Veteran journalist Ronald James Harris, a 73 year-old beloved father, author and professor died in a sailing accident. Harris went missing on a sailing trip on August 25 after checking in with a friend where he reported having trouble with his anchor. His body was recovered off Ossabaw Island in Georgia after a multi-day search involving the Coast Guard and state authorities.
Born in Memphis, Harris stayed in the south to pursue his education and went to Georgia to develop his love of journalism and media at Clark Atlanta University, where he graduated with a bachelor’s in communication and media studies.
He worked for a number of prestigious outlets including the Los Angeles Times for 14 years in various editorial positions. He demonstrated dedication to assisting up and coming journalists of color by becoming the inaugural director of the Minority Editorial Training Program, helping college graduates gain valuable newsroom experience.
“… Ron showed that he was a gifted reporter, editor and mentor for young journalists. He put those skills to work to make the profession better and to make the world a better place.”
Kathleen Best
“Ron was a serious journalist whose dedication to the craft extended well beyond the business itself,” said friend and professional colleague, Carlton Winfrey. “He believed in investing in the people who make journalism work. Whether you were merely considering a career in journalism, just starting out, or in mid-career or a veteran, Ron always had advice and encouragement for you. He was a mentor, teacher, advisor and consultant to dozens of people, and not all of whom are journalists.”
After the LA Times, Harris landed at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where he spent nearly 9 years in a variety of roles including editorial writer, assistant metro editor and national correspondent, which included covering the Iraq war. He and photographer Andy Cutraro volunteered to go to Iraq to document the events. Harris was stationed in the Middle East for six months and described the experience as a dramatic and a very exciting time.
Harris left the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to become the director of communications at Howard University Hospital. He’d already been working at Howard University School of Communication as an adjunct professor, before he transitioned into full-time. Harris’ final role reflected his lifelong commitment to giving back and supporting new talent during his nearly 20 years at the university.
“I had the good fortune to work with Ron twice, once at the Post-Dispatch and once at the Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland,” said Kathleen Best. “In both places, Ron showed that he was a gifted reporter, editor and mentor for young journalists. He put those skills to work to make the profession better and to make the world a better place.”
Not only was Harris respected as a consummate journalist, he was a dedicated father. Tracy Harris, one of Ron’s children, has many heart-felt recollections of his dad, the fun, the lessons and the love.
“Throughout my life,” Tracy said, “we created a lot of memories by moving to a lot of different areas throughout his career. Our first move outside of Memphis was to Chicago where I had to learn to grow quick. My dad was right there to teach me the lessons needed to function in this new city. We moved to Los Angeles in the 1980s and it was awesome. We had a great time.
“As a child that enjoyed the water, my dad and I got the opportunity to have the world’s biggest swimming pool, the Pacific Ocean. My dad obviously was a person that loved to sail, and I had the opportunity to be part of watching him take sailing lessons, as well as go out and take different trips up and down the coast. It was truly some of the best times ever.”
In addition to sailing, Harris was also an art and music lover, with jazz being his favorite. He collected art and, in his signature, generous spirit, gave away a lot of pieces to loved ones.
Along with indulging in culture, Harris also became an author and co-wrote “The Black and The Blue: A Cop Reveals Crimes, Racism and Injustice in Law Enforcement.” It’s a critically acclaimed study of policing and race after the 2014 and 2015 shootings of Black men, which was long listed for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award for Nonfiction.
Among other achievements, Harris co-led an Associated Press collaboration that investigated nearly 1,000 deaths during police arrests involving supposedly non-lethal force. The project, which he guided students through by examining taser use in Georgia, was a Pulitzer finalist for investigative reporting.
“In a career spanning decades, Ron never lost his passion for pursuing a good story, particularly if it shone a light on injustice,” Best said. “I’m heartbroken his light has been extinguished too soon.”
Harris made his mark professionally as a noteworthy journalist and dedicated educator. It is his humanity that lingers in the hearts of his loved ones.
“Beyond his professional career,” Winfrey said, “the title I most cherish is that of friend. I truly miss him.
Rest in power, my friend.”
Harris is survived by his brother Gerard Harris, his sons, Tracy Harris and Ohaji Abdallah, his daughter, Nykeba Newsum, his grandchildren Kyle Brown-Harris, Imani Abdallah, Omari Abdallah and his great grandson, Jayden Brown-Harris.
Howard University will host a memorial service for Harris on September 19. Harris’ family will be holding his funeral in Memphis on September 27.
I went to school with Ronnie, and he and I were the best of friends in those early years. How can I contact his daughter so that I can share many probably unknown experiences and just connect. I loved Ron and he loved me. Dr. James Michael Shorter