Malcolm Poindexter
Encyclopedia
Malcolm P. Poindexter Jr. (April 3, 1925 - March 30, 2010) was an American
newspaper
, radio
and television
journalist
whose career spanned more than 50 years. Poindexter reported for KYW-TV
, based in Philadelphia, from 1967 until his retirement in February 2001. He won three Emmy Awards for his reports during his career.
Poindexter was born and raised in the Eastwick
neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia
. His father was a pianist
, vocal coach and baritone
. He graduated from Overbrook High School
and attended Temple University
.
He began his career in journalism
in 1947 as a writer
and general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune
and the Associated Negro Press. Poindexter spent 15 years with the Philadelphia Tribune as a writer
, photojournalist, columnist
, sportswriter, sports editor, city editor, business manager
, assistant comptroller and comptroller
. During the 1948 Democratic
and Republican National Conventions
, both of which were held in Philadelphia, Poindexter had to interview
politicians and attendees frm the hallways because black journalists were not allowed on the convention floors. Poindexter joined the staff of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in 1960 and contributed feature articles to the newspaper's Sunday magazine.
KYW Newsradio
, which began boradcasting in 1965, hired Poindexter as one of its first reporters. He created a five part series on the lives of migrant workers in South Jersey, in which he became a migrant worker himself. His migrant worker series won KYW Newsradio the radio station's first two professional awards - the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Community Service and an Associated Press
award.
Poindexter joined KYW-TV
in 1967. He worked as a general assignment reporter, education reporter and television host at KYW.
He received more than 300 awards during his career, including four Emmys. Poindexter was inducted into the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 1996.
Poindexter and his family moved from his former home on Washington Square
, an affluent section of Center City, to a larger house facing Norris Square in North Philadelphia in 1975. He rehabiliated their new home and turned his attention to the surrounding neighborhood, which suffered from high crime and poverty. He later spoke to a Philadelphia Daily News
reporter of his move, "I'd been reporting on misery and suffering for 25 years. I felt there was more I could do than just report after the fact. Why not roll up my sleeves and see what I could do?" People Magazine ran an article on Poindexter called "A Philadelphia Anchorman Fights to Change His Mean Streets" on his efforts in its June 30, 1980 issue.
Poindexter retired from KYW-TV, often known as CBS 3, in February 2001.
Malcolm Poindexter died of complications from Alzheimer's disease
at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
on March 30, 2010, at the age of 84, just four days before his 85th birthday. A resident of Center City at the time, Poindexter was survived by his wife, Ilse, a former librarian
with the Free Library of Philadelphia
; sons, David and Malcolm III; daughter, Lynne and a stepdaughter, Kirsten. He was also survived by three former wives - Lois Herring, Edie Garrett, and Lottie.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
whose career spanned more than 50 years. Poindexter reported for KYW-TV
KYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
, based in Philadelphia, from 1967 until his retirement in February 2001. He won three Emmy Awards for his reports during his career.
Poindexter was born and raised in the Eastwick
Eastwick, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Eastwick is a neighborhood in the Southwest section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the southwesternmost neighborhood in the city, bordering Philadelphia International Airport and the city line with Delaware County, Pennsylvania at Cobbs Creek and Darby Creek. The Elmwood Park...
neighborhood of Southwest Philadelphia
Southwest Philadelphia
Southwest Philadelphia is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The section can be described as extending from the western side of the Schuylkill River to the city line, with the SEPTA Media/Elwyn Line serving as the northern border...
. His father was a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, vocal coach and baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
. He graduated from Overbrook High School
Overbrook High School (Philadelphia)
Overbrook High School is an inner-city, public, four-year secondary school in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.-School:...
and attended Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
.
He began his career 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...
in 1947 as a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Tribune
Philadelphia Tribune
The Philadelphia Tribune is an American newspaper, headquartered at 520 South 16th Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that primarily targets the African American community. Published Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, it is the oldest continually running African-American newspaper,...
and the Associated Negro Press. Poindexter spent 15 years with the Philadelphia Tribune as a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, photojournalist, columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
, sportswriter, sports editor, city editor, business manager
Business manager
In a general context, a business manager is a person who manages the work of others in order to run a business efficiently and make a large profit...
, assistant comptroller and comptroller
Comptroller
A comptroller is a management level position responsible for supervising the quality of accounting and financial reporting of an organization.In British government, the Comptroller General or Comptroller and Auditor General is in most countries the external auditor of the budget execution of the...
. During the 1948 Democratic
1948 Democratic National Convention
The 1948 Democratic National Convention was held at Convention Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 12 to July 14, and resulted in the nominations of incumbent Harry S Truman for President and U.S. Senator Alben W...
and Republican National Conventions
1948 Republican National Convention
The 1948 Republican National Convention was held at the Municipal Auditorium, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 21 to 25, 1948.New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey had paved the way to win the Republican presidential nomination in the primary elections, where he had beaten Minnesota Governor...
, both of which were held in Philadelphia, Poindexter had to interview
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
politicians and attendees frm the hallways because black journalists were not allowed on the convention floors. Poindexter joined the staff of the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin in 1960 and contributed feature articles to the newspaper's Sunday magazine.
KYW Newsradio
KYW (AM)
KYW is a class A AM radio station on 1060 kHz licensed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW is owned by the CBS Radio unit of CBS Corporation, and has broadcasted an all-news format since 1965. The station's studios are located on Market Street in Center City Philadelphia, and it transmitters...
, which began boradcasting in 1965, hired Poindexter as one of its first reporters. He created a five part series on the lives of migrant workers in South Jersey, in which he became a migrant worker himself. His migrant worker series won KYW Newsradio the radio station's first two professional awards - the Sigma Delta Chi Award for Community Service and an Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
award.
Poindexter joined KYW-TV
KYW-TV
KYW-TV, virtual channel 3, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. KYW-TV shares a studio facility with its sister station, CW flagship WPSG just north of Center City Philadelphia...
in 1967. He worked as a general assignment reporter, education reporter and television host at KYW.
He received more than 300 awards during his career, including four Emmys. Poindexter was inducted into the Philadelphia Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 1996.
Poindexter and his family moved from his former home on Washington Square
Washington Square (Philadelphia)
Washington Square, originally designated in 1682 as Southeast Square, is an open-space park in Center City Philadelphia's Southeast quadrant and one of the five original planned squares laid out on the city grid by William Penn's surveyor, Thomas Holme. It is part of both the Washington Square West...
, an affluent section of Center City, to a larger house facing Norris Square in North Philadelphia in 1975. He rehabiliated their new home and turned his attention to the surrounding neighborhood, which suffered from high crime and poverty. He later spoke to a Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
reporter of his move, "I'd been reporting on misery and suffering for 25 years. I felt there was more I could do than just report after the fact. Why not roll up my sleeves and see what I could do?" People Magazine ran an article on Poindexter called "A Philadelphia Anchorman Fights to Change His Mean Streets" on his efforts in its June 30, 1980 issue.
Poindexter retired from KYW-TV, often known as CBS 3, in February 2001.
Malcolm Poindexter died of complications from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
on March 30, 2010, at the age of 84, just four days before his 85th birthday. A resident of Center City at the time, Poindexter was survived by his wife, Ilse, a former librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
with the Free Library of Philadelphia
Free Library of Philadelphia
The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system serving Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-History:History of the Free Library of Philadelphia: Initiated by the efforts of Dr...
; sons, David and Malcolm III; daughter, Lynne and a stepdaughter, Kirsten. He was also survived by three former wives - Lois Herring, Edie Garrett, and Lottie.