Darren A. Nichols, 49, is an award-winning journalist, who is seeking to combine his varying interests in the industry. He is currently serving at the diversity and inclusion chair for Detroit NABJ in addition to his many other roles.
Nichols has spent the majority of his career as a longtime reporter at The Detroit News. For more than 20 years, Nichols has been on the frontlines, outlining Detroit's issues in City Hall covering every mayor since Coleman Young.
Among the topics Nichols has covered included the launch and subsequent aftermath of the Kwame Kilpatrick administration, outlining the fnancial crisis under Mayor Dave Bing that led to the only major U.S. city to be under state control and bankruptcy proceedings. Nichols also covered the historic election and frst year of the Mike Duggan administration. Outside of City Hall, Nichols also covered Rosa Parks' funeral and was a leading reporter on the award-winning project commemorating the 40th anniversary of the 1967 riots.
But Nichols' roots remain in sports. He is the son of a longtime Detroit coach and administrator, Charles Nichols.
The elder Nichols coached legendary teams at Kettering High School, where the school's gymnasium is named in his honor. He also served as an assistant under Dick Vitale at the University of Detroit and head coach at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Darren Nichols, meanwhile, sought to be a sports reporter. While a journalism student at Wayne State University, Nichols covered sports at The Michigan Chronicle, Cincinnati Enquirer, Observer and Eccentric Newspapers, Detroit News and Indianapolis Star. Assignments included Detroit Martin Luther King's run to become the PSL's frst state champion in football, 1989 NBA fnals, hydroplane racing, World Cycling, AAU basketball and Golden Gloves Championships. He also secondarily covered the Detroit Pistons, Lions and Cincinnati Reds and Bengals.
Legendary sports interviews included boxer Aaron Pryor, Michael Jordan, Barry Sanders, Tom Izzo, Jerome Bettis, Isiah Thomas and Magic Johnson. Despite not working in sports, Nichols has attended nearly every Final Four since 1999. It renews his passion for basketball and momentarily allows him to pick the minds of some of the greatest coaches in the game. Currently on leave after suffering a major stroke in Sept. 2014, Nichols shares his story as an ambassador for the American Heart/Stroke Association. It includes media appearances and public speaking engagements.
In 2018, Nichols launched DNICK Media, a multimedia company to handle his endeavors.
A member of the National Association of Black Journalists, Nichols is the former Detroit Chapter president and deputy regional director.
In more than 20 years at The Detroit News, Darren Nichols chronicled the urban decay in the city that became the frst municipality to fle for bankruptcy. Nichols, an award-winning journalist, covered every mayoral administration in Detroit since Coleman Young. Following a massive stroke, Nichols is currently serving as a freelance journalist, podcast host and media relations consultant.
Freelance reporter who has written pieces for publications such as In The New York Times, The Detroit News, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, The Source, Revolt, In These Times magazine and the American Stroke Association. Also secured writing contracts with Chicago-based OVP Management Consulting Group, the Kresge Foundation, National Association of Black Journalists and as a keynote speaker for MPRO, a Michigan-based health care non-proft.