Marvin Galbraith Barrett (May 6, 1920 - August 19, 2006) was an American author and educator known as an authority on broadcast journalism.[1]
Barrett was born in Des Moines, Iowa. His father, Edwin, was a radio actor and taught communications at Drake University.[1] Barrett graduated from Harvard University in 1942. He served in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1946.[1] In 1952 Barrett married Mary Ellin Berlin, daughter of Irving Berlin.[1]
Barrett worked as a contributing editor to TIME and Newsweek magazines, executive editor of Show Business Illustrated, and managing editor of Show Magazine.[1]
For many years, Barrett was the director of the DuPont-Columbia Survey of Broadcast Journalism. He received the Sigma Delta Chi Award for distinguished journalism for its 1975 report Moments of Truth.[2]
A near-death experience in 1984 inspired Barrett to keep journals, and resulted in his 1999 book Second Chance: A Life After Death.[3]
Barrett died in Manhattan as a result of congestive heart failure.[1]