In Memoriam
Tony Brown, pioneering journalist and civil rights advocate, dies at 93
Tony Brown’s national broadcast career began in 1970 when he took over the monthly public‑affairs program Black Journal.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Tony Brown, the iconic journalist, educator and civil rights advocate best known as the host and producer of the long‑running PBS program Tony Brown’s Journal, died June 17, 2026, from coronary heart disease at his home in Newport News.
He was 93.
Tony Brown: A Pioneering Journalist
Brown’s national broadcast career began in 1970 when he took over the monthly public‑affairs program Black Journal. Then he transformed the show and renamed it Tony Brown’s Journal, which became the longest‑running series in PBS history.
Moreover, the program offered frank discussions on race, politics and culture, often covering issues ignored by mainstream outlets.
The show also examined major historical events, including the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Educator Who Built Generations of Black Journalists
Brown was equally influential in academia. He served as the founding dean of Howard University’s School of Communications and later became the inaugural dean of Hampton University’s Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications.
Additionally, he mentored students who went on to shape newsrooms nationwide.
Civil Rights Leadership Rooted in Action
Before his national media career, Brown played a key role in the Civil Rights Movement. He helped coordinate a major 1963 Detroit march featuring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an event that drew hundreds of thousands of participants.
Furthermore, his advocacy emphasized economic empowerment, accountability and community advancement.
Journalist Tony Brown’s Legacy Built on Truth and Representation
Throughout his career, Brown championed honest storytelling and insisted on elevating Black voices. His motto, “No Black Lies. No White Lies. Only the Truth.”, reflected his lifelong commitment to transparency and justice.
He leaves behind a legacy that reshaped public television, strengthened journalism education and expanded national conversations on race.
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine®
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Marcia Ann Gillespie, groundbreaking editor who amplified Black women’s voices, dies at 82
Fort Lewis football player Jordan ‘JT’ Thomas suffers severe spinal cord injury during game
Asbury Park High School: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Suspected arson damages Senatobia Police headquarters months after officer fatally shot 1-year-old Kohen Wiley
Burger King employee wears Blackface, tells customer, “I just want to be Black”
Justice for Nolan Wells Reward Fund raises $300k
Buried history: Documentary uncovers Black slave cemetery hidden under Staten Island shopping center
Atlanta University Center students marched to demand justice for Nolan Wells
What happened to Chantel Brooks? Police, family continue to seek answers for woman missing since July
Boston rapper Rahim “V Knuckles” Muhammad dies at 46 after fight with brain cancer
Woody Shaw’s Avant‑Garde ‘Song of Songs’ returns to vinyl after 50 years through Jazz Dispensary’s Top Shelf Series
Kansas City’s Copper Boyz Ranch provides youth violence‑prevention through horsemanship
Nolan Wells’ family demands ‘thorough’ investigation: “What we’ve been told does not make sense”
Peabo Bryson, Grammy‑winning voice behind two Disney classics, dies at 75
OWN greenlights first-ever ‘Belle Collective’ spinoff Belle Collective: Birmingham
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoBeloved married father killed in apparent road rage shooting on the George Washington Bridge, says prosecutors
-
Social Justice2 weeks agoCouple files racial discrimination lawsuit after real estate broker’s alleged “Ugh. They Are Black” text
-
Social Justice1 week agoBlack toddler reportedly overlooked at Connecticut library event, viral video sparks investigation
-
Real Voices2 weeks agoDocumentary And Counting explores Black women’s workforce exodus
-
Community2 weeks agoNAACP launches National Black Man Voter Day with week of action aimed at mobilizing 100,000 Black men
-
Health & Wellness2 weeks agoAuthor facing multiple surgeries after breast cancer diagnosis
-
New Jersey1 week agoWest Orange mayoral candidate under investigation after sign removal allegations but she says she had permission from the property owner to remove them
-
Crime & Justice1 week agoNorth Carolina family mourns 11-year-old Kylen Baldwin killed in hit-and-run scooter crash