Blatchford, Goldstein make Hall of Fame

The National Post’s Christie Blatchford will be inducted into the Canadian News Hall of Fame later this year — one of the few women to earn the honour.

Since it was established in 1966 by The Toronto Press and Media Club, the Hall of Fame has recognized 125 journalists who have made “significant contributions” to the field. To date, only 15 women (among them Ella Cora Hind, Doris Anderson and June Callwood) have been named to the list.

Blatchford has established herself as a trailblazer for women in journalism since she started as the lone female sports columnist in Canada in 1973.

It was a “pretty glamorous job for a young woman,” she said, but could be lonely too. “There were about six women writing pro sports in all of North America at the time. There weren’t even bathrooms for women in press boxes. But it was also a lot of fun, and I made some lifelong friends.”

Since then, Blatchford has perhaps become best known as a columnist and reporter covering news and the courts. She has also written five non-fiction books. Her work has won her a National Newspaper Award, a Governor-general’s Literary Award and, most recently, a George Jonas Freedom Award.

Blatchford will be inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame along with fellow Postmedia reporter Lorrie Goldstein.

“It’s unusual to see two people from a similar media outlet and these two are friends and colleagues, they’ve known each other for years,” said Toronto Press and Media Club president Ed Patrick.

“Both of them are outstanding.”

Goldstein launched his career at the Toronto Sun in 1978 as a general assignment reporter before covering politics at City Hall and Queen’s Park. He has since been an editor and columnist for the paper and is a regular contributor to Newstalk 1010 and National Post Radio.

Paul Godfrey, the executive chairman of Postmedia (and himself a 2015 inductee into the Hall of Fame), said it’s no surprise they’ve been added to the list.

“They’re both superstars in their own rights. They have longevity in the industry because they’ve got a huge following and people respect them.

“Lorrie is not afraid to take a stand on the underdog’s position, he is prepared to attack the establishment if necessary. Christie’s stories are some of the best I’ve ever read.”

As for their sometimes controversial views, Godfrey said, “Do they have people on the opposite side of their opinion? Absolutely, but people feel compelled to hear their thoughts.”

A gala for Blatchford and Goldstein will be held at The National Club in Toronto on Nov. 19.