NABJ mourns the loss of longtime member Karyn Collins. Fellow members described her as an individual who exuded excellence and generosity. She was an award-winning journalist and adjunct professor based in New Jersey. She also directed the Hugh N. Boyd Journalism Diversity Workshop for New Jersey High School Students. She was the founding chair of the NABJ Arts & Entertainment Task Force.
“The NABJ family extends heartfelt condolences in the passing of Karyn Collins. She passed just one week after sharing her health battle with us online. We are grateful for her profound impact across NABJ and in the industry, as well as her recent work with budding journalists,” said NABJ President Dorothy Tucker. “We’re wrapping our arms around her family, friends, colleagues and mentees.”
Current NABJ Arts & Entertainment Task Force Chair Kelley E. Carter reflected on Collins’ impact: “Karyn was very special to the NABJ family for a number of reasons. She was the founding chair of NABJ’s A&E Task Force, and even long after her tenure was over, she still was the FIRST person to volunteer and assist with any and all of the programming that our task force produced. She was invaluable and, years ago in Detroit, saw a need for such a task force and because of that, she truly has helped a generation of A&E journalists, critics and features reporters get a leg up in this industry. She truly meant so much to so many people and I’ll miss seeing her, giving her a squeeze and thanking her for the path she paved.”