A pioneer of the communications industry in Malta, Joseph Brockdorff, died on Tuesday, aged 77, after “a sudden and unexpected illness”, the company he founded, BPC International, said yesterday.

Known to many as JB, his interest in the media started in his late teens when he took part in radio broadcasts on Rediffusion, a private cable radio network. 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 1960s, BPC said.

He foresaw the usefulness of a broad-based and non-partisan journalistic media organisation and was instrumental in the setting up of The Malta Press Club, forerunner of the present Institute of Maltese Journalists.

He was instrumental in pioneering professional marketing communications in Malta at a time when advertising was very much in its infancy

Through his support, the institute developed a more comprehensive framework for responsible journalism in Malta by establishing a code of ethics for journalists and a Press Ethics Commission.

He was also instrumental in initiating the annual journalism awards initiative.

Until recently, Mr Brockdorff sat on the board of Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti.

The Institute of Maltese Journalists conveyed its condolences, recalling Mr Brockdorff’s contribution to journalism in Malta.

His funeral will be held today at 2pm at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy, San Pawl tat-Tarġa, Naxxar.