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Honoring the life and legacy of Michael Days for his extensive career serving Philadelphians as a reporter and editor for the Philadelphia Daily News and later as the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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WHEREAS, Michael Days was born and raised in North Philadelphia and graduated from Roman Catholic High School. He later attended the College of Holy Cross and the University of Missouri; and
WHEREAS, Post-graduation, Mr. Days worked as a reporter at the Courier Journal and the Wall Street Journal before joining the Philadelphia Daily News in 1986. His career blossomed at the Daily News, growing in progressively responsible roles from reporter to Assistant Editor, to Managing Editor, and eventually serving as Executive Vice President. At the time of appointment, Days was only one of fourteen Black managing editors in the country. Under his leadership, the Daily News won dozens of national and state awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in 2010; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, Mr. Days was named the Managing Editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Five years later he became the Vice President of Reader Engagement, and in 2018 started serving as Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Days brought a plethora of experience to his role as VP of Diversity and Inclusion from his lifetime of mentorship and advocacy for Black journalists. He was a lifetime member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and is a member of the NABJ Hall of Fame. He served as the President of the NABJ-Philadelphia chapter at the time of his death; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Days was additionally a past president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (PABJ), the Nation’s first established professional association of Black journalists. PABJ serves multiple goals: advancing the interest of Black journalists, sensitizing the media to racism in news coverage and employment practices, acting as role models for Black students interested in journalism, sponsoring scholarships for students, and strengthen skills among Black journalists through workshops and forums; and
WHEREAS, After spending his life as a pioneer of journalism and advocating for diversity in newsrooms, Mr. Days passed on Saturday October 18th in Trenton, New Jersey. Mr. Days was loved by every colleague and associate. He was a universally respected leader, defined by his approachableness, directness, and sincerity. He was adamantly trusting in his staff and reporters, and a role-model for other Black journalists, showing them how to succeed and thrive in the media; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby honors the life and legacy of Michael Days for his extensive career in journalism and advocacy for equality in newsrooms.
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