Geoffrey W. Stirling *
A Distinguished Member of the CAB Hall of Fame
(2001)
(1921 - 2013)
Geoffrey W. Stirling, born in Newfoundland in 1921: broadcaster, printer, publisher, author and film maker - best known for his spectacular career as a broadcaster.
He was the first to bring radio and commercial television
to Newfoundland and Labrador and the first to launch a North American
television station to broadcast 24 hours a day. The St-John’s
Newfoundland native is a media entrepreneur in every sense of the word.
He founded the Sunday Herald (the precursor to the Newfoundland Herald)
in 1946 with just enough money to cover the cost of the first two issues.
Mr. Stirling launched CJON-AM radio in St-John’s in 1951. This was followed by CJON-TV in 1955, the province’s first television station. Other broadcast enterprises throughout the Fifties and into the Seventies included the launch of 980 CKGM-AM in Montréal in 1959 (as well as CKGM-FM Montréal in 1963, later becoming CHOM-FM in 1971) followed by CKPM in Ottawa and CKWW Windsor in 1964, CJOM in Windsor in 1966 and KSWW Arizona in 1967. Back in Newfoundland came CJCN-TV in Grand Falls, CJOX-TV Grand Bank, CJCR-TV in Gander, CJWN-TV in Cornerbrook and onto the creation of Newfoundland’s OZ-FM Radio Network in 1977.
Over the years, his service to the community as a broadcaster has resulted in millions of dollars raised for Newfoundland charities. Mr Stirling has received many honours and awards throughout his career including from the New York Writers Association, the California Film Board and the New Delhi Film Board. Mr. Stirling serves as Chairman of the Board for STIRLING COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL.
Credit: J. Lyman Potts - October, 2001