Warren Barker (broadcaster)

Warren Barker (1928 – June 15, 2021) was a Canadian broadcast journalist and longtime employee of CKNW in Vancouver, British Columbia. He first served at CKNW as its news editor[1] before becoming its news director in 1959. He remained news director for 32 years until he retired in September 1991. He was considered to be a "founding father" of the news division at the station. Barker died on June 15, 2021, at the age of 92.[2]

Warren Barker
Born1928 (1928)
DiedJune 15, 2021(2021-06-15) (aged 91–92)
NationalityCanadian
Occupation(s)journalist, news director
Years active1947–1998
Known fornews director of CKNW for 32 years

Career

Barker started his career in broadcast journalism in 1947.[3] He served as news director of CKNW for 32 years, starting in 1959.[4] According to the Vancouver Sun, Barker was a "founding father" of CKNW-Radio's news division.[5] Barker retired from CKNW on September 1,[6] 1991[7] but remained a contributor to the station until at least 1998.[5]

Accolades

Warren Barker was the recipient of multiple awards and credited with the creation of a file system that allowed CKNW to more efficiently track developing news.[2] In 1988, Barker was the recipient of the Earl Bradford Memorial Award of Excellence in Broadcasting.[8] He was the recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation's Bruce Hutchison Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1993 Jack Webster awards.[9][10] In 1998, he was among seven broadcasters[5] inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame.[4][5][11]

The Canadian Press noted in 1998 that Barker was "considered a legend in British Columbia radio news".[12] In an article for The Province, retired broadcaster Ed Murphy stated that Barker was a "workaholic with an obsession that news must be accurate, well-written and properly presented", crediting this, along with the "eight o'clock news service" and his hiring of "first-class newsmen", as a factor in the station's commercial success.[13]

References
  1. "1954 Barker news editor". The Vancouver Sun. 1954-11-18. p. 16. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  2. Field, Ted (June 15, 2021). "Longtime CKNW news director Warren Barker dies at age 92". Global News. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  3. Raines, Marke (1954-01-25). "Top dog says". The Vancouver News-Herald. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  4. "B.C. broadcasting legend Warren Baker dies at 92 - NEWS 1130". News 1130. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  5. "Barker named to hall of fame". The Vancouver Sun. 1998-11-03. p. 30. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  6. Monk, Katherine (1991-08-29). "Veteran radio newsman to call it a morning". The Vancouver Sun. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  7. "Warren Departure". The Province. 1991-08-01. p. 28. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  8. "Thank You!". The Vancouver Sun. 1988-04-16. p. 56. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  9. "November 2nd, Preee-cisely!". The Province. 1993-10-22. p. 114. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  10. "Veteran Vancouver broadcaster honored". Times Colonist. The Canadian Press. 1993-06-25. p. 41. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  11. "Barker, Warren | History of Canadian Broadcasting". www.broadcasting-history.ca. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  12. "Broadcasters named to Hall of Fame". Times Colonist. The Canadian Press, Ottawa. 1998-09-26. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
  13. Murphy, Ed (1984-01-29). "Hotliners". The Province. p. 147. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
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