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Matthew Halton, foreign correspondent

Broadcast Date: June 22, 1956

It's a warm homecoming for Matthew Halton. Twenty-four years ago, he began his career as a foreign correspondent. He returns to the CBC Toronto studios a revered and famous journalist. In this CBC Television interview, Halton discusses his philosophy of reporting. He explains his disdain for journalists driven by scoops, angles and leaks. But, when asked if he'd rather walk away from the profession, his answer is definitive. He shakes his head. "Not me, no," he replies. "This is the job I like."

Matthew Halton, foreign correspondent

• Matthew Halton began his career as a foreign correspondent with the Toronto Star. He was hired by the Star in 1932 and was assigned overseas as the paper's London correspondent with instructions to go wherever he saw potential for articles.

• The CBC hired Matthew Halton as its senior war correspondent in 1943. He delivered his first report for the CBC on Aug. 23, 1943. In a letter home, he wrote, "I did my first CBC broadcast from Sicily today. At first, I had inhibitions about my broadcast for the CBC. I felt I should adopt some new technique but I suddenly realized I should just be myself and do my own stuff in my own way." – Life & Times: The Matthew Halton Story.

• Halton worked with soundman Art Holmes in the CBC overseas unit. Holmes designed a truck, nicknamed "Big Betsy," where they could edit together their reports on phonographic disc.
• "There was no question of risk, he never even considered risk. To me, he was the top reporter in the war." – Art Holmes on Matthew Halton.
• For an in-depth look at Halton's career, see the CBC Archives topic Reports from Abroad: Matthew Halton.

Matthew Halton, foreign correspondent

Medium: Television

Program: Tabloid

Broadcast Date: June 22, 1956

Guest(s): Matthew Halton

Host: Percy Saltzman

Duration: 6:50

Last updated:
Dec. 30, 2008