Acel Moore (October 5, 1940 – February 12, 2016) was a long-time reporter, columnist, and editor for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Moore won a Pulitzer Prize in 1977. He was among the first Black journalists hired at the Inquirer.[1]

Early life

Moore and his twin brother were born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[2] He attended Overbrook High School in 1958 and then served for three years as a medic in the United States Army until 1962.[3][4]

Journalism Career

Moore started as a copy boy at the Inquirer in 1962. He was promoted to reporter in 1968.[5]

In 1977, Moore and Wendell Rawls, Jr., also of the Inquirer, won a Pulitzer Prize in Local Investigative Specialized Reporting for reporting on the conditions at Farview (Pennsylvania) State Hospital for the mentally ill.[6]

Moore, Chuck Stone of the Philadelphia Daily News, and Claude Lewis of the Evening Bulletin co-founded the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists in 1973.[7] He was later a co-founder of the National Association of Black Journalists.

In the 1970s, Moore also was a producer on a PBS show called "Black Perspectives on the News."[8] He taught journalism at the University of California-Berkeley, Temple University, and Florida A & M University.[9]

The Nieman Foundation at Harvard University called him "a champion of newsroom diversity."[10] According to Michel Martin of National Public Radio, Moore served "as a mentor to hundreds of journalists, both informally and with programs to introduce people of diverse backgrounds to journalism careers."[11]

In 2005, Moore retired. He received a lifetime achievement award from the National Association of Black Journalists in 2011.[12]

Personal life

He married Linda Wright.[13] They had two children, a daughter (Mariah) and a son (Acel Jr). Acel Sr. died on February 12, 2016, and was interred at Ivy Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.[14]

Legacy

The Philadelphia Inquirer annually runs the Acel Moore High School Journalism Workshop. According to the Inquirer, the "hands-on program seeks to introduce Philadelphia-area high school students to the fields of print, digital journalism, and photography.[15]

When the School District of Philadelphia renamed the Andrew Jackson School (Philadelphia), one of the four finalists for the new name was the Acel Moore School.[16] It was not chosen as the new name.

References

  1. "Black City. White Paper". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  2. Cassie Owens (2016-03-04). "Acel Moore and the future of minority journalists in Philly". Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  3. "What Acel Moore Meant to Journalism — in Philadelphia and Beyond". Philadelphia Magazine. 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  4. "Acel Moore, Founder of Black Journalists' Organization, Dies at 75". The New York Times. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  5. "Acel Moore, Founder of Black Journalists' Organization, Dies at 75". The New York Times. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  6. "Acel Moore and Wendell Rawls Jr. of the Philadelphia Inquirer". The Pulitzer Prizes. Columbia University. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  7. "The Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists remembers founder Acel Moore". Philadelphia Sun. 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  8. "Acel Moore, Founder of Black Journalists' Organization, Dies at 75". The New York Times. 2016-02-17. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  9. "Acel Moore". Digital Special Collections, Binghamton University. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  10. "Acel Moore, NF '80, champion of newsroom diversity, dies at 75". 2016-02-16. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  11. "Remembering NABJ Co-Founder Acel Moore". NPR. 2016-02-13. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  12. "What Acel Moore Meant to Journalism — in Philadelphia and Beyond". Philadelphia Magazine. 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  13. "Acel Moore, 75, award-winning journalist". Associated Press. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  14. "The Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists remembers founder Acel Moore". Philadelphia Sun. 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  15. "About". Retrieved 20 February 2022.
  16. "Andrew Jackson School Name Change Town Hall" (PDF). School District of Philadelphia. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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