Marvin Leon Lake
Marvin Leon Lake was an extraordinary career journalist. A sociology major with a psychology minor from Norfolk State University, he was a campus newspaper editor and the inaugural winner of the NSU Department of Mass Communications and Journalism's Distinguished Alumni in Media Award and the Excellence in Communications Award. Lake was a teacher of a multiculturalism course at Hampton University and an adjunct at NSU. He covered a variety of topics as a reporter, including politics, Norfolk municipal administration, federal courts, education, and special initiatives. His essay "Overdue Restitution" from 2005 regarding a new state scholarship scheme for individuals won an Excel Award from the Hampton Roads Black Media after being negatively impacted by Massive Resistance experts. He was a founding member and previous president of HRBMP and authored a column offering career guidance. "Career-Wise" for the journal of the National Association of Black Journalists. Furthermore, as the first African American reporter, editor, and public editor, M.L., as he was affectionately known, retired in 2007 from The Virginian-Pilot, capping a 41-year career. For nine years, he served as both the Sunday Commentary editor and the director of recruitment for The Pilot's newsroom. Marvin oversaw The Pilot's summer internship program, Landmark Communications' year-long Minority Training Program, and its Minority Journalism Workshop for high school students.