On Friday evening, the late and beloved John Active will be inducted into the Alaska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame. John died in June of this year after working with KYUK for more than 40 years in both radio and television as a journalist, Yup’ik translator, storyteller, talk show host, and radio personality.
John was a pioneer in Indigenous bilingual broadcasting, and one of the nation’s first Alaska Native broadcasters. His long-time friend Rhonda McBride nominated him for the Hall of Fame after working with John for about 30 years, first at KYUK and then as collaborators when she moved to KTVA in Anchorage. KYUK’s Anna Rose MacArthur interviewed McBride about our dear friend John Active.
John Active will be inducted into the Alaska Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame the evening of Friday, November 9, 2018 at the ABA Goldie Awards Banquet at the Sheration Hotel. Ric Schmidt, former KNOM News Director in Nome, will also be inducted. The ABA Hall of Fame was established in 1985. John Active and Ric Schmidt will be the 63rd and 64th members inducted.