By Alley Olivier From Caribbean Life

Nelson King began putting pen to paper for Caribbean Life newspaper while wrapping his senior year at Brooklyn College, pursuing a dual degree in Political Science and Journalism, back in 1990.

King’s affinity for words and sharp reporting did not start in the Fall of 1990, rather, it began right at home in St. Vincent and the Grenadines where his focus was to shine a bit of light on his hometown, Chateaubelair.

“I covered a lot of politics but I initially started out as a sports reporter — I wanted to put my town on the map,” King, who served as the president for the North Leeward Cricket Association and Chateaubelair Football Association in St. Vincent, said.

King’s first piece for Caribbean Life newspaper featured a cricket player who’s stomach was sticking out — reigning in a bit of laughter from the audience.

“I did the story and I didn’t realize it had so much impact on the readers; a couple people called me up and told me they were making fun of the guy in the article. I was a senior in college — been around a long time and have paid my dues so to speak,” he said.

His extensive resume included experience serving as a correspondent for multiple Caribbean-based publications.

In the mid-late 1980s, King had toured the Eastern Caribbean – travelling from St. Vincent to St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, Montserat – as a way to promote himself and his work. Before landing at Caribbean Life, King had already corresponded for exceptional news organizations such as the British Broadcasting Corporation.

Stacked alongside his vast journalism experiences are his time spent teaching Caribbean History and other topics at secondary schools in St. Vincent, serving as a local preacher, and activist in his community. All of these experiences lent to his inspiration to begin writing, documenting all that he encountered.

“I began to report these activities in the community to the national radio station and newspapers pro bono,” he said.

Much of his success he attributes to his extensive education, including an undergraduate law degree — LL.B (Upper Second Class Honors) — from Huddersfield University School of Law at Holborn College in the United Kingdom, and an associate degree in Liberal Arts from St. Leo University in Florida, while serving in the U.S. Army at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia.

His thirst for knowledge and connections to the Caribbean community — locally and abroad — have cemented King as a trusted source for reporting.

“The bottom line is promoting our community, the positive things for the most part because if we don’t do it, nobody else is going to do it. Back in the Caribbean I covered everything, it wasn’t just daily news, it was sports, politics, human interest stories, anything you could talk about, I put my hand on,” he said.

Watching the paper go through many transformations, King’s number one hope and wish to Caribbean Life is that everyone involved continues to support and develop our dynamic Caribbean community.

“I will hope that the Caribbean reporters for Caribbean Life will continue to un-earth events that are happening in our community.”

IMAGE: Nelson A. King accepts award from Registered Nurse Celia Bramble (R), flanked by his wife, Dofflyn. Photo courtesy of Nelson A. King

For more on this story go to: http://www.caribbeanlifenews.com/stories/2015/10/2015-10-09-ao-nelson-king-profile-anni-cl.html