Lorne Saxberg

Who was Lorne Saxberg?

Lorne Saxberg was a Canadian television journalist and one of many on-air anchors on CBC Newsworld. Saxberg was born in Thunder Bay, Ontario and joined the CBC's radio arm. As host of Ontario Morning in the late 1980s, he was known for his keen mind, calm demeanour, and melodious voice. "He had a full, rich voice not often heard in modern radio," said Canadian freelance broadcaster James Careless, who worked with Saxberg at Ontario Morning. "He was truly a class act both on and off the air."

Saxberg left Ontario Morning to become one of the original CBC Newsworld TV anchors from the latter's start in 1989. Saxberg served with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for 27 years and was popular with news audiences. He was also an active volunteer with the Canadian Media Guild.

Saxberg received an Edward R. Murrow Award award for his work on the coverage of the 60th anniversary of the bomb at Hiroshima. Saxberg took a leave of absence from CBC Newsworld to work at Japan's NHK public broadcaster as a trainer and announcer from 2004. He died in a snorkeling accident in Phuket, Thailand, where he was on vacation. He was 47 years old.

Ken Becker, a Newsworld producer who worked with Saxberg, said: "He was the consummate pro and an exceptional journalist...When he was in the anchor chair, you knew you could throw Lorne any story – from the outbreak of war to the birth of a panda at the zoo – and he'd deliver it to the viewer with exactly the right tone."