NABJ Announces 2022 Hall of Fame Inductees and Special Honors Awards Recipients

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has announced its honorees for the 2022 Hall of Fame Induction and Special Honors Awards. 

All awards will be presented during the #NABJNAHJ22 Convention & Career Fair in Las Vegas, August 3-7, 2022.

The Hall of Fame Induction and Luncheon will be held Friday, August 5, at noon PT. The Salute to Excellence Awards Gala, powered by Global Blood Therapeutics, will be held on Saturday, August 6, at 6 p.m. PT. Both events will include recognition of Special Honors recipients.

2022 Hall of Fame Inductees

NABJ will pay homage to the following legendary Black journalists who have made outstanding contributions to the industry. The Hall of Fame Induction and Luncheon be hosted by Shaquille Brewster, NBC News and MSNBC Correspondent, and Rachel Scott, ABC News Congressional Correspondent.

• Michelle V. Agins – Photographer, The New York Times
• Charles W. “Hoppy” Adams, Jr. (Posthumously) – Executive Vice President, WANN/WXTC
• Harry D. Boomer – Anchor/Senior Reporter, Cleveland 19 News
• Tanya K. Hart – Producer/Host, Hollywood Live, American Urban Radio Networks
• Levi Henry, Jr. – Founder/Publisher, Westside Gazette Newspaper
• Cheryl Smith – Publisher-Editor, I Messenger Media

Editor’s Note: Drew Berry – Executive Director, NABJ, received a surprise induction in August 2022 and was not listed in the original post.

Special Honors Recipients/Finalists

The following will be honored for their groundbreaking accomplishments and support of the Black community in news and media. 

• 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 Finalists (Winner Announced at Convention)

• NABJ-Chicago
• NABJ-South Florida
• Washington Association of Black Journalists
• Iowa Association of Black Journalists

The President’s Award, Student Chapter of the Year and annual Thumbs Down Award will be announced during the convention.

Learn more about the Special Honors awards below.

Angelo 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. 

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. 

Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement

Awarded to a Black print, broadcast, digital or photojournalist with a minimum of 15 years in the industry, who has made an extraordinary contribution to the enrichment, understanding or advancement of Black life and culture. 

Ida B. Wells Award

Awarded to an individual or group of individuals and their company who 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 distinguished journalist and fearless reporter Ida B. Wells.

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. 

Journalist of Distinction

Awarded to a Black journalist in broadcast markets 1-16 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. 

Journalist of the Year

Awarded to a Black journalist who has distinguished themself 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 significance to people in the African Diaspora. 

Legacy Award

Awarded to a Black print, broadcast, digital or photojournalist of extraordinary accomplishment who has broken barriers and blazed trails. Nominees have contributed to the understanding or advancement of people and issues in the African Diaspora. 

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. 

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. 

Percy Qoboza Foreign Journalist of the Year

Awarded to a foreign journalist who has done extraordinary work while overcoming tremendous obstacles that contributes to the enrichment, understanding or advancement of people or issues in the African Diaspora.

Professional Chapter of the Year

Awarded to an NABJ professional affiliate chapter for its accomplishments during the eligibility period. Criteria includes, but are not 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. 

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. 

Student Chapter of the Year

Awarded to an NABJ student chapter for accomplishments during the eligibility period. Criteria includes, but are not limited to, the number of new members who joined the chapter and NABJ, and the chapter’s campus and community activities and programs. 

President’s Award

Awarded by the NABJ President to recognize exemplary service or support of the organization.

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.

Media Contact: Press@NABJ.org