NABJ’s ‘Uncle Merv’ Aubespin Dies at 86

Pioneer Artist, Reporter at Courier Journal The late Unity: Journalists of Color, a coalition of the Black, Hispanic, Asian American and Native American journalist organizations, was miffed that New York University’s 2012 list of the& top journalists of the last century& was short on people who looked like them. So they put together their own — a “seed list”– and of course& Mervin Aubespin& was on it. Why? When “Uncle Merv” was inducted in 2007 into the National Association of Black Journalists’ Hall of Fame, NABJ summed up his career thus: “Merv Aubespin: Past president of NABJ from 1983-1985. He established the organization’s first national office and increased the visibility of NABJ internationally. “For 34 years, he worked as an artist, reporter and editor at the The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Kentucky and has served as an advisor to newspaper executives seeking to recruit and retain journalists of color. “Thousands of professional and aspiring journalists across the country affectionately refer to Aubespin as‘Uncle Merv’ as he remains a popular mentor and lecturer.” ‘Uncle Merv’ Aubespin died at 86 Wednesday and had been living in Southern California,& Rachel Smith& reported for the Courier Journal. The story did not list a cause of...