Jack Webster
Encyclopedia
John Edgar "Jack" Webster, CM
(April 15, 1918 – March 2, 1999) was a Scottish
-born Canadian
journalist, radio and television personality.
, the son of a Clydeside ironturner. He worked in Glasgow and on Fleet Street
. When World War II
broke out, Webster joined the British Army
and rose to the rank of Major
, with most of his six years' service in the Middle East
.
format (which had its origins in British Columbia
before spreading to the US
). Webster made his mark broadcasting shorthand transcripts of testimony during a probe into corruption on Vancouver's police force
. His City Mike show on CJOR achieved some fame covering it.
In 1963, prisoners at the BC Penitentiary were foiled in an escape attempt and took hostages. At the prisoners' request, Webster acted as a mediator between hostage-holding prisoners and the authorities and helped resolve the stand-off.
In 1979, at the age of 60, Webster moved his radio show to television where his familiar expression '9 am precisely' became the moniker for his show. An hour-long TV interview program which preceded the nightly news hour on BCTV
and frequently dealt with British Columbia politics.
In 1990, Webster joined the long-running CBC
TV program Front Page Challenge
as its permanent fourth panelist until the show's cancellation in 1995.
.
The awards have grown from a single "Reporter of the Year" in 1987 to thirteen awards today for: best news, best feature and best community news reporting (print, radio and TV awards in each of the three categories) as well as recognition for excellence in the categories of business reporting, science reporting, commentary, legal journalism, Chinese-language news, and the Bruce Hutchison
Lifetime Achievement Award. The Foundation also awards fellowships and six annual student reporting awards.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(April 15, 1918 – March 2, 1999) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
-born Canadian
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...
journalist, radio and television personality.
Life in the United Kingdom
Webster was born in GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, the son of a Clydeside ironturner. He worked in Glasgow and on Fleet Street
Fleet Street
Fleet Street is a street in central London, United Kingdom, named after the River Fleet, a stream that now flows underground. It was the home of the British press until the 1980s...
. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, Webster joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and rose to the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
, with most of his six years' service in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Career in Canada
After the war's end, Webster immigrated to Canada. He covered the labor beat for the Vancouver Sun newspaper. In 1953, he began to work on commercial radio in the talk radioTalk 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...
format (which had its origins in British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
before spreading to the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). Webster made his mark broadcasting shorthand transcripts of testimony during a probe into corruption on Vancouver's police force
Vancouver Police Department
The Vancouver Police Department is the police force for the City of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several police departments within the Metro Vancouver Area and is the second largest police force in the province after RCMP "E" Division.VPD was the first Canadian police force...
. His City Mike show on CJOR achieved some fame covering it.
In 1963, prisoners at the BC Penitentiary were foiled in an escape attempt and took hostages. At the prisoners' request, Webster acted as a mediator between hostage-holding prisoners and the authorities and helped resolve the stand-off.
In 1979, at the age of 60, Webster moved his radio show to television where his familiar expression '9 am precisely' became the moniker for his show. An hour-long TV interview program which preceded the nightly news hour on BCTV
CHAN-TV
CHAN-DT is a television station in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, broadcasting over-the-air on digital channel 22, and available via cable providers in the area on channel 11. Owned by Shaw Communications as a part of its Shaw Media division, it is the West Coast flagship station of the...
and frequently dealt with British Columbia politics.
In 1990, Webster joined the long-running CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
TV program Front Page Challenge
Front Page Challenge
Front Page Challenge was a long-running Canadian panel game about current events and history. Created by comedy writer/performer John Aylesworth and produced and aired by CBC Television, the series ran from 1957 to 1995.-Synopsis:The series featured notable journalists attempting to guess the...
as its permanent fourth panelist until the show's cancellation in 1995.
Recognition
In 1987, he was inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame. In 1988, he was made a Member of the Order of CanadaOrder of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
Jack Webster Foundation
In 1986, more than 1,000 people attended a salute to Webster upon his retirement. This event resulted in the creation of the Jack Webster Foundation to promote and honour excellence in journalism in British Columbia. Each year, journalists judged to have outstanding work receive a Jack Webster Award (known as a "Webster") - a glass statue and a cash prize that has become the hallmark of journalistic excellence in British Columbia.The awards have grown from a single "Reporter of the Year" in 1987 to thirteen awards today for: best news, best feature and best community news reporting (print, radio and TV awards in each of the three categories) as well as recognition for excellence in the categories of business reporting, science reporting, commentary, legal journalism, Chinese-language news, and the Bruce Hutchison
Bruce Hutchison
William Bruce Hutchison, was a Canadian author and journalist.Born in Prescott, Ontario, Hutchison was educated in public schools in Victoria, British Columbia. He married Dorothy Kidd McDiarmid in 1925, around the same time that he began his journalism career as a political reporter in Ottawa...
Lifetime Achievement Award. The Foundation also awards fellowships and six annual student reporting awards.