NABJ Executive Director Drew Berry is Retiring

Dear NABJ Members:

I am officially doing what I’ve contemplated for the past few years. I am shifting all of my time to engage with my five pint-sized, highly energetic grandkids, my 94-year-old dad, and my lovely wife, who has been my best friend for 44 years.  Yes, I am retiring in the very near future.

I have served as NABJ Executive Director under five talented presidents. During that time, I’ve had the pleasure of working with an incredible team of dedicated national office employees, as well as passionate boards, members, and volunteers. I am proud of the personal and collective achievements over the nine plus years I have been intimately engaged with NABJ management:

• I helped lead a team that developed and executed critical financial strategies.  Those strategies brought NABJ out of scary and crippling annual financial deficits. Those deficits were  hundreds of thousands of dollars that threatened our ability to pay our bills.
• I have helped build a $5 million dollar investment portfolio to continue to fuel NABJ activities like Student Projects, Leadership Academy, NABJ Cares and hundreds of NABJ Convention training and development sessions along with a robust NABJ Career Fair that is the envy of other organizations.
• I have helped create, support and sustain the NABJ Leadership Academy.
• I was the recipient of two NABJ President’s Awards under two separate NABJ presidents for my contributions to the financial stability of the organization.
• And finally, I was inducted into the NABJ Hall of Fame for my contributions to NABJ and the journalism industry. It is an honor with deep personal meaning for me and one I consider a highlight of my career, on par with my three Emmy Awards.

Amid strong headwinds, I have tried to do my part to continue what our incredible Founders started almost 50 years ago.  All of us still benefit from what those brave individuals did to help us get opportunities in the journalism industry.  My experiences as TV station General Manager, News Director, Executive Producer, Producer and Reporter in markets including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Dallas, Atlanta, New Orleans and Austin were made possible by the work of our NABJ Founders.  I owe them for the opportunities and my success. I have tried to do what they have done over the years – and that is to help dozens of people get new jobs and promotions by utilizing my contacts and by providing jobs for them when I was in news management.

In addition to the Founders, I owe a special thank you to former NABJ presidents Kathy Times, Sarah Glover, Dorothy Tucker, Barbara Ciara and now Ken Lemon.  All of us have worked together with some talented board members, sometimes in a storm of controversy, to make the best decisions for NABJ’s future. None of us are perfect, but I can assure you that all of us have one big thing in common.  We are all dedicated to the well-being of our great organization. Although my time as executive director will end in the coming months, my love for NABJ will never end. I am focused on providing an incredible celebration of NABJ’s 50th anniversary in our upcoming convention in Cleveland and celebration gala in Washington, DC in November.

See ya’ there!

Drew Berry
Retiring NABJ Executive Director

Congratulations and Well Wishes From NABJ 

STATEMENT FROM NABJ PRESIDENT KEN LEMON

As our executive director, Drew Berry, announces his upcoming retirement today, I would like to thank him for nine years of excellence! Drew seemed perfectly crafted to be an NABJ Executive Director. His background in news management provided relationships and relevance that served us tremendously. His involvement as a member provided a keen understanding of the organization from top to bottom. His financial decisions have kept us solvent and strong. His foresight often helped us to see problems before they occurred, and Drew worked to ensure we were prepared. His leadership has put us in a good position as we celebrate 50 years and propel forward.

Our relationship over the years has been more than business. We often talked about our families and met socially when we could. There was mutual respect for our roles as fathers, spouses, and siblings. More recently, our regular check-ins happened as his grandchildren played in the background. Even as we covered business, he insisted on staying close to them. That was important to him. I’m thrilled he will now have more time to enjoy that part of his life.

As we move forward with celebrating Drew’s accomplishments while simultaneously identifying and selecting our next executive director, we are pleased that NABJ will be able to provide the next leader with the wealth of experience Drew has amassed. We will work collaboratively to ensure his successor experiences a smooth transition that sets them up for continued success.

Thank you, Drew!

“As Executive Director of the National Association of Black Journalists, Drew Berry has led with purpose and with a deep commitment to our mission. Under his leadership, NABJ has grown stronger — not just in numbers, but in influence and impact. Drew, we thank you for your years of dedication, for your vision, and for your unwavering belief in the power of our unique voices. We congratulate you on your retirement. May this new chapter be filled with joy, rest, and all the things that you hold dear. “

~ Allison J. Davis, Co-founder NABJ

“Every time NABJ called, Drew answered. Drew not only gave his time, he poured his heart into this organization. As someone who had the pleasure of working closely with him for four years, I know every decision he made was done through a lens of what was best for NABJ’s future. Wishing Drew the best as he begins his next chapter of life.“

~ Dorothy Tucker, Past NABJ President

“In 2009 and 2010, I had the privilege of working closely with Drew during a pivotal time for NABJ and my presidency. He dedicated countless hours, bringing innovation, strategic leadership, and unwavering passion as interim executive director in the aftermath of the Great Recession. His boundless energy and commitment were truly remarkable. Drew’s background as a television station general manager, combined with his warm demeanor and strong industry relationships, has been an incredible asset to NABJ. Most recently, it has been a pleasure collaborating with him on several impactful initiatives, including the NABJ Leadership Academy. I wish him the very best in retirement — though knowing Drew, I doubt he’ll be slowing down anytime soon.”

~ Kathy Y. Times, Past NABJ President

“Drew Berry is one of my favorite people in the journalism business. From the time I worked for him at WCAU in Philly in the 1990s to today, I’ve found him to be an energetic, engaging, and strategic leader, always looking to elevate conversation about what’s best for people. He’s passionate about storytelling, community engagement, equity, and inclusion.

Drew is fearless. I respect him for his willingness to fight for what’s right. He has always, unapologetically, stood up for NABJ and its members. And, you can put an exclamation point on that. He has always and continues to work tirelessly on behalf of Black journalists, often overlooked, underpaid, and underrepresented in the nation’s newsrooms. He knew how to get the right people in the room and the right conversation started. And more often than not, those conversations yielded positive results.

He was a mentor to me in my early years, and continues to be a mentor to many today. I love his truthful straight talk with me. He is always supportive but has never backed down from challenging me to do better. He also has a great sense of humor.

I also loved Drew’s business acumen. NABJ raised more money and more fiscally responsible under his leadership. He understood the importance of the bottom line.

In addition to his astute business mind, I love that Drew loves and adores his family – his wife and kids – and absolutely lights up when talking about his grandchildren. He deserves more time to spend with them.”

~ Kim Godwin, Former President of ABC News

“I’m so thrilled to welcome my dear Brother-Friend Drew Berry to this wonderful stage of life called retirement. Drew is my hero. In 2018, when I learned he was stepping in and stepping up to serve NABJ as executive director, I was overjoyed for us. Drew and I co-existed for decades as news directors, as general managers and lifetime members of NABJ. He guided us with wisdom and leadership through some of the toughest challenges we’ve faced in recent times. Now, he and Brenda get to spend more time loving on their five grandchildren! Drew, I’m so glad you’re taking the leap and joining me on this side! See you in New Orleans!!!“

~ Paula Madison CEO, 88 Madison Media Inc. Principal Owner, The Africa Channel