Gail Smith

Gail Smith (born September 4, 1955)[1][2] is a former Canadian television journalist and news anchor. From Trenton, Ontario,[3] Smith received her bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Western Ontario[2][3] and a master's degree in journalism from Carleton University.[4]

Her broadcasting career started in 1978, first as a television news reporter for BCTV in Vancouver, British Columbia, and then as a producer and news anchor.[2][4] Smith moved to Toronto, Ontario, and joined CFTO in February 1982 as a television news reporter.[2][4] Her career advancement at CFTO occurred at a time when the television news networks in Toronto competed to hire women as news anchors and attract larger audiences.[5][6]

On September 4, 1982, Smith became the first female weekend news anchor at CFTO.[3][4][7] After the television ratings for the weekend news program climbed 55 per cent,[3] she became the station's first female late night news anchor on Night Beat News the following year.[4] On August 20, 1984, she was paired with Tom Gibney to co-anchor the early evening news program, World Beat News, the station's top-ranked newscast at the time.[8][9]

After a decade-long career in television news which included six years in Toronto, Smith resigned from CFTO.[10][11][12] Her final appearance on World Beat News aired on October 21, 1988.[9][12][13] Christine Bentley replaced her temporarily on World Beat News before Sandie Rinaldo became the permanent substitute.[13][14][15] After an absence of nearly five years, Smith returned to television briefly as an afternoon news anchor for CKVR in Barrie, Ontario, on March 3, 1993.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Friends, Beagles, Countrymen ...". Globe and Mail. 27 March 1986. p. E11.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Zyvatkauskas, Betty (27 November 1982). "More than just a TV face that reads". Globe and Mail. p. A101.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Smith, Diane (28 May 1983). "Grace under pressure". Toronto Star (Starweek Magazine). p. 63.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Hume, Christopher (19 November 1988). "Clearing the air". Toronto Star (Starweek Magazine). p. 6.
  5. ↑ McLean, Ross (3 September 1983). "Anchorwomen have looks and smarts but will they stand the test of time?". Globe and Mail. p. D10.
  6. ↑ Taylor, Bill (2 March 1985). "News Wars". Toronto Star (Starweek Magazine). pp. 4, 6.
  7. ↑ Adilman, Sid (26 August 1982). "TV blurbs". Toronto Star. p. E6.
  8. ↑ Bawden, Jim (3 August 1984). "More news on local news overhauls". Toronto Star. p. C1.
  9. 1 2 Dulmage, Bill. "Television Station History: Ontario, Toronto and Vicinity, CFTO-DT, Toronto, Bell Media". Broadcasting-history.ca. Canadian Communications Foundation. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  10. ↑ "Smith leaves CFTO anchor desk". Globe and Mail. 25 October 1988. p. A27.
  11. ↑ "Gail Smith quits Night Beat News". Toronto Star. 25 October 1988. p. B1.
  12. 1 2 "Ex-BCTV anchor quits Toronto job". Vancouver Sun. 27 October 1988. p. D8.
  13. 1 2 Quill, Greg (26 October 1988). "TV anchor Gail Smith says it was time to move on". Toronto Star. p. E1.
  14. ↑ Cuff, John Haslett (17 December 1988). "Rinaldo heads for local news looking for new challenges". Globe and Mail. p. C3.
  15. ↑ Quill, Greg (10 January 1989). "Rinaldo world class on World Beat a co-anchor who knows her business". Toronto Star. p. C1.
  16. ↑ Quill, Greg (28 February 1993). "Teens talking to Street Cents". Toronto Star. p. C6.
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