Herbert Lowe, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Journalism lecturer, is the author of “America Owes Bryan Monroe a Debt of Gratitude” published on theundefeated.com on Jan. 16.

Lowe writes about the late Bryan Monroe, former vice president and editorial director at Ebony and Jet magazines in Chicago.

According to Lowe, “The magazines’ coverage of Obama’s monumental campaign and election, not to mention other critical issues affecting the Black community, were unquestionably invigorating and always on point. For that, all of America owes Bryan a debt of gratitude.”

Monroe died of a heart attack on Jan. 13 at age 55. Lowe recalls how he and other journalist colleagues, via a Zoom call, remembered Monroe’s friendship, spirit, encouragement, generosity, confidence, leadership and vision. Monroe followed Lowe as president of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

“During the Zoom call, we also admired how Bryan consistently advocated for more coverage of underrepresented communities, and for journalists of color to have greater opportunities in U.S. newsrooms. He was a passionate supporter of UNITY: Journalists of Color, the organization that would convene Black, Asian, Hispanic and Native American media members every four years,” said Lowe.

He adds, “In Bryan’s remarkable career – he also helped lead a team of journalists from Knight Ridder and the Biloxi Sun Herald in Mississippi to a Pulitzer Prize for its Hurricane Katrina coverage, served as editor of CNNPolitics.com and was a professor at Northwestern and Temple universities – his greatest contribution was getting Ebony and Jet ready for the Obama moment.”

“My hope was that Bryan and I would grow old together as past NABJ presidents, seeing each other at annual conventions and continuing to mentor future journalism and organization leaders,” said Lowe.

Posted: February 23, 2021
Category: College News
Tagged as: Herbert Lowe