CAROLE MACNEIL, Journalist & Reporter
Carole MacNeil is now one of public broadcasting's most senior journalists. She's noted for her intelligence and her ability to really listen to the people she interviews. Gemini-nominated for her work, she has talked to some of the most fascinating people in the world.
Just last year, she was granted exclusive access to Rev. Gene Robinson, the first Gay priest to be named a Bishop. She was also honoured to sit down with Desmond Tutu, one of the architects of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. During that interview, they talked about how such a tribunal might work in Iraq. She has interviewed many of the senior advisors in the Bush administration, and of course, the most senior member of the Canadian government.
In fact, her reputation for a steady hand and ability to be both polite but tough were quite obvious in her interview with former Prime Minister Jean Chretien at the NATO summit in Prague. Several times, Chretien threatened to walk out on her if she didn't stop asking him about the controversial comments of his communications director. In the end he complied and answered her questions.
Carole received a Gemini nomination for that interview with Jean Chretien. She also received nods for her conversation with former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and Canadian hero Judy Feld Carr.
Carole is also one of our most experienced live anchors. When news is breaking, she is at the top of the list of anchors to call. For example, when Saddam Hussein was captured, her phone rang at 6:00 am, and by 7 am she was briefed and in the National chair, editorially co-ordinating one of the biggest stories of the year. The asset that makes Carole so uniquely valuable when a story is live and breaking is her ability to think on her feet, to work completely without a script, to reach back into her knowledge and experience when covering such events. Some of those events include the opening days of the Kosovo War, the Iraq war, the crash of Flight 9/11 in Pennsylvania and the capture of Saddam Hussein.
Carole was one of two main anchors to host Sunday Report, the National newscast on Sunday nights which aired for the last time in May 2009. She also fills in for Peter Mansbridge.
BeforeCarole worked at CBC, she had incredible success with the Toronto launch of Canada Now. The show went from last place in the ratings to a strong second in that market under Carole's leadership. Carole is currently the host of CBC News Now.
Carole still lives in Toronto. When she's not on assignment, she's still travelling the world, especially to places where she can focus on improving her horseback riding skills in Classical Dressage.
She is originally from Nova Scotia.