Michael Days Obituary

Michael I. Days, a pioneering Philadelphia journalist and champion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, died unexpectedly Saturday. After falling ill, he was taken to the Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, N.J., on Saturday where he passed later that evening. Mr. Days was 72.
A devout Catholic who grew up in North Philadelphia but has lived in Trenton for nearly 40 years, Mr. Days led the Philadelphia Daily News to a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2010. He received a host of awards for his work in journalism and in the community.
Mr. Days was a giant in journalism – not only in Philadelphia, but in the nation – receiving Hall of Fame honors from the National Association of Black Journalists and the Pennsylvania News Media Association. He served on the NABJ national board as a regional director. He is a past president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (PABJ) and, at the time of his death, was president of NABJ-Philadelphia.
He was a leader in mentoring young journalists. "His impact on the next generation of journalists was profound. I got into news leadership because of Michael. I'm still reeling from the news," said Sarah Glover, vice president for news at WHYY in Philadelphia.
"Great people make great journalists, and Michael Days was both," said NABJ President Errin Haines. "Our profession and our beloved organization are better for his work and his generosity. His leadership was rooted in service: to his hometown, to the truth, to so many of the journalists he mentored, and to NABJ. I am in awe and admiration of the way he always stepped up and showed up for Black journalists. Those who mourn him are a testament to that record."
NABJ-Philadelphia said in a statement: "He was our inaugural president, agreeing to lead us during the past two years as we carved out our own space as the only affiliate chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists in the Philadelphia region. In our first year, Mike accepted the NABJ President's Award on behalf of the organization."
He was author of the 2017 book "Obama's Legacy: What He Accomplished as President." He is co-author with his wife, Angela Dodson, of the upcoming book, "We've Been Here Before: How Rebellion and Activism Have Always Sustained America."
More recently Mr. Days was a partner in Editors On Call LLC., with his wife. He retired as vice president of diversity and inclusion, of the Philadelphia Media Network in 2020.
He was first named editor of the Philadelphia Daily News in 2005, becoming the first Black person to lead the paper in its 90-year history. He then served as managing editor at The Philadelphia Inquirer. He returned to the editor's position at the Daily News in June 2012. He was one of only a handful of African Americans to head newspapers in the United States.
After graduating from Roman Catholic High School in Philadelphia, he graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, with a degree in philosophy. He earned a master's degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He was a McCormick Fellow and a graduate of the Media Management Center's Advanced Executive Program at Northwestern University.
He previously worked at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky. and the Democrat & Chronicle in Rochester, N.Y., in various reporting positions before he returned to his native Philadelphia to work for The Wall Street Journal. He joined the Daily News as a reporter in 1986. He started his professional career with an internship at The Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Mr. Days served on the national board of the Associated Press Media Editors and was the editor of its quarterly magazine, APME News. He was a former president of the now-defunct News Leaders Association.
He also served on the advisory board of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communication at Hampton University and the board of visitors at Temple University's School of Media and Communication. He has served on the advisory board of the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism and as a board member of the Pennsylvania Society of News Editors.
Mr. Days has been honored twice by the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists, receiving the President's Award and the Trailblazer Award. He also received the Lillian Award for outstanding service to journalism from the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. From 2017-2020, he directed the Acel Moore High School Journalism Workshop at The Inquirer.
Mr. Days received the Robert McGruder Award for Diversity Leadership given jointly by the Associated Press Media Editors and the American Society of News Editors. In March 2015, he was selected as one of 125 persons of distinction by his alma mater, Roman Catholic High School, for its 125th anniversary.
Mr. Days is predeceased by his mother, Helen B. Days and his son, Adrian.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Angela Dodson; sister, Vera; three sons, Edward (Tracy), Andrew, and Umi Days; four grandchildren, Makayla, Marcel, Myles and Messiah; first cousins, the Smalls family, a host of other cousins and many close friends.
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