Claude Lewis, Journalist And Co-Founder Of National Association Of Black Journalists, Dies At 82

Lewis

CLAUDE LEWIS, the journalist and co-founder of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS, died THURSDAY (3/16) at his home in CHERRY HILL, NJ at 82, according to the NABJ.

LEWIS, a longtime columnist for the PHILADELPHIA EVENING BULLETIN and, after the BULLETIN folded, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, co-founded the PHILADELPHIA ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS with PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS columnist CHUCK STONE and INQUIRER Editor ACEL MOORE, both of whom predeceased LEWIS, in 1973, which laid the groundwork for the NABJ's formation in WASHINGTON two years later.  He also taught at VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY, produced specials and documentaries for NBC and WESTINGHOUSE BROADCASTING, founded THE NATIONAL LEADER, and, earlier in his career, was a reporter and editor at NEWSWEEK, the NEW YORK HERALD-TRIBUNE, and the BULLETIN.

NABJ President SARAH GLOVER said, "Founder CLAUDE LEWIS was a gentle giant and kind soul whose passion for equality and equal opportunity can be seen in his columns and life's work. He had a personal impact on the trajectory of many NABJ members, myself included, showing us all the way.  CLAUDE lives on in all of us. I thank him for instilling in me, and my peers, a deep level of tenacity and commitment to the cause."

NABJ Co-Founder SANDRA DAWSON LONG WEAVER said, "This is a very sad day. CLAUDE was a great mentor for me at THE BULLETIN. He always had time to talk with a young journalist trying to navigate the newsroom. He was the calm spirit that guided many of us."

NABJ Co-Founder JOE DAVIDSON said, "CLAUDE was an important force in journalism in the 1970s. He meant a lot to me personally and to a lot of black journalists professionally.  He lured me away from THE INQUIRER to work as managing editor at THE LEADER.  It was an opportunity to serve the black community with high quality journalism. I was really proud of the work we did together on that newspaper."

And NABJ Co-Founder PAUL BROCK added, "CLAUDE was a journalist miles ahead of his time, and he achieved recognition long before many recognized him."

« see more Net News