Mary Lou Finlay

Mary Lou Finlay (born 1947) is a Canadian radio and television journalist, best known for hosting various programs on CBC Radio and CBC Television.^[1]

Finlay graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1967 with a BA in English and French literature.^[1] For three years she did writing and researching for the Canadian War Museum^[1] before her leap to journalism when she began hosting a CBC Ottawa television magazine.^[1]

In 1975, Finlay moved to Toronto to co-host CBC Television's Take 30.^[1] She hosted her own program, Finlay and Company, in 1976 and 1977 and developed a loyal following. In 1978 she moved to CTV to co-host and produce the award-winning Live It Up!.^[2]

In 1981 she became co-host with Barbara Frum of CBC Television's nightly current affairs program, The Journal.^[1] After the program's first year, Frum remained as sole host and Finlay became a documentary reporter, remaining with the program until 1988.^[1] In that year she became host of CBC Radio's current affairs program Sunday Morning, where she remained until the spring of 1994.^[1] From 1994 to 1997, she hosted Now The Details, CBC Radio's weekly media watchdog program.^[2]

Finlay became co-host with Barbara Budd of As It Happens on September 1, 1997, having to cover the death of Diana, Princess of Wales on her first day.^[3] She retired following her last appearance on November 30, 2005, which was a tribute show for Finlay celebrating her years with the CBC.

In 2008, she released The As It Happens Files: Radio That May Contain Nuts (Knopf Canada), a book of reminiscences of her time on the show.^[3]

She was a pilot, and flew small planes, as she revealed in an on-air interview with test pilot Chuck Yeager on As It Happens.^[4]

Finlay is now a fellow with the Centre for the Study of Democracy at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.