Malvin Russell Goode
Encyclopedia
Malvin Russell Goode (February 13, 1908 – September 12, 1995) was an African-American television journalist and news correspondent.
, educated in the public school system of Homestead, Pennsylvania
, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
in 1931. Starting in high school, he was employed for twelve years as a laborer in steel mills, until five years after his graduation. Appointed to a position in the Juvenile Court
as a boys work director at the Centre Avenue YMCA
, he spearheaded the fight against discrimination in the Pittsburgh branches of the YMCA. Goode worked with the Pittsburgh Housing Authority for six years and joined the Pittsburgh Courier
in 1948, where he remained for 14 years.
radio, doing a 15-minute news show two nights a week. Soon, he had a five-minute daily news show on WHOD, where he was named that stations news director in 1952.
In 1962 he became the first Black network news correspondent for ABC
television network as a United Nations
(UN) reporter. He allegedly received this position after baseball
player Jackie Robinson
, who was the first Black player in the major leagues
, complained to ABC executives about the lack of Black reporters. Goode's first assignment was covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
; he distinguished himself with incisive TV and radio reports during the long hours of debate at the UN.
For two months in 1963 he joined three of his peers to conduct courses in journalism
for over 100 African students in seminars in Lagos
Nigeria; Addis Ababa
, Ethiopia; and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
.
Goode was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
fraternity, and in 1968 covered the assassination of fellow fraternity brother, Martin Luther King, Jr.
in 1971, Goode became the first Black member of the Radio and Television News Directors Association
.
In 1990, the National Association of Black Journalists
inducted Mr. Goode into its hall of fame
.
Malvin Goode died of a stroke on September 12th, 1995 at the age of 87 in Pittsburgh.
Education and early work
Goode was born in White Plains, VirginiaWhite Plains, Virginia
White Plains is an unincorporated community located in Brunswick County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Reference:...
, educated in the public school system of Homestead, Pennsylvania
Homestead, Pennsylvania
Homestead is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA, in the "Mon Valley," southeast of downtown Pittsburgh and directly across the river from the city limit line. The borough is known for the Homestead Strike of 1892, an important event in the history of labor relations in the United...
, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
in 1931. Starting in high school, he was employed for twelve years as a laborer in steel mills, until five years after his graduation. Appointed to a position in the Juvenile Court
Juvenile court
A juvenile court is a tribunal having special authority to try and pass judgments for crimes committed by children or adolescents who have not attained the age of majority...
as a boys work director at the Centre Avenue YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, he spearheaded the fight against discrimination in the Pittsburgh branches of the YMCA. Goode worked with the Pittsburgh Housing Authority for six years and joined the Pittsburgh Courier
Pittsburgh Courier
The Pittsburgh Courier was an American newspaper published in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was published from 1907 to 1965. Once the country's most widely circulated Black newspaper, the legacy and influence of the Pittsburgh Courier is unparalleled.A pillar of the Black Press, it rose...
in 1948, where he remained for 14 years.
Radio and television career
A year later he began a career in radio broadcasting with KQVKQV
KQV is a radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The station, which is the only broadcast station owned by Calvary, Inc., broadcasts at 1410 kHz, with 5000 watts of power day and night. KQV's call letters reportedly stand for King of the Quaker Valley...
radio, doing a 15-minute news show two nights a week. Soon, he had a five-minute daily news show on WHOD, where he was named that stations news director in 1952.
In 1962 he became the first Black network news correspondent for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television network as a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) reporter. He allegedly received this position after baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
player Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
, who was the first Black player in the major leagues
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, complained to ABC executives about the lack of Black reporters. Goode's first assignment was covering the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
; he distinguished himself with incisive TV and radio reports during the long hours of debate at the UN.
For two months in 1963 he joined three of his peers to conduct courses in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
for over 100 African students in seminars in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
Nigeria; Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Ethiopia; and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Dar es Salaam
Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...
.
Goode was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha
Alpha Phi Alpha is the first Inter-Collegiate Black Greek Letter fraternity. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Its founders are known as the "Seven Jewels". Alpha Phi Alpha developed a model that was used by the many Black Greek Letter Organizations ...
fraternity, and in 1968 covered the assassination of fellow fraternity brother, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
in 1971, Goode became the first Black member of the Radio and Television News Directors Association
Radio and Television News Directors Association
The Radio Television Digital News Association , formerly the Radio-Television News Directors Association , is a United States-based membership organization of radio, television and online news directors, producers, executives and educators...
.
In 1990, the National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...
inducted Mr. Goode into its hall of fame
NABJ Hall of Fame
The NABJ Hall of Fame is a hall of fame project of the National Association of Black Journalists honoring African-American and other journalists. The original Hall of Fame list was established on April 5, 1990, with the indictution of seven individuals. No further individuals were inducted until...
.
Malvin Goode died of a stroke on September 12th, 1995 at the age of 87 in Pittsburgh.