Dear NABJ: Working Together for the Future

Dear NABJ Members:

Thank you for entrusting me with your vote and your confidence in my ability to lead NABJ into the future. I am humbled, excited and will work hard to earn every vote that was cast. Now more than ever, our members need and deserve affordable and accessible resources designed to help them excel and navigate in our ever-changing industry.

During my first few hours as President on the last day of the #NABJ19 Convention, I made a few announcements to set the tone for our administration. (I say “our” because truly we are in this together.)

Here’s a glimpse at just a few things you can expect. Rest assured the list is growing.

1. Always know that I am only a phone call, email or direct message away. Although I am a working investigative reporter, I want to hear from you and will make time to respond to you as quickly as possible. I want your feedback as we gear up for our next round of programming throughout the fall, winter and spring, and as we prepare for our joint convention with NAHJ in the summer of 2020 in Washington, D.C.

2. NABJ was founded to offer quality programs, services and advocacy for and on behalf of black journalists worldwide. I want to build upon the vision of our remarkable Founders and further modernize our programming by expanding our free webinar series to a year-round tool that our members can benefit from. We want to ensure that the type of dynamic programming we offer at the Convention is embedded into our membership services throughout the year. Submit your webinar ideas here. We will also work harder with partners and news organizations to ensure that every door and window possible is open for our members and those who will come after us.

3. Communication is key. I will work hard to keep ALL members in the know about the things that matter most to you. I will begin this effort by creating and posting videos regularly to keep you informed via a format that is easy to access and share. We will further leverage our online platforms to ensure you are getting the information you want to consume and that details about NABJ happenings are readily available.

4. More journalists and communicators of color need the programming and support that NABJ has to offer. We will conduct a major membership drive that will reconnect or introduce NABJ to more professionals, educators and students. We will also identify unique ways to help our current members save money and time so that they may enjoy more of what NABJ has to offer.

5. We will tell our own story. We are surveying members to analyze how satisfied black journalists and communicators are in their respective workplaces. We will use the data to report on the state of our industry and the concerns of our members, as well as encourage print, digital, broadcast, media-related and educational companies and organizations to make better decisions in matters of diversity and inclusion.

At such a critical time in our nation’s history, I am proud that NABJ will reconvene its annual convention July 8-12, 2020 in Washington, D.C., with our friends at NAHJ. I encourage you to stay tuned for updates and prepare early to join us for a special gathering. The voices of people of color must be heard, acknowledged and have a place at the table in every setting possible. It is no accident that the 2020 convention will be held in our nation’s capital. The 2020 election cycle is not only crucial to the future of our nation but also crucial to the future of journalism. Our profession and fellow journalists continue to be attacked in more ways than one.

The 2020 convention will indeed be a homecoming – as the WABJ has described it. We will once again return to the place where our Founders created NABJ. Preparation for 2020 starts now in creating unparalleled dialogue, networking, training and career opportunities that will reach beyond the NABJ family and into our respective communities. Please feel free to share your ideas!

As we wrapped our 2019 Convention & Career Fair in Miami on Sunday, Aug. 11, we celebrated a record-breaking year. There were more than 4,100 attendees, our highest attendance in 44 years of existence. Hats off to our Convention leaders, staff, volunteers, organizers, producers, partners, committees and task forces for putting on an incredible event. We are now 4,208 members strong, financially sound with hundreds of thousands in revenue and millions in our endowment, and we are ready to take NABJ to the next level, together.

As we prepare to celebrate 45 years, I again thank each of you for your support and thank our Founders, former Presidents, current and past Board members, and our partners for getting us to such a pivotal place in our history.

With gratitude and expectation,

Dorothy Tucker

NABJ President