How it all began:  Josiah Blackburn 1823 – 1890

The son of a Congregationalist minister, Josiah Blackburn was born in London, England.  After some experience in journalism he immigrated to Canada West (now Ontario) in 1850, and joined the staff of The Star in Paris.  Two years later he purchased a small London weekly, The Canadian Free Press, from its founder, William Sutherland.  Blackburn’s keen business sense and flair for political writing, made this newspaper a success.  In 1855 he began a daily.  The London Free Press and Daily Western Advertiser – later, the London Free Press.  He also controlled The Ingersoll Chronicle and helped found The Mail in Toronto.  An ardent liberal who later became an equally fervent conservative, Blackburn was one of the province’s most influential newspaper publishers…

And that’s how the Blackburn name in media started.

Today, the Blackburn name has become synonymous with the medium of radio.  Blackburn Radio Inc. is owned by Richard Costley-White – a direct descendant of the founding Blackburn name.

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On Building New Histories Together

Windsor’s FM 95.9 is the latest addition to the Blackburn Radio family. Through teamwork and kinship, Blackburn Radio has become an integral part of each community in which it resides. Through the power of music, accurate news reporting, and through the support of local charities we have learned about our communities at a grass roots level. We provide listening companionship on the drive home and inadvertently contribute to conversations around the kitchen table – all things that have woven this company deep into the fabric of South Western Ontario.

Our News Focus

With such an ingrained history in journalism, news, and political awareness it only makes sense that our news team continue to flourish in the same spirit. Blackburn Radio makes the most of its airwaves to keep its listeners up to date on the latest happenings – always keeping the local perspective in mind. To date Blackburn Radio boasts a news team of nearly 20 reporters throughout Chatham Kent and Windsor Essex alone. They work hard to report on local, regional stories, but also on national and international stories and what they mean and how they affect our local listeners.

The Future

Taking great pride in the stations it has built up over the years, Blackburn Radio looks forward to adding to that momentum, new abilities of interactivity with our listeners.We invite you to visit our website often – and interact with our news team, as well as with our on-air talent. Comment on our stories – our blogs and let us know how you feel – what you think.Our site here at Windsor’s FM 95.9 is our new kitchen table – where stories are told and music is played. It’s a place of conversation and listening. That’s what families do. We interact. We talk. We contribute. And we are so looking forward to building on new histories together.

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Windsor’’s FM 95.9

A Blackburn Radio Station

Read more about us in our Press section.