myStory
Alumni profile
“Everyone has a voice that deserves to be heard.”
Murray Brewster
After decades at the Canadian Press and
business going for a few years; going to school
attention. I pretty much decided there and
currently as a Parliamentary reporter for the
during the day and working the evenings.
then that I wanted to see, taste and feel
CBC News in Ottawa, multiple-award-winning journalist Murray Brewster has a front-row seat to history unfolding. His mission to tell the story has taken him from war zones in Afghanistan, to the 9/11 attacks in New York City and the train bombings in London in 2005. He has also authored a book: The Savage War: The Untold Battles of Afghanistan (2011). The journey to his career began at NC — just a few blocks away from where he grew up — where he graduated from Broadcasting: Radio, TV and Film Photo by Marc Robichaud, CBC in 1985. For the first time in more than 30 years, Brewster will return to his alma mater in June 2017 as a guest speaker for Spring Convocation. We caught up with the Welland native, who now resides in the nation’s capital, and asked him about life, his exciting career and his memories of NC. Here is what he had to say:
What attracted you to this field?
history first-hand.
remember. But so was the spoken word.
What did you value about your education at NC?
I believe in the power of ideas and the
It was the scope of learning I appreciated
important role the media plays in society,
the most. You weren’t just taught to write
particularly in holding democratic institutions
news copy or push a camera around on the
to account. I grew up in a very civic-minded,
technical side.
Writing was a passion for as long as I can
political household. In all honesty, I wasn’t
We had some pretty amazing
certain — at first — if broadcasting was a
English, Psychology, Sociology and, most
good fit for me. I knew, instinctively, that I
importantly, History electives. And some really
needed to learn discipline as a writer, and
amazing instructors. What I received was a
thought that the pressure and deadlines of
solid grounding in so many different subjects
broadcast writing would make me a better
and disciplines. One of my first jobs in radio
writer. I was right. What sealed it though, was
was as a general assignment reporter at
my first time on air. The thrill doing a live
CJRN. In that kind of job, you’re dealing with
broadcast is something I have never gotten
the cops one day, covering a city council
out of my system.
meeting the next and filing from court on the
What was your career goal when you enrolled? Getting a job outside of the family
third day. I was well prepared for that kind of life.
business. At first, I didn’t care what I did in
Is there an experience you had at NC that holds a special place in your memory?
broadcasting, as long as I was part of it. By
Yes, but don’t laugh. It was the day my radio
the time second year came around, I settled
journalism instructor told me — in first year
on broadcast journalism. Radio or TV? I
— I would never make it in the business. I
wasn’t certain.
had flubbed part of a sportscast. I hated doing
As time went on, I didn’t consider myself
sports. Still do, even today. Too many multi-
What led you to Niagara College?
pretty enough or poised enough for television.
syllabic names to wrap your tongue around.
Life circumstance led me there. My father
I was also taking film courses and thought —
It was just the kind of talk that steeled me
passed away when I was 16. We had a family
for a while — documentaries might be the way
for the industry and made me determined to
business in which I played a big part. It had
to go. But it was the downing of the Korean Air
prove him wrong.
to keep running, but I didn’t want to make the
jetliner in 1983 by the Russians that convinced
business my life’s work. One of the last things
me journalism was where it was at.
How has your career evolved since graduating?
my father said to me was to get out of the
It was a dangerous time internationally
How do you summarize over 30 years in a few
business, get an education and do something
and an important event in the Cold War. I
words? It has — I guess — come full circle.
with my life. So, I helped my mother keep the
remember watching the coverage with rapt
Broadcasting was where it began.
24 encore | niagaracollege.ca | 2017