NABJ’s most coveted awards honor the groundbreaking accomplishments of Black journalists and those who support the Black community in the media. Honorees are typically celebrated during or after our annual convention.  For past Hall of Fame inductees click here and for past Salute to Excellence winners click here.

2025 nominations are due Feb. 14 here.

Our 2024 winners:

Angelo B. Henderson Community Service Award — Tenikka Smith Hughes

Hughes is a 20-year news veteran and three-time Emmy Award-winning evening anchor at Action News Jax. She is the founder of Tenikka’s Books for Kids, an annual book drive helping to prevent the “summer slide,” where kids lose two to three months of what they learned in school.

Best Practices Award — Staff of Capital B

Capital B, launched in 2022, is an award-winning nonprofit news organization that centers Black voices, producing in-depth journalism on topics of crucial importance to Black people across the country. It was co-founded by Lauren Williams, former Senior Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of Vox, and Akoto Ofori-Atta, former Managing Editor at The Trace.

Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award — Michelle V. Agins

Agins is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist who is the second Black woman ever hired (in 1989) as a staff photographer at The New York Times. She began her career in the 1970s in her hometown of Chicago as a photography intern for The Chicago Daily News, moving on to become a sports photographer there.

Ida B. Wells Award — Damaso Reyes

Reyes is Executive and Investigative Editor at the New York Amsterdam News and the founding Editor of its Blacklight Investigative Unit. A journalist since 1996, he is a Fulbright specialist and Poynter Media Transformation Challenge fellow.

Journalism Educator of the Year Award — Dr. Ava Thompson Greenwell

Greenwell has taught broadcast reporting and producing classes at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University since 1993. During her 35-year NABJ membership, she has overseen more than 100 workshops and served as the 2017 NABJ Convention Program Chair.

Journalist of Distinction Award — Gary Lee

Lee previously served as a staff writer for TIME magazine and a correspondent for The Washington Post. He was deputy chief of TIME’s Bureau in Germany and chief of the Washington Post Bureau in Moscow. In 2021, he was named Managing Editor of the award-winning Oklahoma Eagle, one of the oldest U.S. Black newspapers.

Journalist of the Year Award — Louder Than A Riot, Hosted by Rodney Carmichael and Sidney Madden

Louder Than A Riot has traced the collision of rhyme and punishment across two seasons, using the cultural lens of Hip-Hop to expose how mass incarceration and misogynoir impact Black America. From highlighting Hip-Hop’s missed opportunity for a ‘me too.’ reckoning to unearthing the racist roots of criminalizing rap lyrics. Louder has been cited for its outstanding cultural reporting by The New York Times, Essence and TIME.

Legacy Award — Roy Lewis

Lewis is a renowned photographer and activist whose photography career started in 1964 when JET Magazine published his photograph of musician Thelonious Monk. His work has been celebrated nationwide, including in the “Everywhere Exhibition,” beginning in 2008 at the Essence Music Festival.

Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist of the Year Award — Corey Antonio Rose

Rose is a producer for NPR’s “It’s Been A Minute,” where his work explores the intersections of public health, policy and culture. His work has been featured in/on NPR, Netflix, Into Magazine, KQED, PBS. He is a Vice-Chair for NABJ LGBTQ+ Task Force.

Patricia “Pat” L. Tobin Media Professional Award — Kimberley and David Rudd

The Rudds co-own Rudd Resources, a full-service, award-winning public relations agency that handles public affairs, community engagement and storytelling for philanthropic, nonprofit, government, and corporate clients. Since 2014, the agency’s work has advanced people, communities, and ideas while centering equity.

Student Journalist of the Year Award — Domonique Tolliver 

Tolliver is a recent graduate of Loyola University New Orleans, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication with a concentration in Journalism. She is a national Murrow award-winning journalist, specializing in culture reporting and search engine optimization. Tolliver proudly served as the President of Loyola’s NABJ chapter and interned with Shop TODAY at NBCUniversal.

Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist of the Year Award — Roberson Alphonse

Alphonse, one of Haiti’s most respected investigative journalists, is not only a fearless journalist but a brave soul. He survived a shooting attack in 2022 that left him wounded in both arms on his way to work at a Port-au-Prince radio station. Now a University of Michigan Knight-Wallace Fellow, he boldly continues to heal and continues his work as the News Editor for Le Nouvelliste and Information Director at Magik9.

Professional Chapter of the Year Award  — New York Association of Black Journalists 

Founded in 1976, NYABJ upholds a legacy of providing professional and moral support to its members. The organization encourages and supports the achievement of Black media professionals.

President’s Award — Awarded by the NABJ President to NABJ-Philadelphia and its leadership for their commitment to the mission of establishing an affiliate chapter in a legacy city and the courage to withstand opposition.

Student Chapter of the Year Award — Awarded to the Ball State Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists for its accomplishments and its campus and community activities and programs.

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Our 2023 winners:

• Journalist of the Year: Jim Trotter

Trotter is a National Columnist for The Athletic. He spent nearly three decades doggedly covering the National Football League for NFL Media, ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and The San Diego Union-Tribune. He is the 2023 winner of the Bill Nunn Jr. Award and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee. In 2021, he was named Journalist of the Year by the National Coalition of Minority Football Coaches and is a former president of Pro Football Writers of America.

Journalist of Distinction: Jamie Nesbitt Golden

Nesbitt Golden is an award-winning journalist and a Reporter with Block Club Chicago, where she has covered everything from dancing crossing guards to city council races. Her work has also appeared in TIME, Salon, EBONY, and xoJane.

Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award: Marquita Pool-Eckert

Pool-Eckert’s career at CBS News included serving as a Senior Producer for the award-winning CBS News Sunday Morning, making her the first Black woman in a senior producer position at CBS News. She became the first Black woman Producer for CBS Evening News and the first Black woman Associate Producer at CBS Morning News in 1975. She won 11 National Emmys.

Ida B. Wells Award: Monica R. Richardson

Richardson is Vice President of Local News for McClatchy, overseeing content operations for the company’s largest news markets. Before this role, Richardson served as the Pulitzer-prize-winning Executive Editor of the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald, and McClatchy’s Regional Florida Editor. She made history when she became the first Black editor in the Herald’s 118-year history.

Legacy Award: Michelle Singletary

Singletary is a Personal Finance Columnist for The Washington Post. Her award-winning column, “The Color of Money” appears twice a week in dozens of newspapers across the country. She is the recipient of the 2022 Gerald Loeb Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2021, she won a prestigious Gerald Loeb Award and in 2020, The Washington Post celebrated her long and distinguished career with the Eugene Meyer Award, its highest journalistic honor.

Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist of the Year: Marcus Ryder

Ryder, an award-winning journalist for nearly three decades, has prompted direct change in the policies of governments and broadcasters. He is the Co-founder of the Sir Lenny Henry Centre for Media Diversity, Chair of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and one of Variety’s 500 most influential leaders shaping the global media industry in 2023.

Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist of the Year: Troy Closson

Closson is a Reporter on the Metro Desk at The New York Times covering education. Since joining The Times in 2020 as a member of the fellowship program, he has written about school segregation, wrongful convictions, gun violence, federal courts, and the NYPD. He spent three weeks in Buffalo last year covering the massacre at a supermarket that killed 10 Black people. He won the New York Press Club’s Nellie Bly Award in 2022.

Student Journalist of the Year: Jordan D. Brown

Brown is a recent graduate of Morgan State University, where she was co-valedictorian and earned a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism. In the fall, she will pursue a master’s degree in journalism at New York University on a full tuition NABJ scholarship. She served as Editor-in-Chief of her university’s student newspaper, The Spokesman, and as Vice President of the university’s NABJ chapter. She is currently a reporting intern at the Baltimore Sun.

Journalism Educator of the Year: Jayme Bradford Kinard (Posthumous)

Bradford Kinard was an Assistant Professor of English at historically Black Allen University in Columbia, S.C. She taught English, journalism, public speaking, and professional writing. Professor Bradford Kinard served as adviser of the Allen University Journalism Club and the SPEAK Ambassadors. She participated in the Journalism Educators Academy at the University of Oregon and was selected to be a UNCF Teaching and Learning Fellow. In 2018, she served as a Fulbright-Hays Fellow at the University of Ghana.

Best Practices Award: Scalawag 

Scalawag is a Black-led and centering, digital-first abolitionist media organization that works in solidarity with oppressed communities and movements in the South to disrupt and shift the narratives that keep power in the hands of the few.

Angelo B. Henderson Community Service Award: Tonya Rivens

Rivens is an award-winning journalist with over 30 years in radio, 10 years in television and is a freelance feature writer/reporter. She is Founder/Executive Director of the Ausie and Martin Rivens Scholarship Foundation, which hosts Praise in the Park, a breast cancer awareness luncheon, conflict resolution workshops, food outreach events, and programs with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools. Her foundation also partnered with UPS to donate $20,000 in Chromebooks to underserved students.

Patricia L. Tobin Media Professional Award: The National Black Public Relations Society, Inc. (NBPRS) Founders: Randye Bullock, Meta Mereday, Patricia Tobin

NBPRS was born out of NABJ’s former PR & Marketing Task Force headed by Pat Tobin and Randye Bullock. Bridging the gap for top PR professionals and journalists, Meta J. Mereday rounded out the team by helping to structure and formalize NBPRS. The first meeting was held at NABJ’s 1998 D.C. Convention. NBPRS addresses the needs of the global society by helping to prepare diverse PR professionals in public relations, public affairs, communications, media relations, and community and government affairs.

The President’s Award: Paula Madison

Madison, Chairman and CEO of Madison Media Management LLC, is recognized by the NABJ President for her exemplary service and support of the organization.

Student Chapter of the Year: NABJ-MU (at Missouri School of Journalism)

NABJ-MU has been recognized as a model chapter of how to conduct business and plan programming that draws in members and capitalizes on what’s most beneficial for journalists as they prepare to take that next step after college.

Chapter of the Year: Washington Association of Black Journalists

WABJ has experienced significant transformation under its new leadership and offers new and improved programming and membership support to advance the mission of its founders.

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Our 2022 winners:

• Journalist of the Year: Jacqueline Charles, Reporter, Miami Herald
• Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist of the Year Award: Nima Elbagir, Chief International Investigative Correspondent, CNN
• Journalist of Distinction: Imara Jones, Creator, TransLash Media
• Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award: Dean Baquet, Local Investigative Times, The New York Times
• Legacy Award: Richard M. Peery, Retired Reporter, Cleveland Plain Dealer
• Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist Award: Sarahbeth Maney, Photojournalist, The Detroit Free Press 
• Ida B. Wells Award: Robin Lytle Turner, VP of Training, Culture & Community, Dow Jones
• Patricia L. Tobin Media Professional Award: Kayla Tucker Adams, Founder & Chief Strategist, KTA Media Group
• Angelo B. Henderson Community Service Award: Karleen Leveille Robinson, Morning News Anchor, WBNG TV 12
• Journalism Educator of the Year: Miki Turner, Associate Professor of Professional Practice, University of Southern California
• Student Journalist of the Year: Amudalat Ajasa, Intern, The New York Times’ Ida B. Wells Society 
• Best Practices: The Markup, a nonprofit newsroom investigating how powerful institutions use technology to change society  
• Professional Chapter of the Year : NABJ-Chicago
• President’s Award: Jerry McCormick
• Student Chapter of the Year: University of North Texas-NABJ

Our 2021 winners:

• Journalist of the Year Award – Libor Jany (Star Tribune)
• Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist of the Year Award – Malika Andrews (ESPN) 
• Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award – Art Norman (NBC Chicago)
• Journalist of Distinction Award – Jenise Griffin (Florida Courier/Daytona Times)
• Legacy Award – Janis Ware (The Atlanta Voice) 
• Ida B. Wells Award – Sonceria Messiah Jiles (Houston Defender) 
• Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist of the Year Award – Anas Aremeyaw Anas (​​Insight TWI)  
• Journalism Educator of the Year Award – Dr. Sherri Williams (American University)
• Patricia L. Tobin Media Professional Award  – Aprill O. Turner  (Higher Heights for America)
• Angelo B. Henderson Community Service Award  – Tenisha Taylor (​​Ezekiel Taylor Scholarship Foundation)
• Student Journalist of the Year Award  – Giulia Heyward (Hussman School of Journalism and Media)
• Best Practices Award – The Dallas Morning News 
• NABJ Professional Chapter of the Year Award – Memphis Association of Black Journalists
• NABJ Student Chapter of the Year Award – Howard University Association of Black Journalists

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Our 2020 winners:

• Journalist of the Year: Yamiche Alcindor
• Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist of the Year: Rachel V. Scott
• Legacy Award: Rehema Ellis
• Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award: Kevin Merida
• Journalist of Distinction: Elaine Houston
• Ida B. Wells Award: Kimberly Godwin
• Journalism Educators of the Year: Susan Mango Curtis and James McJunkins Sr.
• Angelo B. Henderson Community Service Award: Chelle Luper Wilson
• Patricia L. Tobin Media Professional Award: Ramona Logan
• Student Journalist of the Year: Arthur Cribbs
• Best Practices Award: The Trace
• Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist Award: Mahmoud Hussein
• Professional Chapter of the Year: NABJ Los Angeles
• Student Chapter of the Year: Michigan State University NABJ

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Our 2019 winners: 

• Journalist of the Year – Karen Attiah, The Washington Post
• Journalist of Distinction – Mel Showers, WKRG-TV
• Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award – Oprah Winfrey, OWN
• Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist of the Year – Alexi McCammond, Axios
• Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist Award – Pap Saine, The Point
• Legacy Award – James Washington, Dallas Weekly
• Angelo B. HendersonCommunity Service Award – Cheryl “Action” Jackson, Minnie’s Food Pantry
• Journalism Educator of the Year – Eva Coleman, Frisco ISD-TV
• Student Journalist of the Year – Allana Barefield, Xavier University
• Pat Tobin Media Professional Award – Ron Carter, The Carter Agency
• Ida B. Wells Award – Dr. Sheila Brooks, SRB Communications
• Best Practices Award – Wendi C. Thomas/MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
• Student Chapter of the Year – Winthrop University Association of Black Journalists
• Professional Chapters of the Year (Co-winners) – Rochester Association of Black Journalists and San Diego Association of Black Journalists
• President’s Award – Kelley Carter, ESPN’s The Undefeated

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VIEW PAST WINNERS HERE

CATEGORIES

Angela B. Henderson Community Service Award

Awarded to a Black journalist who has had a positive impact on the Black community outside the normal realm of journalism. Nominations must document the candidate’s outreach to the community. Documentation may include clips, articles, supporting letters, and certificates via web links. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

 Best Practices

Awarded to a news organization for exemplary work in covering issues of great significance to the Black community or the African Diaspora and/or for its efforts in increasing diversity among its newsroom staff and management during the eligibility period. Nominations must be accompanied by documentation of the candidate’s work. Documentation for print or photojournalists should include a web link to samples of work. Nominations for broadcast journalists must include web links of the nominee’s work. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination. Documentation for diversity efforts should include, but not be limited to, actual numbers. 

Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement

Awarded to a Black print, broadcast, digital, or photojournalist with a minimum of 15 years in the industry. Nominees in the category may be living or deceased and must have or still be making an extraordinary contribution to the enrichment, understanding, or advancement of Black life and culture. Nominations must document the candidate’s work. Documentation for print, digital, or photojournalists should include a web link to samples of work. Nominations for broadcast journalists must include web links to the nominee’s work. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

Ida B. Wells Award

NABJ and the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University jointly and proudly each year give the prestigious Ida B. Wells Award to give tangible and highly visible recognition to an individual or group of individuals and their company. Winners provide distinguished leadership in increasing access and opportunities to people of color in journalism and improving the coverage of communities of color in American media. The award is named in honor of the distinguished journalist, fearless reporter and wife of one of America’s earliest Black publishers. Wells was “editor and proprietor” of the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight. She told her male co-founders she would not help launch the newspaper unless she was made “equal to them.” In the late 19th century, Wells won acclaim on two continents for her fearless crusade against lynching. She championed an integrated society and urged Black Americans to seek their rightful share of the jobs in the new industrial age. Today a massive public housing complex in Chicago is named in her memory. The Ida B. Wells Award was first bestowed in 1983. Professors at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University serve as co-curators. Sam Adams, the longtime University of Kansas journalism professor and civil rights movement reporter, founded the award, formerly administered the awards.

Journalism Educator of the Year

This award serves to recognize the service, commitment and academic guidance of an outstanding journalism teacher, professor or educator. The candidate must teach or advise students within the field of journalism at a high school or an accredited four-year college or university, and have helped to increase the number of Black journalists in newsrooms. Nominations must document the candidate’s work and may include, but not be limited to, teaching plans, speeches and statements and how long he or she has been an educator. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

Journalist of Distinction

Awarded to a Black journalist in broadcast under 16 market and print/digital circulation under 150,000 who has distinguished himself or herself with a body of work, a story, series or photographs published in print, digital or aired during the period of eligibility that was extraordinary in-depth, scope or significance to people in the African Diaspora. A previous Journalist of Distinction winner may be nominated again for work he or she did during the eligibility period. Nominations must document the candidate’s work. Documentation for print, digital or photojournalists should include web link to samples of work. Nominations for broadcast journalists must include web links of the nominee’s work. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

Journalist of the Year

Awarded to a Black journalist who has distinguished himself or herself with a body of work, a story, series or photographs published or aired during the period of eligibility that was extraordinary in-depth, scope or significant to people in the African Diaspora. A previous Journalist of the Year winner may be nominated again for work he or she did during the eligibility period. Nominations must document the candidate’s work. Documentation for print, digital or photojournalists should include a web link to samples of work. Nominations for broadcast journalists must include web links of the nominee’s work. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

Legacy Award

Awarded to a Black print, broadcast, digital or photojournalist of extraordinary accomplishment who has broken barriers and blazed trails. Nominees may be living or deceased and have contributed to the understanding or advancement of people and issues in the African Diaspora. Nominations must document the candidate’s work. Documentation for print or photojournalists should include a web link to samples of work. Nominations for broadcast journalists must include web links to the nominee’s work. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

 Michael J. Feeney Emerging Journalist of the Year

Awarded to a Black print, broadcast, digital, or photojournalist with fewer than five years of experience in the industry, excluding internships. Nominees must – through their work and service – display a commitment to NABJ’s goal of outstanding achievement by Black journalists and providing balanced coverage of the Black community and society at large. Previous winners are not eligible. Nominations must document the candidate’s work. Documentation for print, digital, or photojournalists should include a web link to samples of work. Nominations for broadcast journalists must include web links to the nominee’s work. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

Patricia L. Tobin Media Professional Award

Awarded to an entrepreneur, public relations/advertising/marketing professional, or media owner that serves as a trailblazer in the media realm and is responsible for a positive impact of Black coverage and the media profession. The candidate must through their work and service display a commitment to NABJ’s goal of fostering an exemplary group of professionals that honors excellence and outstanding achievements in Black journalism and outstanding achievement in the media industry as a whole. Previous winners are not eligible. Nominations must document the candidate’s work. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist of the Year

Awarded to a foreign journalist who has done extraordinary work while overcoming tremendous obstacles that contribute to the enrichment, understanding or advancement of people or issues in the African Diaspora. The honor is not open to journalists working for American-based publications. Nominations must document the candidate’s work. Documentation for print or photojournalists should include web link to samples of work. Nominations for broadcast journalists must include web links of the nominee’s work. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

Professional Chapter of the Year

Awarded to an NABJ professional affiliate chapter for its accomplishments during the eligibility period. Criteria should include, but not be limited to, the number and size of scholarships awarded by the chapter, the number of new members who have joined the chapter and NABJ, and the chapter’s community activities and programs. Nominations must include a recommendation letter – typed, double-spaced, and no more than 500 words – from the regional director, who may suggest more than one chapter. If the director belongs to a nominated chapter, the recommendation should come from the deputy regional director or the president of another local chapter in the region. Nominations should be accompanied by documentation that may include published reports, chapter newsletters and statements – no more than 100 words – from members recommending their chapter. All documentation must be uploaded on a website or multiple web links.

Student Chapter of the Year

Awarded to an NABJ student chapter for accomplishments during the eligibility period. Criteria should include, but not be limited to, the number of new members who joined the chapter and NABJ, and the chapter’s campus and community activities and programs. Nominations must include recommendation letters – typed, double-spaced, no more than 500 words – from both the regional director, who may suggest more than one chapter and the chapter’s advisor. Nominations should be accompanied by documentation that may include published reports, chapter newsletters and statements – no more than 100 words – from chapter members. Each entry must include the chapter’s name and address, its president’s name; its advisor’s name and phone number, and when the chapter was founded.

Student Journalist of the Year

Awarded to a Black full-time collegiate journalist who has excelled within the field of journalism through a story, body of work, series or photograph(s) published or aired during the period of eligibility. The student can be in print, broadcast, digital, radio, photography, or magazine and must display a strong commitment to NABJ and academics. Nominations must document the candidate’s work. Documentation for print, digital or photojournalists should include a web link to samples of work. Nominations for broadcast journalists must include web links to the nominee’s work. Each entry must include a nomination statement outlining reasons for the nomination.

Thumbs Down

Awarded to an individual or organization for especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical reporting, commentary, photography or cartoon about the Black community published or aired during the eligibility period or for engaging in practices at odds with the goals of the National Association of Black Journalists.