 By 1975 he was pursuing a <unk> in radio <unk> , first at Temple University 's <unk> and then at commercial enterprises . In 1975 , he was employed at radio station <unk> and he became host of a weekly feature program of <unk> @-@ FM in 1978 . He was also employed for brief periods at radio station <unk> , and became active in the local chapter of the <unk> <unk> Association of America . From 1979 he worked at National Public Radio @-@ affiliate ( NPR ) <unk> until 1981 when he was asked to submit his resignation after a dispute about the requirements of objective focus in his presentation of news . As a radio journalist he earned the moniker " the voice of the <unk> " and was renowned for identifying with and giving exposure to the <unk> <unk> @-@ <unk> commune in Philadelphia 's <unk> Village neighborhood , including <unk> of the 1979 – 80 trial of certain of its members ( the " <unk> Nine " ) convicted of the murder of police officer James <unk> . During his broadcasting career , his high @-@ profile interviews included Julius Erving , Bob Marley and Alex <unk> , and he was elected president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists . 
