World Television Day spotlight: alumnus Geoffrey Darby

November 20, 2018

Geoffrey Darby is an Algonquin College alumnus from the Radio TV Arts Program (1976) and is a retired executive with over 35 years of experience in the television industry. He recently returned to campus to speak to approximately 100 students in the Television-Broadcasting Program. In honour of World Television Day (Nov. 21), you can read some of his words of wisdom -- followed by a sidebar on some prominent AC alumni from the television business.

Darby's advice on how to stand out in a crowded media and information landscape: Know your audience deeply to connect emotionally to tell the perfect story.
 
He had another key piece of wisdom for students: “(Have) no regrets after making a choice. Keep going. Make another choice. It’s a thing of the past and stop living your obituary."
 
Darby said there were three keys to his own success: serendipity, humility and tenacity. His over three decade career included serving as Executive Vice President of Programming for The Weather Channel, Executive Vice President of CBS, President of Production and Convergence for New York-based Oxygen Media Inc. and senior positions at Viacom. He has written, produced and directed award-winning and precedent-setting children's television programs, including Don't Look Now and Double Dare. In 1979 he premiered his show “You Can’t Do That on Television” on CJOH-TV Ottawa and Nickelodeon bought the show in 1982 where it remained in production until 1990.
 
Darby has an endowed bursary at Algonquin College for TV Broadcast students and is a current annual donor to his fund. He attended the May 2017 Donor Recognition Event hosted by the Foundation and following that event committed to a five-year pledge in support of his bursary.
 
Over the years, his work has been recognized with many of the industry's most coveted honors, including three Cable ACE Awards, two Clio Awards, a Peabody and a Dupont Award.  Darby also won the 2002 College’s Ontario Premier Award for Algonquin College.
 
AC Alumni TV Personalities
 
Michael O’Byrne (Class of 1982, Journalism)
News at Noon Anchor, CTV News

Jane Chupick (Class of 2011, Broadcasting - Television)
Producer, Dragons' Den at CBC

Patricia Boal (Class of 1994, Journalism - Print)
CTV News at Six Co-Anchor

Jon Cassar (Class of 1983 - Radio and Television - Broadcasting)                                                   
Director and Film Producer, 2011 Premier’s Award Recipient – Creative Arts and Design

Janice Dean (Class of 1992, Radio and Television Broadcasting)
Senior Meteorologist, Fox News Channel
Morning meteorologist for FNC’s FOX &Friends
Premier’s Awards nominee 2015

Maggie Padlewska (Class of 2001, Broadcasting - Television)
Video Journalist (Ottawa)
Founder of One Year One World
Video Journalist / Producer (CBC)
 
Bruce Harvey (Class of 1976, Computer Science)
Film Commissioner for Ottawa - Canada's Capital, at Ottawa Film Office
 
Patricia Bebia Mawa (Class of 2001, Multimedia/Web)
TV Host & Producer, Associate Publisher & Executive Vice President, Silvertrust & Afroglobal TV

Ken Stewart (Class of 1979, Television & Radio)
President and Executive Producer at GAPC Entertainment

Jith Paul (Class of 2009, Television - Broadcasting)                                                                                         
President, Treepot Media Inc. and Digital Producer at CPAC (Cable Public Affair Channel)