Howie Silbiger is a seasoned journalist who has covered a myriad of stories over a nearly quarter century.
For years, Howie’s name has been familiar to English Montreal as he covered everything from city politics to terrorism.
Howie’s career started at a Montreal weekly newspaper at 14 years old, where he was tasked to write a weekly column about the goings-on at high schools across the city.
In 2001, Howie joined 1650 AM Radio Shalom Montreal, North America’s only 24 hour Jewish radio station. Howie created unique programming of a Jewish nature. In an attempt to expand his offerings, Howie started an online radio station, one of the first of its kind to offer non-Jewish content. Thousands of listeners flocked to www.truetalkradio.com to listen to the variety of programming offered online. Because radio streaming on the internet was in its infancy and advertisers were wary to put their money into an online audio streaming service, and with the passing of new streaming royalty regulations in the US, the costs associated with streaming the station became so prohibitive that it became impossible to continue the online station, so in 2009, Howie discontinued the online audio stream.
At the time, Howie was working for CJAD 800 AM in Montreal, the number one English news/talk radio station in Montreal. His tasks at CJAD included producing various shows, filling in as a replacement reporter in the newsroom and writing and eventually co-hosting the Jack Finnigan Quiz Show on Sunday afternoons. He also worked as a replacement DJ on Virgin 96 FM and CHOM 97.7 FM.
In 2011, under new management, CJAD released Howie Silbiger.
Howie Silbiger didn’t disappear. He had a popular radio show on 1650 AM Radio Shalom Montreal and a popular website which hosted a variety of ideas at www.truetalkradio.com. Howie continued hosting his show, breaking the biggest stories and talking about issues in the Montreal Jewish Community.
In April 2011, Howie Silbiger hosted the first Federal Mount Royal Candidates Debate. In attendance were all the major candidates running in the Canadian Federal Mount Royal riding. The Debate, covered by three newspapers, set off a firestorm, revealing information that dogged the Conservative candidate throughout the election and contributed to the victory of the Liberal candidate.
Howie Silbiger continues to produce thought provoking, entertaining and controversial radio. In December 2011, he announced that he is re-launching the online audio stream of www.truetalkradio.com and redesigning the radio website as a blog.
The Howie Silbiger show airs on 1650Am Radio Shalom Montreal live every Sunday night from 6-9 pm. The show can be heard through the live stream at www.truetalkradio.com
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