Obit

Henderson, 51

AFRICAN-AMERICAN JOURNALIST Angelo Henderson died last February 15. He was 51.

Henderson was a radio host and reporter for The Wall Street Journal. He eventually became the deputy bureau chief for Detroit. He also worked as radio host of Radio One Detroit’s WCHB-1200 and The Detroit News. (Longtime Detroit Journalist Angelo Henderson Dies, The Wall Street Journal)

In 1998, he wrote a story on an armed robbery at a pharmacy in northwest Detroit and its outcome. The story won a Pulitzer Prize in the feature writing category. (Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Angelo B. Henderson, who also found calling in radio, ministry, dies at 51, Detroit Free Press)

Henderson also founded Angelo Ink, a writing, speaking, and media consulting firm. (Radio personality, activist Angelo Henderson mourned as strong voice for Detroit, The Detroit News)

He was a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and served as president of the group’s Detroit chapter for two terms.

In a statement on Henderson’s death, Wall Street Journal Radio Network senior editor Ed Coury said: “Angelo, of course, covered automobile issues and later because of his abilities & skills, he was elevated to the position of writing features & stories that would appear on the front page of the Journal and because of that work, Angelo Henderson won the highest award in journalism, he won a Pulitzer Prize.” (Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist Angelo Henderson Dies at 51, CBS Detroit)

Jonathan Wolman, editor and publisher of The Detroit News, said:  “He was a great friend to many of us and one of the premier journalists in the country. Angelo was an insightful storyteller in his days here at The News and then at the Wall Street Journal before ‘retiring’ to his calling in the ministry. His radio broadcast on WCHB has been must-listening for anyone keeping track of events in Detroit.” (Radio personality, activist Angelo Henderson mourned as strong voice for Detroit, The Detroit News)

Henderson is survived by his wife, Felecia, and son Grant.

 

Desbarats, 80

CANADIAN JOURNALIST Peter Desbarats died last February 11 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 80.

Desbarats began his journalistic career as copy boy for the Canadian Press. He then went on to work for Reuters in London, England, the Montreal Gazette, Winnipeg Tribune, Montreal Star, Saturday Night Magazine, and Toronto Star. (Former dean of journalism at Western University started as a copy boy and carved out a distinguised career in print and broadcasting, The London Free Press)

Desbarats also worked as host of a newscast in Montreal, then joined Global News as co-anchor and Ottawa bureau chief.

In 1981, he became dean of the journalism school at Western University. In the 1990s, he served as one of the three commissioners of the Commission of Inquiry into the Deployment of Canadian Forces to Somalia. (Former journalist, author Peter Desbarats dies, The Gazette)

In 1997, he won the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Arts (ACTRA) Award for best news broadcaster for his work at Global News. In 2006, Desbarats was inducted into the Order of Canada.

Some of his books include “The State of Quebec: A Journalist’s View of the Quiet Revolution” (1965), “Rene: A Canadian in Search of a Country” (1976), “Guide to Canadian News Media” (1996), and “Somalia Cover Up: A Commissioner’s Journal” (1997).

In a statement on Desbarats’ death, Global News’ senior vice president Troy Reeb said: “Peter brought instant credibility to Global News and left a lasting stamp on our organization, as he did on all those whose careers he helped shape as Dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Western.” (Former Global News anchor Peter Desbarats remembered as ‘first-class journalist,’ Global News)

Peter Newman, an Ottawa-based journalist who  worked with Desbarats, said: “Peter was one of the last gentlemen reporters in Ottawa; intelligent, thorough, always well informed and ready to miss a story if he felt he couldn’t get all or most of the facts. His approach was never partisan but fair and unbiased, occasionally too fair.”

Desbarats is survived by his wife, 10 children, and 11 grandchildren.