Media Beat: May 06, 2019

By David Farrell

Broadcaster Fitzroy Gordon, dead at 65, a 'towering figure' in Toronto

Fitzroy Gordon, the Jamaican-born broadcaster whose death was announced Tuesday evening, is being hailed as a "caring citizen," a leader in the black community and a "towering figure" in Toronto.

Gordon, the founder of Toronto-based radio station dedicated to providing Caribbean programming, died on Tuesday, his wife Marvette Gordon said in a brief statement. He was 65. 

Gordon, who launched CKFG-FM (G98.7) in 2011 and who for many years hosted a program called Grapevine on his radio station, was hospitalized for several weeks back in 2017. – CBC News

Fitzroy Gordon left a legacy of resilience and inclusion

The Canadian media landscape lost a great leader this week, with the passing of Fitzroy “Mr. G” Gordon, founder and chief executive officer of G98.7FM, at age 65.

Mr. G took pride in combining music programming with meaningful political and social discourse and ensuring the content was available online for listeners around the world to engage. He built the radio station, with the tag line, “The way we groove,” as a space for Black and Caribbean communities in Toronto, Milton, Oakville, Brampton, Aurora and Pickering to come together. – Tiffany Gooch, The Toronto Star

Forbes: Brother’s salute to a future broadcasting hall of famer

Consider this a Sun column take over. This is Marty Forbes, Ger’s brother, who thanks Postmedia for letting me salute the youngster of the Forbes clan on the week he enters the Canadian Music & Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame.

It was no easy task for Gerry — believe me.

We grew up with a famous dad who ran the biggest radio station in Canada west of Toronto. At six foot five, he was a giant in the industry and I don’t mean physically.

I got into radio to follow dad. Brother Gord did the same thing. Then Ger, with the rest of us entrenched in the business, KNEW he’d have to work his butt off to get the credibility of his own achievements instead of relying on a name to get him through. – Gerry Forbes, Calgary Sun

Canada's digital economy is bigger than mining, oil and gas

Canada's digital economy is growing much faster than the rest of the economy and is already bigger than staple industries such as mining, forestry and oil and gas.

That's one of the main takeaways from a new Statistics Canada report released Friday that looked at the impact of technology-focused parts of the economy that are becoming increasingly important in the country's overall economic picture. – Pete Evans, CBC News

Help a fellow broadcaster: Bring Gord Kidder home

While Gord Kidder was in Europe recently to take part in ceremonies to honor his uncle who was a POW in WWII and the 75th anniversary of The Great Escape he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and was rushed to a hospital in Prague (Czech Republic), where emergency surgery was performed. After two weeks and two surgeries, Gord remains in a coma in the Intensive Care Unit. 

Unfortunately, Gord does not have out-of-country or private health care insurance coverage, so expenses continue to accrue. As soon as Gord is physically able to be transported the plan is to bring him home to Canada and into a facility that can help facilitate his recovery.

Despite remaining in a coma in Prague, Gord has now been cleared to fly and, as hospital costs continue to mount daily, we need to get him home quickly!

Based on current estimates, the hospital and air ambulance services are $115,000. We have raised approximately $78,000 so more needs to be raised. 

Today, Gary Slaight and Jim Waters together have generously offered that, if we can raise an additional $30,000, they will match it to help get Gord home. 

We thank everyone for their generous donations to date. Any further donations would be greatly appreciated, as the amount is now essentially doubled!

Please share Gord’s story. It is through sharing that we have successfully raised the existing funds and how we will be able to raise the much-needed additional funds.

Please Help Bring Gord Home. Donations in any amount will make a difference and are very much appreciated. All donations will go towards Gord's recovery. Here’s the link to the Gord Kidder GoFundMe web page.– CAB

Drone drops anti-media flyers near Ariana Grande concert

A drone dropped flyers with swastikas on them and the message “The press is the enemy” outside the Golden 1 Center during an Ariana Grande concert in Sacramento May 3.

Flyers were also dropped at the annual “Bites on the Bridge” outdoor event near the campus of California State University, Sacramento, according to a local CBS affiliate. – Joe Reinartz, Celebrity Access