Former NBC News president Reuven Frank has died of pneumonia at age 85, TVNewser has confirmed.

Broadcasting & Cable says Frank joined NBC News in 1950 as a writer and was the producer of the Huntley-Brinkley Report from its inception in 1956 to 1962, when he was named executive producer. "He was named a VP of NBC news in January 1966 and an executive VP two years later."

TV Week says: "Mr. Frank served as president of NBC News from 1968 to 1972 and again from 1985 to 1987. He retired from NBC News in 1988." "But it was as a producer that he left his greatest mark, at NBC as well as in his profession," the AP says.

"Frank's legacy includes pioneering the half-hour news format when he was helping develop the Huntley-Brinkley Report, as well as pioneering presidential convention TV reporting, teaming his two nightly news anchors for the coverage and introducing floor reporters, elevated cameras, and an internal wire service," B&C adds.

NBC News said in a statement: "Reuven Frank was a giant of broadcast journalism, who in many ways was a founding father of the modern form of broadcast journalism."