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This week in Canadian media history: Moose River mine disaster coverage revolutionizes radio

CRBC reporter stayed awake for 56 hours to give updates on rescue operation in Nova Scotia. By Aeman Ansari, Reporter  The most memorable CRBC program was the coverage of the Moose River mine disaster in Nova Scotia, where three men were trapped in a mine cave-in on April 12, 1936. Near the end of the…

CRBC reporter stayed awake for 56 hours to give updates on rescue operation in Nova Scotia.

By Aeman Ansari, Reporter 

The most memorable CRBC program was the coverage of the Moose River mine disaster in Nova Scotia, where three men were trapped in a mine cave-in on April 12, 1936. Near the end of the rescue operation,  reporter J. Frank Willis stayed awake for 56 straight hours to give radio reports until two survivors were brought to the surface on April 23. It was a career-changing event for him and his ground-breaking, around-the-clock reporting changed perceptions of the purpose of radio. This milestone went on to influence CBC radio in its formative years. 

With files from the Canadian Communications Foundation