The latest issue of the excellent Ryerson Review of Journalism has a profile of CBC Radio’s Toronto morning show host Andy Barrie. It’s a great, in-depth read.
Here’s the opening paragraph:
“Andy Barrie pulls up in a taxi to the Front Street entrance of CBC’s downtown Toronto fortress at approximately 5:30 a.m. After settling the fare with his long-term driver, who jokes that Barrie has paid for at least 10 per cent of his mortgage, the king of morning radio grabs his copies of The Globe and Mail and Now, a Toronto alternative weekly.
“He shuffles toward the doors, letting a few flyers fall out of the papers. Then the soft-bellied man with pure white hair passes through the restricted-access interior gates. He takes the elevator up CBC’s tower to the third floor and heads to his desk.
“Amid family photographs, books, notes and a computer, there is a little black pillow with white lettering that reads, “Everyone is entitled to my opinion.” A large picture of Barrie as a young boy at Camp Skylemar in Naples, Maine, shows him wearing headphones, leaning over a microphone. As the camp’s radio host for “The Wake-up,” the nine-year-old played records, gave ball scores and led “camp chatter.” Barrie’s desk also boasts a plaque congratulating him for 10 years of “outstanding contribution to the success of Metro Morning.” These are not empty words of praise. He is the voice of the morning show ranked No. 1 in Canada’s largest city.”
Also very much worth reading in the same issue is a profile on Carol Off and a full piece following the team of Quirks and Quarks as they put a week’s show together.
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Thanks for posting this, Tod. I think Metro Morning is the only radio show worth tuning into in the a.m.
It’s worth mentioning that the corporation will pay taxi fares for CBC employees who, like Andy, are scheduled to work before public transit is available. From the collective agreement:
“Taxis shall be provided at the expense of the Corporation for those employees in the bargaining unit required to travel to and/or from work at hours when other public transportation is not available. Such transportation shall only be paid for that portion of the employee’s travel where public transportation is not available, and shall be reimbursed by the Corporation to a maximum of twelve dollars and fifty cents ($12.50). This maximum may be exceeded, where authorized, and receipts shall be required.”
Subway service at the St. Andrew station in Toronto (the closest station to the Broadcasting Centre) starts shortly after 6 AM.
Not really mentioned in the article, but my take on Metro Morning’s phenomenal success in the Toronto market is this…
Metro Morning loves Toronto! It revels in the city including it’s music, food, culture and lively arts scenes. It’s main competition — CFRB in particular –is very uncomfortable with liking Toronto. In fact, their morning show is usually focussed on complaining about the city whether it be taxes, traffic or politics.
The profile on Carol Off was fascinating! I have always found her a bit of an enigma. I am enamoured with her voice, and hear it while I read “Bitter Chocolate”.