Blakely, Murray

The year was 1954. The station, CKCK Radio. The city, Regina, Saskatchewan. The newcomer — Murray Blakely.

It was as an announcer that Murray got his start in broadcasting, but it would be the news desk that would dominate most of his career.

Murray moved to Edmonton as a newscaster at CFRN Radio/TV, and from there went to CJCA where he not only was a newsman, but was to become News Director during his fourteen year stay.

Murray then switched to CHQT, where he was in charge of Public Relations, and he spent a further fourteen years at that station.

Murray was not only an ON air personality, but he was IN the air, too, doing traffic reports while flying over Edmonton to monitor the streets, highways and byways. He served as a flying reporter for 26 years and enjoyed that aspect of his broadcasting career very much. Murray also took pleasure in meeting and interviewing many celebrities during his years behind the microphone, including a number of interesting politicians and entertainers. Murray continued to be active and busy after retirement from broadcasting’s ever-changing world.

filed 2006

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2011 RTNDA Lifetime Achievement Award Application

Brief Outline as to Why Murray Blakely is Deserving of this Recognition

In a 42 year media career, 38 in Radio and Television News, Murray Blakely has demonstrated a commitment to both professionalism in broadcasting and dedication to community service.

A summary of his Career and Awards is attached, dominated by his record-breaking 26 years of Morning and Afternoon Traffic Reports from helicopter and fixed wing aircraft in Edmonton. And the related airborne coverage of the 1987 Edmonton Tornado that earned Murray and CHQT Radio a Best Single News Coverage Worldwide award.

Outstanding Accomplishments & Awards

  • A record-breaking 26 years in Edmonton reporting Traffic, both morning and evening from helicopter and fixed wing aircraft on CJCA and CHQT Radio
  • Key member of CHQT News Team that won the 1987 Austral-Asian Academy of Broadcast Art Award for Best Single News Coverage (worldwide), Murray piloted and reported from an aircraft immediately after the Edmonton Tornado hit
  • Also responsible for Public Relations at CHQT, winning 11 Travel Alberta awards for the promotion of tourism in the province, with a program called Weekend Patrol; a mobile broadcast unit travelled northern Alberta and reported on both community and newsworthy events, including emceeing events such as the Sourdough raft race
  • While working at CJCA, volunteered with St. John Ambulance in Public Relations for Alberta and the Northwest Territories, receiving an award from Canada’s Governor General as a Serving Brother
  • During retirement, Murray has been heavily involved in volunteer work, co-founding and later Chairing the Edmonton Broadcasters Club, and serving on five Committees as well as taking a leadership role serving Seniors in one of Edmonton largest churches (2000 members in weekly attendance), receiving their Good Shepherd award

Career

  • 1954-60 CKCK Radio Regina – at age 19, first All Night announcer, as well as hourly Newscasts from midnight to 6:00 a.m.
  • 1960-62 CFRN Radio and Television Edmonton – News Announcer and Reporter
  • 1962-76 CJCA Radio Edmonton – News Announcer/Reporter, adding News Director responsibilities in 1964:
    • Reporter at the Alberta Legislature for seven years
    • Also on the police beat, City Hall and Public School Board
    • Morning and Afternoon Traffic reports from a helicopter and aircraft for 12 years
    • Traveled with the military to report from their NATO bases in Germany, Cyprus and Egypt.
    • News coverage from Jamaica after the civil war when Ward Air opened their scheduled flights.
    • Secretary of the Edmonton Media club
    • President of the Press Gallery for five years
  • 1976-78 Edmonton Convention Bureau – Manager, Membership Division
  • 1978-79 Syncrude Canada Ltd. – Supervisor, Media Services
  • 1979-93 CHQT Radio Edmonton – News and Public Relations
    • Morning and Afternoon Traffic reports from an aircraft for 14 years
    • Weekend Patrol (details above, under Awards)
  • 1994-96 CJCA Radio Edmonton – Traffic Reports
  • 1996 Statistics Canada – News Media liaison officer for the census
  • 1996 – retired in Edmonton