Glen Ford (journalist) facts for kids

Glen Ford (born Glen Rutherford; November 5, 1949 – July 28, 2021) was an American journalist. He was also a writer, and a host and producer for radio and TV.

Glen Ford helped start a news website called Black Agenda Report. He was a socialist and served in the Vietnam War. He was also a member of the Black Panther Party. Ford worked in news media for many years. He reported from the Capitol Hill, State Department, and White House. He did this for the Mutual Black Network, a radio company. In 1977, he helped create and host America’s Black Forum. This was the first national TV news show for Black audiences.

About Glen Ford's Life

Glen Ford was born on November 5, 1949. His birthplace was Jersey City, New Jersey. His mother, Shirley, was Irish American. She was also a civil rights activist from New Jersey.

His father, Rudy “The Deuce” Rutherford, was a famous radio host. He was the first Black man to host a non-gospel TV show in the Deep South. This show was called Rocking with The Deuce. Glen Ford's parents later divorced. He spent his childhood in both New Jersey and Georgia.

Glen Ford passed away on July 28, 2021. He was 71 years old. He died from cancer in Manhattan.

Glen Ford's Career Journey

Glen Ford started his radio career very young. He was only 11 years old when he began reading news. His first full-time job was at WRDW radio station. This station was in Augusta, Georgia and owned by James Brown. It was James Brown who shortened his name to 'Ford'.

After serving four years in the Army, he worked as a radio journalist. He worked in Georgia and Maryland. In 1974, he moved to Washington, D.C. There, he joined the Mutual Black Network.

Glen Ford was known for his strong opinions. He often spoke about politics and current events. For example, he was very critical of Barack Obama's time as president. During Obama's re-election campaign in 2012, Ford shared his views. He said that Obama was "the more effective evil." He meant that he believed Obama's actions caused more harm than good.

He also believed that Obama's foreign policy was "imperialistic." This means he felt Obama's policies ignored international rules. He thought they did not respect the independence of other countries.

Books by Glen Ford

Glen Ford also wrote some important books:

• The Big Lie: Analysis of U.S. Press Coverage of the Grenada Invasion. Prague: International Organization of Journalists, 1985.
• The Black Agenda. OR Books, 2021.