Barbara Frum was one of Canada's most respected and influential woman journalists. She began her career in journalism as a freelance writer and commentator for various CBC Radio programs. She quickly branched out into the print media, writing various columns for national newspapers such as the Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, and a television column for the Saturday Night magazine. In 1967 she made a brief foray into television as a co-host for an information program, The Way It is, but it was in radio that she first gained fame. In the fall of 1971 she took on the co-hosting duties of As It Happens, a new, innovative newsmagazine show on CBC Radio that followed the 6:00 r.M. news. At a time when the national broadcaster was struggling to develop programs that would keep its listeners beyond the supper-hour newscast, the show's young producer, Mark Starowicz, proposed a format based largely on newsmaker interviews that would provide an in-depth examination of the stories behind the headlines. Through the use of long-distance telephone and radio, listeners were connected to world events. In this format, Frum shone. She quickly gained the reputation as a tough, incisive, and well-informed interviewer. For ten years she interviewed numerous world leaders, national politicians, and other newsmakers, as well as those affected by the news. Frum was honored with numerous awards during her tenure, most notably the National Press Club of Canada Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Journalism in 1975; Woman of the Year in the literature, arts, and education category of the Canadian Press in 1976; and the Order of Canada in 1979.

     In the 1980s CBC Television decided to move its national newscast, The National, from its traditional 11:00 P.M. time slot to 10:00 P.M. The news division of CBC Television had long been considering such a move, hoping to capture a larger audience, since studies had shown that a large number of viewers retired to bed prior to 11:00 r.M. Realizing that it was a huge gamble, CBC executives appointed Starowicz, the producer of As It Happens, to translate his radio success to the newsmagazine program, The Journal. He, in tum, looked to Frum, who had been instrumental in the success of As It Happens. After months of preparation, the new current affairs program, The Journal, was launched on January 11, 1982. In the weeks that followed, it became the most watched and highly respected newsmagazine show in Canada.

     The Journal featured many innovations and made use of the latest electronic news gathering technology. Features, such as field reports and short documentaries, public forums, and debates, as well as a series of reports on business, sports, arts and entertainment, and science news were interwoven with the interview portion of the program. The show featured two female hosts. Frum was joined by Mary Lou Finley in the hosting duties, and a higher profile was assigned to women reporters and journalists than on most other stations.

     The show relied heavily on Frum's skill as an interviewer. The interview portion of The Journal accounted for 60 percent of the program. She remained the dominant and permanent presence on a show that saw many new co-hosts. All of Canada was deeply saddened by the news of her sudden death on March 26, 1992, from complications of chronic leukemia. Tributes poured in from colleagues, coworkers, and the public at large. Months following her passing, the CBC announced that it would move its newscast and newsmagazine program, The National and The Journal, from 10:00 P.M. to 9:00 r.M. Once again, executives argued that studies showed that aging baby boomers were retiring to bed at an earlier time. This move proved to be less successful than the first endeavor, and two years later the CBC was forced to reverse itself after ratings had fallen off by half. Amid these changes and reversals, The Journal was transformed into the Primetime News. As It Happens continues its run, having celebrated more than three decades on the air.