Communications industry pioneer Joseph Brockdorff passes away

Joseph ‘JB’ Brockdorff, founder and Chairman of BPC International Ltd, passed away on Tuesday 7 April at the age of 77, after a sudden and unexpected illness.

His interest in the media started when he was in his late teens when he took part in radio broadcasts on Rediffusion. He was instrumental in pioneering professional marketing communications in Malta setting up BPC in the late 1950s at a time when advertising was very much in its infancy. 

He fostered local broadcasting and performing talent. A ground-breaking initiative was the production and marketing of the first series of 45rpm recordings of lyrics and music by Maltese composers in the 60s.

JB was the founder of the Malta Chapter of the International Advertising Association, the international tri-partite body including advertisers, advertising agencies and media companies.

He foresaw the usefulness of a broad-based and non-partisan journalistic media organisation, and was instrumental in the setting up of the Institute of Maltese Journalists, which for years has fulfilled a unique and useful role in fostering a responsible, professional and self-regulated free press in Malta.

Through his support, the Institute developed a more comprehensive framework for responsible journalism to flourish in Malta through such initiatives as the establishment of a Code of Ethics for Journalists in Malta and the setting up of a Press Ethics Commission. He was instrumental in initiating the annual and prestigious ‘Award to Journalists’ initiative, now the main highlight of the journalistic calendar in Malta.

JB was until recently on the board of the Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. Since the 1990s, he played an active role in formulating the Foundation strategies and policies to spread awareness of the islands' cultural heritage.

Details of the funeral will be announced later.