Bloomberg News journalist Schmidt has died

Bloomberg News editor in chief John Micklethwait sent out the following on Friday:

It is with profound sadness that I share the news that Blake Schmidt, out friend and colleague, passed away last night after his brave fight with cancer.

Blake was a courageous journalist, a fighter for press freedom and a dear friend to many across the globe. He was also a husband to Vita and father to Libby.

A brilliant linguist with a zest for life, a passion for learning, and a special ability to connect across cultures, Blake reported from dozens of countries, seeking our political corruption and hidden fortunes and influence. He worked from our Sao Paulo, Hong Kong and New York bureaus, where he was always looking to help colleagues with stores and pursue new adventures. He returned to the US for a Knight-Bagehot fellowship and continued reporting on China’s relationship with the US.

We are in touch with Blake’s family as they make arrangements for services. If you have questions about how you can share your condolences, please reach out to Theresa Sheeran in HR.

John