A man known for being a barrier breaker, Detroit broadcast journalist Joe Glover was making waves long before the advent of viral social media campaigns.
A pinnacle of black excellence, Joe got his start by being the first on the scene to whatever happened in the city—be it good, bad, or ugly—quickly becoming one of the most trusted faces during some of the city’s hardest and proudest years.

Joe Glover got his foot in the door in Detroit journalism during the 1960s at a time when few Black men were allowed on television, let alone behind a news desk.
Glover was not the kind of man who took no for an answer, though.
He had presence.
He had credibility.
And most of all, he had heart.
Eventually, his career found its jump-off point at WJBK-TV, then WXYZ (Channel 7) and WDIV (Channel 4).
It did not matter what station he was on. He brought the same approach every time: show up sharp, report the story with the facts and nothing but, do not be afraid to ask the hard questions, and always stay down to earth and connected to the viewers.
He was not flashy. He did not chase scandal or acclaim. Instead, he earned trust by showing up and telling the truth even when it was difficult.

Detroit in the 1970s and 1980s was a city in flux, one best known for the auto industry decline, white flight, rising crime rates, and racial tensions.
Few reporters knew how to cover such issues from the ground, but Glover was different.
For starters, he treated Black Detroiters like humans deserving of a voice—not just subjects.
His interviews were always well-informed, his tone respectful, and his presence steady and dependable—even during tumultuous times like the 1967 uprising, mayoral transitions, and school integration battles.
In short: he brought dignity to stories that were too often sensationalized.
Regardless of whether you were black, white, working-class, or suburban—watching him report on the news during this time was a grounding experience.

Glover was not an ordinary newsman.
Over the course of his career, he became a beloved community fixture, one known for showing up at school events, church gatherings, youth panels, and city forums in equal measure.
Unlike so many of his colleagues, he understood that his platform came with a certain degree of responsibility, often using airtime to shine the spotlight on everyone from local leaders to educators, small businesses, and organizations doing real work in Detroit’s most blighted neighborhoods.
For aspiring Black journalists, he was a perfect example of everything they hoped to become. To elders, he was a gentleman. And to young children growing up in Detroit households where the news was often background noise, his was the voice they heard—and believed.

Joe Glover retired from reporting decades ago, but his impact continued all the way until the end of his life.
Many journalists he passed the torch to (particularly Black reporters and anchors) credit him as the man responsible for making them believe it was possible.
He did not just represent progress in the newsroom.
He represented an authentically Detroit style of journalism—one that cared, one that listened, and one that stuck around even when the going got tough, making space for Detroit’s truth to be told—fully, fairly, and with heart.

Victoria Jackson (Editor In Chief)

Victoria Jackson is a lifelong student and sharp-eyed documentarian of all things Detroit, from its rich musical roots and cultural icons to its shifting neighborhoods, storied architecture, and underground legends. With her finger firmly on the pulse of both the city’s vibrant past and its rapidly unfolding future, she brings a deeply personal, historically grounded lens to every piece she writes.

Published on: September 16, 2025