Barbara Frum inducted into CBC News Hall of Fame

Barbara Frum, known best to Canadians as co-host of CBC Radio's As It Happens and later forCBC Television'sThe Journal, has been inducted into the CBC News Hall of Fame.

On hand for the ceremony Tuesday were several friends and colleagues, along with members of her family.

Peter Mansbridge, chief correspondent for CBC Newsand anchor ofThe National,introduced speakersincluding her producer and longtime friend, Mark Starowicz,and read part of Starowicz'swritten tribute:

"Barbara was half Lois Lane, half Jewish mother. People would confess everything to her. This woman was incorruptible. This was an honest woman."

Starowicz remembered when Frumannounced despite battling a bad case of the flu that she was readyto go on air forThe Journal the night of the bombing of Baghdad was about to begin on Jan. 17, 1991 and how she had to be replaced because her voice was toohoarse.

After Bill Cameron took over theon-air duties, Starowicz said Frumspent two hours distributing wire bulletinsto "every producer and researcher."

• CBCArchives:Ten years of As It Happens

"The single most distinguishedjournalist in Canada was delivering coffee and wire copy on the night of the biggest story shewanted to cover," he said, adding, "one way or another she was going to be there."

During a career that spanned two decades Frum was known for an interviewing style that was both thoughtful and direct.

Interviewed Mandela after prison release

One of her most famous interviews included a sit-down with South African anti-apartheid legend Nelson Mandelathe day he was released from prison on Feb. 14, 1990.

Another notable exchangecame in March 1979 during a phone interview with Harold Ballard, the fiery owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who told her that women on the radio are "a joke."

She appeared unflappable then and during other interviews with prominent guests, such as British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister Pierre Trudeauquestionedabouthis criticism of the Meech Lake Accord and Dr. Jamie Astaphanas shegrilledhim about the Ben Johnson debacle at the Seoul Olympics.

In South Africa with Nelson Mandela

35 years ago

Duration 13:29

Barbara Frum describes meeting the South African leader as the most moving moment in her career.

Those attending the ceremony in Toronto to announce the latest inductee included Frum's daughter,Canadian Senator Linda Frum, as well as the broadcaster'sson, political commentator David Frum.

"Our mother measured her professional accomplishments by the rigour of her journalism and by the quality of her collegial relationships. She was not motivated by personal grandiosity nor vanity," Linda Frum said.

Barbara Frumdied in March 1992, at age 54, after a long battle withleukemia.

Her son said her influence in broadcasting continues because of her approach to the work of journalism quoting his mother that "she said it waslike a drip of water trying to penetrate a great rock. And the drip is very small and the rock is very big. In time, that water can carve a track through the rock.

"And Ithink what is remarkable about the career of Barbara Frum is that even after she has left us, she continues to carve that track."

The public broadcaster announced its first inductee to theNews Hall of Fame in 2015 Knowlton Nash, former anchor and chief correspondent for The National.

Former CBC foreign correspondent JoeSchlesingerwasinducted into the CBC News Hall of Fame last year.