Lorne Saxberg

Infobox Person


caption =
birth_date = August 6,1958
birth_place = Thunder Bay, Ontario
death_date = death_date_and_age|2006|5|6|1958|8|6
death_place = Phuket, Thailand
other_names =
known_for =
occupation = journalist, broadcast news anchor
nationality = Canadian
spouse =

Lorne Saxberg (August 6, 1958 – May 6, 2006) 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."Fact|date=February 2007

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. He died in a snorkeling accident in Phuket, Thailand, where he was on vacation. He was 47 years old. [http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/07/saxberg-obit.html Accident kills CBC broadcaster Lorne Saxberg ] ]

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.

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. [ [http://ca.news.yahoo.com/cbc/s/07052006/3/canada-cbc-broadcaster-lorne-saxberg-dies.html] Dead link|date=August 2008] Once, following a report on the Russian precursor of "Naked News", Saxberg began to remove his tie as he ended the newscast. [ [http://www.fabmagazine.com/features/294/sadly_missed.html fab Magazine: Feature ] ]

Personal life

Saxberg often returned home to visit his family, who bought a general store in the small town of Silver Islet 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/07/saxberg-obit.html Accident kills CBC broadcaster Lorne Saxberg]
* [http://www.brooksbulletin.com/news/entertainment.asp?itemid=52070 CBC News Anchor dies] Brooks Bulletin
* [http://www.fabmagazine.com/features/294/sadly_missed.html Church Street anchor sadly missed] , "fab"
* [http://www.canada.com/topics/entertainment/television/story.html?id=324593bf-74c7-4448-a0fd-454f00210312&k=18524 News anchor dead at 48] , canada.com
* [http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.asp?id=4989 Saxberg body sent to Bangkok for autopsy] , "Phuket Gazette", May 10, 2006
* [http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1156111824602&call_pageid=970599119419 Broadcaster's spirit lives] , "Toronto Star", August 21, 2006
* [http://lornesaxberg.blogspot.com/ Memorial page to Saxberg]