Remembering Ed Bradley
60 Minutes correspondent dead at 65

By Wendy Isom

November 13, 2006--CBS 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley, long revered for being a network trailblazer as the network’s first black correspondent at the White House, died last week. He was 65.

During 25 seasons with CBS, Bradley earned 20 Emmy awards for several investigative pieces including a riveting report on the reopening of the 50-year-old Emmett Till murder case.

“The Emmett Till story was fascinating,” says Bob Butler, a former CBS executive based in San Francisco.

Another piece Bradley talked about being proud of was one on actress and singer Lena Horne.

“His storytelling was excellent,” Butler says. “It’s sad whenever anyone passes away but for those of us fighting for diversity it’s especially sad when somebody the stature of Ed Bradley passes away,” Butler says, because “that’s just one less diverse voice on the air.”

Bradley’s legacy continues to speak volumes to many aspiring black journalists.

“He developed a level of trust among his audience that changed the atmosphere for those who followed. He provided a model of excellence,” says Michele Norris, host of National Public Radio’s show, All Things Considered

In 2005, Bradley was the recipient of the National Association of Black Journalists Lifetime Achievement Award.


A Personal Tribute to Ed Bradley

By James C. Johnson

I was attending a meeting in the black enterprise editorial conference room when I heard the sad news. A colleague interrupted the discussion to tell us that Ed Bradley, the long-time 60 Minutes correspondent, died that morning at the age of 65 from leukemia.

Our collective mood, which had been upbeat, became solemn. Bradley’s death meant we lost one of America’s pioneering black journalists. Immediately, we began to discuss how we could pay tribute to his brilliant career.

Bradley’s distinctive, powerful body of work featured his keen talent for hard-hitting interviews and serious investigative work. I loved his cool, articulate style, his intense curiosity, and the signature small earring in his left ear. It’s been a privilege for me to witness the career of the leading African American journalist on national television. He was quite inspirational.

Last year, Bradley received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Black Journalists. During his acceptance speech, Bradley reflected on the progress of black journalists.

“I look around this room tonight and I can see how much our profession has changed and our numbers have grown,” said Bradley, who was present at some of the organization’s first meetings in New York. “I also see it every day as I travel the country reporting stories for 60 Minutes. All I have to do is turn on the TV and I can see the progress that has been made,” he told the audience.

Bradley may have sensed the impact he made on countless black journalists throughout his career, but I’m sure he never knew the extent of his influence. He never knew me personally, but my rapport with him endured for many years while watching him numerous Sunday evenings on 60 Minutes.

From now on, when I hear the ticking stopwatch that appears before each program, it will be a reminder that Bradley was responsible for some of that program’s finest segments. When a significant event happens, most people can recall what they were doing at the exact time it occurred. I’ll always remember what I was doing on Nov. 9, 2006, when I heard Ed Bradley died. I was developing a news story, in an editor’s meeting, as a black journalist. It was a fitting moment.
James Johnson James C. Johnson is small business & technology editor for Black Enterprise magazine.
Bryan Monroe, NABJ president and vice president and editorial director for EBONY and JET Magazines in Chicago says Bradley’s interviews had a rhythm of their own.
“His love for jazz really infected his journalism. He’d be prepared, but just like a jazz musician, he would be open to improvisation,” Monroe says.

Monroe says Bradley was also always tuned in to the needs of young black journalists.

“He was very quiet and steady in coaching other black journalists,” says Monroe.

Black Enterprise Publisher and Chairman Earl G. Graves Sr. said Bradley set and maintained the standard of journalistic excellence.

The world has lost a gentleman journalist with the passing of Ed Bradley. Graves said. “As one of the first African American reporters on network television, he truly led the way for generations of up-and-coming black professionals in media. Ed is a true inspiration who served as a model of integrity—respected by his fellow colleagues, trusted by his viewers, and admired by the entire African American community who was with him every step of the way.”