Albert J. Beirens[1] (May 1947 – 25 June 2020) was a Belgian radio producer and journalist.[2]
Early life
editCareer
editIn the 1970s, Beirens was a radio producer with various pirate stations, including Radio North Sea International and Radio Atlantis, which were illegal radio stations that broadcast from a ship Mebo II[4] in the North Sea.[1] For nearly 4 years, every Sunday morning, A. J. Beirens broadcast the radio show "NorthSea Goes Dx" in several languages to thousands of listeners.[4] For more than 30 years, he worked for the BBC and the VRT, the national Flemish broadcasting station, as a correspondent.[5] He also worked for Radio Nova Italie, Radio Paradijs (Knokke-Heist), ORO Nieuwsdienst and VRT.[6] He was a radio correspondent for Zeebrugge and Knokke-Heist. As a maritime journalist, AJ Beirens specialized in the port of Zeebrugge and the English Channel.[7] He wrote several books[8] including one about the refugee problems during World War II.[9] A. J. Beirens supported the French branch of the free radio campaign called "Offshore Echo's France" since 1974.[4]
In May 2020, his health deteriorated. He opted for euthanasia and died on 25 June 2020 at age 73.[7][10][6]
References
edit- ^ a b "RNI op de korte-golf:De programma's van Albert J. Beirens". Soundscape on University of Groningen (in Dutch). March 2010. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Heyst Leeft te gast bij... A.J. Beirens". www.zwinstreek.eu.
- ^ "Radiomaker en journalist A.J. Beirens (73) overleden". De Krant van West Vlaanderen (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ a b c "Tribute to AJ Beirens". www.offshoreechos.com. Retrieved 2024-06-19.
- ^ "Radio- en nieuwsmaker AJ Beirens overleden". Knokke-Heist (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ a b "A.J. Beirens overleden - MediaPages.nl". www.mediapages.nl.
- ^ a b NWS, VRT (June 26, 2020). "Radiopionier AJ Beirens (73) overleden". vrtnws.be.
- ^ "A.J. Beirens". Goodreads. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ "Heistse vluchtelingen komen aan in Engeland". Zwinstreek (in Dutch). Retrieved 26 June 2020.
- ^ Neese, Olivier (June 26, 2020). "Radiomaker en journalist A.J. Beirens (73) overleden". Site-KW-NL.