TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 12, 2019 / RTDNA Canada is pleased to posthumously recognize Joe Schlesinger with its highest honour, a Lifetime Achievement Award. Schlesinger distinguished himself through outstanding service and continued excellence during the course of his career in journalism.

RTDNA President Fiona Conway said, ''it's an honour to recognize a Canadian icon in journalism. Not only did Joe Schlesinger cover the major stories of our times, he was a mentor and a leader to many journalists. He was also a lovely person and a treasure to all who were able to work with him or be touched by his charm and wit.''

CBC News General Manger and Editor in Chief Jennifer McGuire said, ''Joe had a formidable intellect and a natural curiosity that always led to interesting insights in the stories he told. He was remarkable - a giant in our profession. We are so appreciative that the RTDNA has recognized his lifetime of excellence.''

The RTDNA Canada Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented during the RTDNA GALA in Toronto on May 11, 2019.

Joe Schlesinger

Joe Schlesinger will always be known for bringing the stories of the world - large and small - home to Canada. Over an illustrious career, Joe played several roles at CBC both behind the scenes and in front of the camera.

Born in Vienna and raised in Czechoslovakia, Joe moved to his new home in 1950, Canada. After attending university and working for papers in Vancouver and Toronto, he returned to Europe to eventually become managing editor of the International Herald Tribune.

He joined the CBC in 1966 where he became executive producer of The National and later, chief political correspondent for that program. But his true passion took him abroad.

When the Shah of Iran fell, Schlesinger interviewed the Ayatollah Khomeini in exile and was with him when he returned in triumph to Tehran. When Ronald Reagan was shot, when China opened its doors to ping-pong diplomacy, when Berlin was unified, Joe Schlesinger told those stories. And when an earthquake devastated a town in Italy, he showed how a young boy beat the odds and was pulled from the rubble.

What remained constant was Schlesinger's voice: distinctive, unflappable and honest.

Joe Schlesinger once commented, ''I have a career of wandering around the world, watching the universe and actually getting paid for it. It's like a little boy's dream.''

About RTDNA

RTDNA Canada is the voice of electronic and digital journalists and news managers in Canada. The members of RTDNA Canada recognize the responsibility of broadcast and digital journalists to promote and to protect the freedom to report independently about matters of public interest and to present a wide range of expressions, opinions and ideas. The RTDNA Canada Journalistic Code of Ethics, adopted by the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council, is used to measure fairness and accuracy in our profession.

Become a Member: https://rtdna.wildapricot.org/join-us

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Fiona Conway
President, RTDNA Canada
president@rtdnacanada.com

Jennifer Nguyen

RTDNA Canada
info@rtdnacanada.com
http://www.rtdnacanada.com

SOURCE: RTDNA Canada