The former New York Times reporter died on 24 April in Wilmington, Delaware, after a stroke last year, his daughter Val Dorah Smothers said.
Over nearly four decades, including 35 years at The Times, he covered racial turmoil, African American political milestones and served as Atlanta bureau chief during the 1996 Olympic bombing.
Smothers was among a small cohort of Black journalists hired into largely white newsrooms in the late 1960s and said his work was to reflect Black social and political trends.
How did Ronald Smothers' reporting during civil unrest reshape mainstream media's approach to covering race and social justice issues?
What lessons can today's journalists learn from Smothers' insistence on direct observation and accuracy amid media misinformation?
Ronald Smothers: A Trailblazing Journalist Who Redefined Race Reporting Over Four Decades
Overview
Ronald Smothers, a pioneering Black journalist and longtime New York Times reporter, passed away on April 24, 2026, after a stroke in 2025 led to declining health. Known for his courageous coverage of critical racial events like the 1967 Newark riots and the 1968 Washington D.C. uprising—where he resigned from The Washington Post over censorship—Smothers brought authentic Black community voices to mainstream media. His commitment to integrity shaped his teaching career, including developing the 'Race and the Media' seminar at Rutgers and helping launch the journalism minor at the University of Delaware. His legacy endures through tributes honoring his impact on journalism and media representation.