Journalists are remembering National Association of Black Journalists founder Paul Brock, who transitioned Saturday morning at age 89.
Brock played a pivotal role in bringing together the 44 men and women who founded NABJ. Legendary journalist and NABJ Founding President, Chuck Stone, once described Brock as the “Henry Kissinger of Black journalists” because of his outstanding talent at organizing.
“Founder Brock played such an integral role in the success of NABJ,” said NABJ President Dorothy Tucker. “His love, compassion, zeal, expertise and persevering spirit were always valued by the NABJ family. His long and fruitful career served as inspiration to many of us that hard work and commitment to community can open many doors.”
A distinguished journalist, Paul was an only child, born in Washington, D.C., on February 10, 1932. After attending Howard University in Washington, D.C., Brock set out on his career path.
Brock spent 18 years as a radio journalist before moving into television producing and reporting, starting at WBNB in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. From there, Brock went on to become news director at WETA and later WHUR in Washington, D.C. While with WETA, he was credited with bringing the first live coverage of a congressional committee hearing ever aired.
Brock was also the originator, producer and chief fundraiser of the NAACP Nightly Convention Highlights program that aired on PBS from 1978 to 1983.
Later, Brock served as producer, writer, editor and national distributor of the NAACP Voter Education public service announcements. The success of this was a launching point for him to move into a position as fundraiser, assistant producer, and vice president of the company that produced American Playhouse. In 1994, Brock became media coordinator of the Village Foundation, an organization working to “repair the breach” between African American males and the rest of society.
Brock left the Village Foundation in 2002, but he remains active with the NAACP, having been with the organization since 1948. He has also served as the deputy director of communications for the Democratic National Committee, vice president for news and operations at American Urban Radio Network, and as a senior fellow for public affairs at Howard University’s Institute for the Study of Educational Policy.
He has also been a member of the National Association of Black Journalists since 1974. In 1975, Jet and Ebony both recognized him as Man of the Year, and in 1983, Brock received the Black Filmmakers Award for Producer of the Year. Brock is married to Virginia.
Details of his homegoing will be announced in the coming days.
