The program premiered on January 11, 1982. In its first season, it was hosted by Barbara Frum and Mary Lou Finlay, and was the first network news program in the world hosted by two women without a male co-anchor. However, after the first season Frum became the program's sole host, although Finlay remained with the program as a reporter and documentary producer. Frum anchored on her own until her death in 1992. The program was produced for its entire run by Mark Starowicz, who had produced As It Happens for CBC Radio, which also featured Frum. Guest hosts when Frum was absent from The Journal included Bill Cameron, Peter Kent, Keith Morrison, Lyn Whitham and Brian Stewart.