Michael J. Feeney, journalist and former president of NYABJ, dies at 32

Michael J. Feeney, freelance reporter and former president of the New York Association for Black Journalists, died Sunday.

He was 32.

According to the New York Daily News, the young journalist died of “complications from a staph infection in his kidneys.”

“Michael Feeney was a good person, first and foremost,” theGrio.com Managing Editor Todd Johnson said. “He was a principled journalist. He was dedicated to helping others. He advocated for those without a voice and made it a priority to celebrate his peers’ accomplishments over his own.”

Feeney was also a contributor to theGrio.com.

Tributes to Feeney have poured in on social media, with many citing his dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion for black journalists.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio offered his personal condolences on Twitter, calling Feeney a “rising star.”

Rev. Al Sharpton also tweeted out his thoughts on the “dynamic young journalist.”

Feeney was heavily involved in the National Association of Black Journalists. In 2010, NABJ named him its “Emerging Journalist of the Year,” an award dedicated to the brightest and most promising young members of the industry.

For theGrio.com, Feeney covered entertainment. A reliable writer, reporter and colleague, Feeney previously worked as a staff writer for the New York Daily News for five years. He’s also written for Ebony and The Record.

His mother told the New York Daily News her son was set to begin his “dream job,” covering entertainment for CNN.

“He was a tenacious journalist who possessed a passion and energy for telling stories reflective of diverse communities — stories which otherwise might not have been told,” said NABJ President Sarah J. Glover.

Friends of Michael J. Feeney have started a memorial fund in his honor. You can learn more about that here.