NABJ Task Forces
NABJ offers various Task Forces that allow members to work together, network and advance NABJ’s mission in their areas of interest. Read more about our Task Forces on this page. Best viewed on a desktop.
Want to donate to our Task Forces’s Convention activities and other programming? Click HERE.
Task Force Procedures & Guidelines can be found here.
Arts and Entertainment Task Force
The NABJ Arts and Entertainment Task Force is available to members who cover arts and entertainment. Joining this group is a great way to connect to the broader arts and entertainment community.
- Chair: Venton D. Blandin, vinnieinvirginia@yahoo.com
- Co-Chair: Kathia Woods, CupofSoulShow@gmail.com
Media-Related Professionals Task Force
The Media-Related Professionals Task Force includes part-time journalists, part-time freelance writers, educators, marketing and public relations professionals, as well as other media professionals. The purpose of this task force is to advance the causes and issues related to these sectors and to NABJ.
- Chair: Terry Allen, terryallenpr@gmail.com
- Co-Chair: Pamela R. Purifoy, prpropam@gmail.com
Black Press Task Force
The Black Press Task Force includes journalists and owners of Black media outlets. The group’s purpose is to advocate on behalf of Black-owned media and to foster camaraderie amongst journalists in this space.
- Chair: Tene Croom, tene.croom.tc@gmail.com
Broadcast Task Force
The Broadcast Task Force includes radio and television journalists. The group’s purpose is to champion diversity in newsrooms across the country and to inspire camaraderie among broadcast journalists.
- Chairs: Alexis Rogers, alexisrrogers@gmail.com and Brandon Pope, jlandon623@yahoo.com
Print Task Force
The Print Task Force includes copy desk managers, copy editors, news editors, line editors, layout and design editors, and yes, recruiters. The group's purposes are to inspire camaraderie among editors across the country; to share ideas about editing; and to discuss the ups and downs of working a non-traditional schedule. We also encourage college students to pursue copy editing and other careers in newsrooms.
- Co-Chairs: John-John Williams IV, john-john.williams@baltsun.com and Craig Allen Brown, craig.allen.brown21@gmail.com
Digital Journalism Task Force
As technology is enhancing journalism and transforming the media landscape, journalists must adapt and use new tools in order to survive and thrive. The Digital Journalism Task Force keeps NABJ members on the cutting edge as they navigate rapidly evolving newsrooms.
- Chair: Joseph Ferguson, joseph.ferguson009@gmail.com
- Co-Chair: Benét Wilson, benet4nabj@aviationqueen.com
Founders Task Force
The Founders Task Force includes NABJ Founders, Past Presidents and former National Board Members with at least 25 years of membership in NABJ. The groups’ purposes are to reaffirm NABJ’s founding principles and fortify NABJ through the contributions of its members’ time, talents, historical perspectives and collective memory in alignment with the organization’s mission and strategic plan.
- Chair: Sandra Dawson Long Weaver, sandralongweaver@yahoo.com
Global Journalism Task Force
The Global Journalism Task Force promotes coverage of and about the African and African American experience worldwide.
- Chairs: Kiratiana Freelon, kiratiana@gmail.com and Melissa Noel, melissanoel1008@gmail.com
LGBTQ+ Task Force
The mission of this task force is to unite NABJ's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer members so they may support and strengthen one another and assist NABJ in carrying out its mission of inclusion and excellence.
- Chair: Femi Redwood, femiredwood@gmail.com
- Vice Chair: Corey Antonio Rose, coreyantoniorose@gmail.com
Political Journalism Task Force
The Political Journalism Task Force is composed of journalists that cover local, state, and national politics. The group's purpose is to provide support and programming for political journalists.
- Chair: Tia Mitchell, tiamitchell6@gmail.com
- Co-Chair: Nolan McCaskill, nolandmccaskill@gmail.com
Sports Journalism Task Force
The NABJ Sports Task Force promotes diversity in America’s sports departments and provides programming toward developing the next wave of America's sports journalists.
- Chair: A. Sherrod Blakely, sherrodb111@gmail.com
- Co-Chair: Tareia Williams, tareia.williams@warnermedia.com
Visual Task Force
The Visual Task Force serves as a visual storytelling arm of NABJ. We are a professional community for visual journalists, designers, animators, broadcast videographers and visual editors whose mission is to develop educational programs and provide professional development for both veteran and future multimedia journalists and offer visual leadership for newspaper, magazine, broadcast and online publications.
- Chair: Monica Herndon, monicaherndonphoto@gmail.com
- Co-Chair: Lance Washington, lkwashington1@gmail.com
Young Black Journalists Task Force
The Young Black Journalists Task Force provides a forum and support for fellow journalists in their first few years. The Task Force annually recognizes emerging journalists doing exemplary work.
- Chairs: Kay Angrum, kayangrum@gmail.com and Clarence Stone, cjstone10@gmail.com
HBCU Task Force (HBCU Initiative)
The HBCU Task Force via the NABJ HBCU Initiative provides programming and advocates for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and members that are graduates of the institutions.
- Chair: Karvis Jones, karvisjones@gmail.com
- Co-Chair: Torrance Latham, torrancelatham91@gmail.com
Freelance Task Force
The Freelance Task Force advocates and provides programming for freelance members of various disciplines with in journalism, media and communications.
- Chair: Update pending.
Business Journalism Task Force
The mission of the NABJ Business Journalism Task Force is to increase the number of Black journalists covering business, and educate fellow NABJ members and the industry about these topics.
- Chair: Kimberly S. Johnson, kimberlysj@gmail.com
- Co-Chair: Bowdeya Tweh, bowdeyatweh@gmail.com
Weather and Climate Task Force
The NABJ Weather and Climate Task Force is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion among meteorologists, weathercasters, science reporters, and others covering weather and climate stories. We will provide opportunities for fellowship, education and mentorship for current and rising professionals covering this field.
- Chair: Jason Frazer, jason.frazer@gmail.com
- Co-Chair: Vytas Reid, vreid19@gmail.com
Investigative Task Force
The NABJ Investigative Task Force is dedicated to supporting and promoting diversity and inclusion among investigative journalists.
- Chair: Curtis McCloud, curtis.mccloud@charter.com
- Co-Chair: Jatara McGee, jatara.jm@gmail.com
Academic Task Force
The Academic Task Force includes educators and professionals who work within education related professions. Members include, and are not limited to, faculty, administrators, staff, media/communication/marketing professionals for academic institutions, etc. The task force’s purpose is to provide resources, information and networks to support growth and development in the education industry.
- Chair: Dr. Libby Lewis, ll@drlibbylewis.com
- Deputy Chair: Dana Seay, Dana.Seay@louisville.edu
Entrepreneurship Task Force
Providing business development and digital strategy support for NABJ members.
Co-Chair: Caron LeNoir
Health & Science Task Force
The NABJ Health & Science Task Force supports members who cover science and medical news, as well as those interested in pursuing careers in health and science journalism.
Co-Chairs:
- Jacqueline Howard, jacqueline.e.howard@
gmail.com - Clayton Gutzmore, moregutz@gmail.com
Wellness Task Force
The NABJ Wellness Task Force champions the holistic well-being of journalists and media professionals, fostering a culture of support and resilience in newsrooms and media organizations. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by our community, the task force is dedicated to cultivating environments that prioritize wellness and mental health, promote work-life balance, and ensure overall health.
Dr. Kortni Lemon, Ph.D., MBA, info@DrKortniAlston.com
Dawn Angelique Roberts, dawn@dawnaroberts.com
Deputy Chair:
Larry Spruill, laspruill@aol.com