05/01/2020

We’re All in This Together!

04/21/2020

NABJ Congrats – April 2020

● Ericka Wilson - Weeknight Producer at WHDH/7 News Boston ● Clifton Kirkman II - Weekend Producer at ABC 12 in Flint, Michigan ● Jeremy Thomas - Communications Manager for the City of Detroit’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation ● Dawn Rhodes - Senior Editor at Block Club Chicago ● Mitchell Smith - Executive Producer at WBRC Fox 6 in Birmingham ● Elise McGlothian - Media Advocacy Manager for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network ● Vickie Thomas - Journalist of the Year by the African American Leadership Institute ● Ken Coleman - 2019 Michigan Press Association multiple awardee ● Kyle Inskeep - Evening Anchor at WKRC-TV in Cincinnati ● Kimberley A. Martin - NFL reporter at ESPN ● Bryan Monroe - 2020 Hall of Fame Class of the Silicon Valley Black Legends ● Walter Middlebrook - Foster Professor of Practice at Penn State ● Ashleigh Wilson - Audience Data Analyst for the Houston Chronicle ● Angelo Henderson - Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame (posthumously) ● Christina Powell - Producer for Good Morning America ● Alex Presha - Multi-Platform Reporter for ABC News ● Vicki Yates - MidSouth Emmy Silver Circle Award honoree ● Steve Crump - Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame ● Katrice Hardy - USA Today Network Midwest Regional Editor and Executive Editor of the Indianapolis Star ● Ron Nixon - Global Investigations Editor at the Associated Press ● Jonathan Capehart - Randy Shilts Award for LGBTQ coverage ● Lakeidra Chavis - Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics ● Leon Purvis - MMJ/Reporter at Western Mass News in Springfield, MA ● Omari Sankofa II - Pistons beat reporter at Detroit Free Press ● Corvales Grant - Newscast Producer at Sinclair Broadcast Group ● Trymaine Lee - Host of NBCNews and MSNBC podcast “#IntoAmerica” ● Skye Ray - Morning producer at WTOC11 ● Candi Carter - Executive producer of the Tamron Hall Show ● Shannon Smith - Anchor for News 4 Buffalo "Weekend Wake Up" ● Fadia Mayte Patterson - Excellence in Television Broadcasting News Award ● Nixon Run - Global investigations editor at The Associated Press ● Jennifer Thomas - "Teacher of the Year" Howard University ● Kimberley A. Martin - NFL Reporter for ESPN ● Kenya Hunter - Education reporter, Richmond Times-Dispatch ● Alex Pineda - Producer at CNN ● Brian H. Waters - The “Shoestring” Award AAMC Group on Institutional Advancement ● April L. Morton - Lead reporter nightly newscast CW50 Detroit ● Nicole Avery Nichols- Detroit Free Press senior content editor for current affairs and entertainment ● Sheri Lynn Stuart - Anchor/reporter WBKB 11 in Alpena, Michigan ● Donald Walker- 2020 Hall of Fame inductee Specs Howard School of Media Arts ● Georgette Johnson - Executive editor/General manager at The Michigan Chronicle ● Clifton R. Kirkman II - Weekend producer ABC12-WJRT Flint, MI ● Elise McGlothian - Media Advocacy Manager at American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network ● Ken Coleman - Winner 2019 Michigan Press Association contest ● Kat Sattford - Co-winner of "Best FOIA Story" award in 2019 ● Duchesne Drew - President of Minnesota Public Radio
04/21/2020

The April 2020 NABJ Roundup Newsletter is Online

The April 2020 edition of The NABJ Roundup Newsletter is available here.
04/21/2020

Grant Opportunities for NABJ Members from Facebook and Google

Grant opportunities for NABJ members from Facebook and Google We want our members to know about funding opportunities recently launched by our long-standing partners Facebook and Google. Facebook Journalism Project (FJP): COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund Grant Program FJP is offering grant opportunities to publishers to help US local newsrooms continue serving communities during the coronavirus outbreak. Publishers can apply for relief grants through April 24, 2020.
04/20/2020

We’re All in This Together!

Thank you for reading this issue of the NABJ Roundup. As you know, COVID-19 developments have shifted all of our lives in one way or another. The month of March especially took many of us by surprise. So, we are grateful that our newsletter contributors have been able to make time in their schedules to assist us with getting an issue out to you this month. This month’s issue includes a visual revisit of our last event together, the NABJ Millennial Media Summit, reflections from our own members via Twitter about adapting to our new normal, and sound advice from our panel of experts to help you navigate the industry during this time. There are also some special announcements from our partners at Google and Facebook.
04/15/2020

The Status of the NABJ-NAHJ Convention

Dear NABJ Members, We hope that you, your family and colleagues stay safe as we all navigate through the COVID-19 crisis. We know you have questions so below are some answers concerning the joint NABJ- NAHJ Convention scheduled for July 8-12, 2020 in Washington, D.C. Are NABJ and NAHJ still planning for a convention? YES, but what form it takes is yet to be determined. The health and well-being of our members and partners is of utmost importance to NABJ and NAHJ.That is why we are revealing alternatives below that are under consideration.
04/13/2020

NABJ Announces ESPN’s Michael Wilbon as Honorary 2020 Convention Chair

WASHINGTON (April 13, 2020) – National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) President Dorothy Tucker has announced that Michael Wilbon, one of the nation’s most respected sports journalists, will serve as the NABJ honorary chair for the 2020 joint convention with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ).
04/09/2020

Supporting Our Members During COVID-19 & Convention Updates

Greetings NABJ Family & Friends: I truly miss my NABJ family and community. I always enjoy engaging with our members and supporters and was looking forward to our previously scheduled regional events in St. Louis, Vegas, Pittsburgh and Nashville. I was disappointed they had to be postponed, but decisions were made for the health and safety of all of us. I pray every day that we’re able to get together in D.C. this summer.We continue to plan for the NABJ-NAHJ Convention, but we aren’t living in a vacuum, which is why we are also exploring alternative dates and a virtual conference. If we decide to postpone our joint convention with NAHJ, it will be based on our concern for the well-being of our members, colleagues and partners and at the directive/advice of local, state or federal officials. (As you know, many municipalities currently prohibit gatherings. Some of these requirements expire in May, others June and beyond.) We are reviewing all of the possibilities and hope to have a decision by mid-May that gives members, partners and other attendees almost two months to make alternative plans, IF NEEDED, while minimizing significant financial implications. These are unprecedented times and the work we do is more important than ever before. You must continue to tell the important stories but you must also take care of yourself. Unfortunately, a number of our members have tested positive for COVID-19. We continue to pray for their quick recovery. We need each of you healthy. Do not hesitate to decline an assignment that will put your life at risk. Don’t be shy about wearing protective gear on the job and using social distancing practices. Support for Our Members This has not been an easy time for most of us, but it is more difficult for some. We’ve seen a number of layoffs at media companies, and some companies are making salary cuts. We are sensitive to our members' financial concerns, and will now allow all members who have been impacted financially by COVID-19 to have their membership dues extended for another six months. If you lost your job and your dues are not current we will give you a six-month membership. The NABJ Board is also working on other financial relief projects that will be announced in the near future. For more information, contact membership@nabj.org. I hope you’ve had a chance to participate in the numerous webinars we’ve held over the last few weeks. Nearly 600 journalists combined have already accessed our series of webinars (live, on-demand or via other platforms) on how COVID-19 has impacted journalism, communications, and education. Our live Twitter coverage and subsequent conversations on social media exposed the content of our webinars to more than a million users. As we navigate this pandemic together, you can playback all of our past webinars on our YouTube playlist here. Also, look out for an upcoming webinar on the impact of the pandemic on industry jobs and how to avoid a layoff or deal with one. I struggle to find a silver lining in the midst of this crisis but there are a few. I am using new news apps that make the job easier and learning creative ways to conduct interviews with FaceTime, Skype or Zoom. I’ve cleaned out a few closets, printed out some photos and am spending quality time with my family. Since my daughter can’t go out with her friends, hubby and I benefit from her homemade margaritas. I enjoy many more Zoom gatherings with my sons, friends and relatives and look forward to hearing from my NABJ family. I hope to hear from you and don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m home. Dorothy
04/09/2020

NABJ Mourns the Loss of Washington Post Journalist Darran Simon

NABJ mourns the loss of Darran Simon, a Washington Post reporter and NABJ member, who was found dead in his home on April 9. Authorities are still determining the cause of death. Simon was 43 and previously served as a senior writer for CNN Digital in Atlanta. Simon was celebrated for his ability to capture the human experience in his reporting and storytelling, specifically people's experiences with trauma. “We celebrate the impact that Darran had across the industry and within the NABJ community,” said NABJ President Dorothy Tucker. “He was talented and his work was compelling. The entire NABJ family extends heartfelt condolences to Darran’s family, friends and colleagues.” Read more at the Washington Post here.