Barbara Frum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara Frum
OC |
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|---|---|
 |
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| Born |
Barbara Rosberg
September 8, 1937 Niagara Falls, New York, U.S.
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| Died | March 26, 1992 (aged 54) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Spouse(s) |
Murray Frum
(m. 1957) |
| Children |
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| Career | |
| Show | As It Happens |
| Network | CBC Radio |
| Show | The Journal |
| Network | CBC Television |
| Country | Canada |
Barbara Frum (September 8, 1937 – March 26, 1992) was a famous Canadian journalist. She was born in the United States but became well-known in Canada. She was especially praised for her interviews on CBC Radio and CBC Television. She was also made an Officer of the Order of Canada, which is a high honour for Canadians.
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About Barbara Frum's Life
Barbara Frum was born Barbara Rosberg in Niagara Falls, New York. She was the oldest of three children. Her family was Jewish. Her father's family came to Canada from Poland in 1913. Her mother was born in New York City and moved to Canada in 1935.
Barbara grew up in Niagara Falls, Ontario. She went to Stamford Collegiate high school. Later, she studied history at the University of Toronto and graduated in 1959.
In 1957, she married Murray Frum, a dentist who later became a real estate developer. They had two children, Linda and David. They also adopted a third child, Matthew, who was an Indigenous child. Her daughter, Linda Frum, became a Canadian senator. Her son, David Frum, became a political journalist. He even worked as a speechwriter for U.S. President George W. Bush.
Barbara Frum's Career in Journalism
After university, Barbara Frum volunteered in her community. She also started writing for the Toronto Star newspaper. She wrote about social issues.
In 1971, she joined CBC Radio. She became one of the first hosts of As It Happens. This was a news show that used the telephone to interview people live. She talked to newsmakers and people who saw important events. She also covered interesting human-interest stories.
Barbara was known for being a tough, smart, and well-informed interviewer. Her skills quickly made As It Happens a very popular show. It is still on the air today. She hosted the show until 1981.
From 1974 to 1975, she had her own talk show on CBC. It started in Toronto and then moved to the national network. Her show featured interviews with famous people. It also had special segments on different topics.
In 1981, CBC Television created a new show called The Journal. This news show would air after The National every night. Barbara Frum was chosen as one of the hosts.
The Journal started on January 11, 1982. It was a place for deeper stories about the day's news. It included reports, short documentaries, and discussions. It also covered business, sports, arts, and science news. Barbara's interviews were the main part of the show. They made it one of Canada's most popular TV programs.
After the first year, Barbara became the only host of The Journal. She interviewed many important people. These included British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Nelson Mandela.
She was also often made fun of in a funny way on the TV show CODCO. An actor named Greg Malone played her. Barbara even presented an award with Greg Malone (dressed as her!).
Barbara Frum also inspired a muppet character. This character was "Barbara Plum," the host of "The Notebook" on Canadian Sesame Street. She even voiced a reporter named "Barbara LaFrum" in an episode of the cartoon The Raccoons.
Awards and Special Honours
Barbara Frum won four awards from the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA). In 1975, she won the National Press Club of Canada Award. This was for her great work in Canadian journalism.
In 1979, she was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. This is one of the highest honours a Canadian can receive. A library in Toronto, called the Barbara Frum Public Library, is named after her. In 2022, she was added to the Canada Walk of Fame. She was recognized as a very important woman in Canadian broadcasting.
Her Passing and Lasting Impact
Barbara Frum passed away on March 26, 1992. She had a long-term illness called chronic leukemia. She had been diagnosed in 1974, but only a few close people knew about it.
On the night she passed away, almost the entire broadcasts of The National and The Journal were dedicated to her. They showed tributes and looked back at her amazing career. Many newspaper cartoons showed her at the gates of Heaven, ready to interview God. Other cartoons simply showed The Journal set with an empty anchor chair.
After Barbara's death, The National and The Journal were combined into a new show called Prime Time News.
The main hall in the CBC building in Toronto is named the "Barbara Frum Atrium" in her honour. This building opened in 1993.
The Toronto Public Library branch at 20 Covington Rd was also named after her. Her husband, Murray Frum, helped donate the building. Barbara Frum was also featured on a Canadian stamp in 1999. A TV show about her life, The Life and Times of Barbara Frum, aired on CBC in 2002. There is even a type of flower, a day lily, named the "Barbara Frum Day Lily" because she loved gardening.
Barbara's daughter, Linda Frum, wrote a popular book about her mother in 1996. Linda later became a senator in Canada. Her son, David Frum, is also a political journalist and author. Her adopted son Matthew later reconnected with his birth family and learned more about his Indigenous heritage.
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Barbara Frum
