2012 RTDNA Lifetime Achievement Award

Video

The RTDNA required a four minute video for each Lifetime Achievement Award winner, which was shown at the Awards Ceremony in Winnipeg on April 14th, 2012. For Murray Blakely, the bulk of the video focuses on his award-winning live coverage of the damage from the 1987 Edmonton Tornado. The audio is mainly Murray’s reports from the CHQT Skyhawk.

You can watch or listen to the presentation by clicking on one of the links below:

RTDNA Video (8MB)
(some QuickTime users have reported only getting the audio; try another MP4-capable player (Windows Media Player, Nero or RealPlayer are known to work) if QuickTime is not working for you)

RTDNA Audio (5MB) if you just wish to listen

Here is the full set of photos and scans used in the Video:

Click to enlarge a picture:

Click above to enlarge a picture.

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 1970:
    • 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

for Edmonton Broadcasters past and present