Paul Welden Duke (October 16, 1926 — July 18, 2005) was an American newspaper, radio and television journalist, best known for his 20-year stint as moderator of Washington Week in Review on PBS.
20-year stint as moderator of Washington Week in Review on PBS
Duke was born in Pennsylvania to Frank W. Duke (1888–1945) and Flossie C. Duke (1889–1952; née Mills). Both his parents hailed from Hanover County, Virginia and the family moved back to Virginia soon after Paul was born. He grew up in Richmond, Virginia, where he worked at radio station WMBG during high school.[1] After graduating high school, Duke attended the University of Richmond where he majored in English. After he graduated in 1947, he became a sportswriter for Associated Press (AP) in Richmond. Within a few years, he was reporting on major national stories, particularly the struggle for Civil rights. His byline became known nationally and, after ten years with the organization, AP rewarded him with a permanent assignment to its Washington bureau.
He covered the 1960 Presidential campaign for The Wall Street Journal (which he had joined the previous year) and in 1963 joined NBC News as a Capitol Hill reporter. After 11 years with the network, he moved to PBS to become their esteemed low-key moderator of Washington Week In Review. The previous host, Duke's former NBC colleague, Robert MacNeil, had given up his post to start PBS' nightly news and analysis program The Robert MacNeil Report. Duke continued his hosting duties for a record twenty years, as Washington Week in Review became the longest-running series on PBS, won an Emmy Award and gained an audience of 4.6 million. From 1980 to 1984, Duke also hosted The Lawmakers, a show on PBS about Congress.[1]
Duke retired as a full-time journalist in 1994, but continued to contribute reports to his old program from his new base in London, where he lived in 1995–1996. He also served as a news analyst for the BBC and provided an Alistair Cooke-like weekly radio "Letter from London" to National Public Radio (NPR)'s Washington station WETA. In 1999, upon the dismissal of his successor, Ken Bode, he briefly returned as moderator of Washington Week in Review until the eventual permanent host, Gwen Ifill, was able to assume her new duties. In 2003, Paul Duke was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board.
He was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board in 1998.
Paul Duke was 78 when he died of acute leukemia at his home in Washington, D.C. He had a son, Paul Jr. from his first marriage to Janet Johnston. Since 1985 he had been married to Janet Wachter.
Referencesedit
^ abBrennan, Patricia (1990-07-29). "PAUL DUKE'S ROUNDTABLE". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
paul, duke, american, football, player, american, football, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, 2018, learn, when,. For the American football player see Paul Duke American football This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message Paul Welden Duke October 16 1926 July 18 2005 was an American newspaper radio and television journalist best known for his 20 year stint as moderator of Washington Week in Review on PBS Paul DukeBorn 1926 10 16 October 16 1926Pennsylvania U S DiedJuly 18 2005 2005 07 18 aged 78 Washington D C U S NationalityAmericanOccupation s Newspaper radio and television journalistKnown for20 year stint as moderator of Washington Week in Review on PBS Duke was born in Pennsylvania to Frank W Duke 1888 1945 and Flossie C Duke 1889 1952 nee Mills Both his parents hailed from Hanover County Virginia and the family moved back to Virginia soon after Paul was born He grew up in Richmond Virginia where he worked at radio station WMBG during high school 1 After graduating high school Duke attended the University of Richmond where he majored in English After he graduated in 1947 he became a sportswriter for Associated Press AP in Richmond Within a few years he was reporting on major national stories particularly the struggle for Civil rights His byline became known nationally and after ten years with the organization AP rewarded him with a permanent assignment to its Washington bureau He covered the 1960 Presidential campaign for The Wall Street Journal which he had joined the previous year and in 1963 joined NBC News as a Capitol Hill reporter After 11 years with the network he moved to PBS to become their esteemed low key moderator of Washington Week In Review The previous host Duke s former NBC colleague Robert MacNeil had given up his post to start PBS nightly news and analysis program The Robert MacNeil Report Duke continued his hosting duties for a record twenty years as Washington Week in Review became the longest running series on PBS won an Emmy Award and gained an audience of 4 6 million From 1980 to 1984 Duke also hosted The Lawmakers a show on PBS about Congress 1 Duke retired as a full time journalist in 1994 but continued to contribute reports to his old program from his new base in London where he lived in 1995 1996 He also served as a news analyst for the BBC and provided an Alistair Cooke like weekly radio Letter from London to National Public Radio NPR s Washington station WETA In 1999 upon the dismissal of his successor Ken Bode he briefly returned as moderator of Washington Week in Review until the eventual permanent host Gwen Ifill was able to assume her new duties In 2003 Paul Duke was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board He was elected to the Common Cause National Governing Board in 1998 Paul Duke was 78 when he died of acute leukemia at his home in Washington D C He had a son Paul Jr from his first marriage to Janet Johnston Since 1985 he had been married to Janet Wachter References edit a b Brennan Patricia 1990 07 29 PAUL DUKE S ROUNDTABLE Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2021 04 26 External links editPaul Duke at IMDb Appearances on C SPAN Washington Post obituary Transcript of PBS tribute to Duke Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Duke amp oldid 1191038690, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
