John Bassett

John White Hughes Bassett, PC, OC, O.Ont (August 25, 1915 – April 27, 1998) was a Canadian publisher and media baron. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he was the son of John Bassett (1886-1958), publisher of the Montreal Gazette, and Margaret Avery. Bassett attended Ashbury College and graduated from Bishop's University with a BA in 1936. He became a reporter for the Toronto Globe and Mail. After fighting with the Army in World War II, Bassett ran unsucc... more

John White Hughes Bassett, PC, OC, O.Ont (August 25, 1915 – April 27, 1998) was a Canadian publisher and media baron. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he was the son of John Bassett (1886-1958), publisher of the Montreal Gazette, and Margaret Avery. Bassett attended Ashbury College and graduated from Bishop's University with a BA in 1936. He became a reporter for the Toronto Globe and Mail. After fighting with the Army in World War II, Bassett ran unsuccessfully for the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, in the 1945 Canadian election in the riding of Sherbrooke. He lost to the Liberal candidate, Maurice Gingues. He also ran in the 1962 election in the riding of Spadina. He lost again to the Liberal candidate, Perry Ryan. His first experience in newspaper ownership was with the Sherbrooke Daily Record, which he bought from his father. In 1952, Bassett purchased part ownership of the Toronto Telegram. In 1960, he founded Baton Broadcasting to run Toronto's first commercial television... less