National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), was founded in 1975 by 44 men and women in Washington, D.C. Headquartered at the University of Maryland, College Park and with 3300 members, it is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation. It is also the largest of the four associations that comprise UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. The organization also maintains a Hall of Fame, which is designed to honor African American journalists.
The president is Barbara Ciara, anchor and managing editor of WTKR NewsChannel 3 in Norfolk, Va. The executive director is Karen Wynn Freeman, who joined the organization in 2006.
NABJ is a partner organization of Unity Journalists of Color, Inc.
Principles
NABJ is committed to the following:
- Strengthening ties among black journalists;
- Sensitizing all media to the importance of fairness in the workplace for black journalists;
- Expanding job opportunities and recruiting activities for veteran, young and aspiring black journalists, while providing continued professional development and training;
- Increasing the number of black journalists in management positions and encouraging black journalists to become entrepreneurs;
- Fostering an exemplary group of professionals that honors excellence and outstanding achievements by black journalists, and outstanding achievement in the media industry as a whole, particularly when it comes to providing balanced coverage of the black community and society at large;
- Working with high schools and colleges to identify and encourage black students to become journalists, and to diversify faculties and related curriculum; and
- Providing informational and training services to the general public.
Scholarships
The organization also distributes more than $100,000 in scholarships to African-American college journalism students, places 14-16 students at paid internships and sponsors short courses for students at historically black colleges and universities.
Founders
On Dec. 12, 1975, 44 men and women gathered at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. (now the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel) to form NABJ. Here are their names and where they worked at the time:
- Norma Adams-Wade, Dallas Morning News
- Carole Bartel, CORE Magazine
- Edward Blackwell (Deceased), Milwaukee Journal
- Reginald Bryant, Black Perspective on the News
- Maureen Bunyan, WTOP-TV, Washington, D.C.
- Crispin Campbell, WNET-TV, New York
- Charlie Cobb, WHUR Radio, Washington, D.C.
- Marilyn Darling, WHYY-TV, Wilmington, Del.
- Leon Dash, The Washington Post
- Joe Davidson, Philadelphia Bulletin
- Allison J. Davis, WBZ-TV, Boston
- Paul Delaney, The New York Times
- William Dilday, WLBT-TV, Jackson, Miss.
- Sandra Rosen Dillard, Denver Post
- Joel Dreyfuss, The Washington Post
- Sam Ford, WCCO-TV, Minneapolis
- David Gibson, Mutual Black Network
- Sandra Gilliam-Beale, WHIO-TV, Dayton, Ohio
- Bob Greenlee, New Haven Register
- Martha Griffin, National Public Radio
- Derwood Hall (Deceased), WSOC-TV, Charlotte
- Bob Hayes, San Francisco Examiner
- Toni Jones, Detroit Free Press
- Mal Johnson, Cox Broadcasting
- Vernon Jarrett (Deceased), Chicago Tribune
- Claude Lewis, Philadelphia Bulletin
- H. Chuku Lee, Africa Journal Ltd.
- Sandra Dawson Long, News Journal, Wilmington, Del.
- Pluria Marshall, Freelancer
- Acel Moore, Philadelphia Inquirer
- Luix Overbea, Christian Science Monitor
- Les Payne, Newsday
- Alex Poinsett, Ebony Magazine
- Claudia Polley, NBC
- Richard Rambeau, Project Bait, Detroit
- W. Curtis Riddle, Louisville (Ky.) Courier Journal
- Max Robinson (Deceased), WTOP-TV, Washington, D.C.
- Charlotte Roy, Detroit Free Press
- Vince Sanders, National Black Network
- Chuck Stone, Philadelphia Daily News
- Jeannye Thornton, U.S. News & World Report
- Francis Ward, Los Angeles Times
- John C. White, Washington Star
- DeWayne Wickham, The Baltimore Sun
Presidents
Men and Women who've served as presidents of NABJ.
- Chuck Stone, 1975-1977
- Vernon Jarrett, 1977-1979
- Bob Reid, 1979-1981
- Les Payne, 1981-1983
- Merv Aubespin, 1983-1985
- Al Fitzpatrick, 1985-1987
- DeWayne Wickham, 1987-1989
- Thomas Morgan III, 1989-1991
- Sidmel Estes-Sumpter, 1991-1993
- Dorothy Butler Gilliam, 1993-1995
- Arthur Fennell, 1995-1997
- Vanessa Williams, 1997-1999
- William W. Sutton, Jr., 1999-2001
- Condace Pressley, 2001-2003
- Herbert Lowe, 2003-2005
- Bryan Monroe, 2005-2007
- Barbara Ciara, 2007-2009
See also
- Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists
- NABJ Hall of Fame, which honors outstanding black journalists.
- Chuck Stone, the organization's first president (1975-1977).
External links
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