.m. EST. During the summer months, she also fills in as news anchor of various news programs, including the Newsworld's flagship CBC News: Today
CBC News: Today
CBC News Now is the daytime news program of CBC News Network. The show broadcasts from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. It is also simultaneously broadcast on CBC Television from 12 to 1 p.m...
.
Russell presented on CFRB-1010 AM radio in Toronto for her new Saturday afternoon show from 2008 to 2010. In 2008 she hosted the 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. time slot.