Journalist of the Year Leonard Pitts, Jr. SPECIAL UNITY ISSUE Presort Standard US Postage PAID Permit No. 161 Harrisonburg, VA Journal, Summer 2008 | www.nabj.org | National Association of Black Journalists | 1 2 | National Association of Black Journalists | www.nabj.org | Journal, Summer 2008 Features 7 – Facilitating Change: Learning the lessons from the multimedia battlefield. 8 – New York State of Mind: President Ciara and her vice presidents travel to the Big Apple to meet with industry executives. 24 – Churches Help Address Africa’s Need: Katti Gray traveled to Malawi and South Africa” as an Ethel Payne Fellow to note how American churches are serving the continent. 26 – NABJ/N.Y. Times program bears fruit: Unique academy aims to create new newsroom leaders among our members. 28 – The Black Press in Chicago: With the Chicago Defender and Johnson Publishing, Chicago has long been a black journalism mecca. 34 – Luther P. Jackson: A life remembered. Cover Story 10 – Journalist of the Year, Leonard Pitts, Jr. Despite death threats, Pitts continues to serve as the voice of a people. Special Honors Awards 12 – Educator of the Year – Nagatha Tonkins 14 – Emerging Journalist of the Year – Sarah Hoye Unity ‘08 16 – Lifetime Achievement – Harry W. Porterfield 18 – Legacy Award – Evelyn Cunningham 20 – Student Journalist of the Year – Sidney Wright IV 21 – Community Service Award – Margaret Bernstein 22 – Best Practices – The Chauncey Bailey Project 23 – Percy Qoboza Award – Missing Eritrean Journalists Departments President’s Column .............................................................4 Executive Director .............................................................5 First Question ....................................................................5 NABJ News .......................................................................6 What’s on your iPod/TiVo ................................................29 30 – ALL SMILES: NABJ members Passages .........................................................................35 know how to have a good time, Comings and Goings .......................................................36 as they have shown at previous conventions. Make sure you join us in Chicago, July 23-27. Cover photo by Mark Gail/The Washington Post Photos courtesy NABJ members. The NABJ Journal (USPS number pending) is published four times a year by the National Association of Black Journalists, the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation. To discuss news items, photos and letters or advertising, call (866) 479-NABJ or e-mail [email protected]. For infor- mation about advertising e-mail [email protected]. NABJ members receive one free copy; additional copies of this or back issues are available to members and non-members at $3.50 each; annual subscription is $14.00. Reprints not permitted without written approval from NABJ. Postmaster: Send address changes to NABJ, 8701-A Adelphi Road, Adelphi, MD 20783-1716. Journal, Journal, Journal, Summer Summer Winter 2008 20072008 | www.nabj.org | www.nabj.org | National| National Association Association of of Black Black Journalists Journalists | | 3 From the president Barbara Ciara JourNAL Greetings NABJ, Summer 2008 | Vol. 25, No. 2 Official Publication of the National Association of Black Journalists If you haven’t already, now is the time to renew and register in support of your beloved NABJ. NABJ Board of Directors I feel our association is like one big family, and it’s important to have family support to grow and thrive. PRESIDENT Barbara Ciara WTKR News Channel 3 Toward that end, membership support is a top priority for your president and board of directors. We are keeping pace with changes in the industry by offering professional VICE PRESIDENT/PRINT development opportunities year round in different parts of the country. Ernie Suggs The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The NABJ family reunion will be in Chicago this year for UNITY 2008. There you will find a choice of more than a dozen intensive, hands-on daylong and half-day sessions. Don’t miss an VICE PRESIDENT/BROADCAST Kathy Times opportunity to hone your skills and become the kind of journalist who is in high demand. WDBD-TV Channel 13 Some NABJ family members are doing better than others, and to address that, your NABJ is SECRETARY offering adult scholarships for journalists who have lost their jobs due to industry cutbacks. The Deirdre Childress scholarships will cover registration costs at UNITY 2008. The Philadelphia Inquirer NABJ will attract world attention at UNITY ‘08 with the scheduled visit of Senegalese PARLIAMENTARIAN President Abdoulaye Wade. He is the first international world leader to appear before the Tonju Francois CNN en Español National Association of Black Journalists. TREASURER We are now launching our “NABJ on the Move” campaign to prepare for our relocation to Gregory Lee the University of Maryland campus. In the Fall of 2009, NABJ will be housed at Knight Hall, The Boston Globe a new state of the art facility complete with digital media technology and expanded learning venues. NABJ will have access to signature spaces which include: a two-story Great Hall; The REGION I DIRECTOR Richard Eaton Broadcast Theater, the Gaylord Journalism Resource Center; a multi-media Caleb Wilkerson “news bubble” lab, four 18-seat news labs; three seminar rooms; two 30-seat classrooms; and Creative Development Firm multiple meeting spaces for formal and informal gatherings. REGION II DIRECTOR Charles Robinson The NABJ office suite is designed to accommodate Maryland Public Television the future growth of the organization, serving as a learning center for Media Institute programming. REGION III DIRECTOR Ken Knight As we raise the $150,000 to sufficiently move the The Tampa Tribune office, look for us to come to a city near you and hold “NABJ On The Move” fundraisers to ensure the REGION IV DIRECTOR Leisa Richardson legacy of our beloved NABJ. The Indianapolis Star Now more than ever, NABJ is an important resource REGION V DIRECTOR for its members. Cindy George Houston Chronicle Get to know us…Learn to use us! REGION VI DIRECTOR Bob Butler Yours in service, KCBS Radio Barbara Ciara, President, National Association of Black Journalists ASSOCIATE REPRESENTATIVE Photo by Ryan Williams Aprill O. Turner NABJ Executive Director Karen Wynn Freeman CooperKatz & Company Public Relations and University of Maryland President C.D. Mote break ground on Knight Hall, the university’s new STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE journalism building. NABJ’s national headquarters Christopher Nelson will relocate there. Loyola College of Maryland, BA ‘08 4 | National Association of Black Journalists | www.nabj.org | Journal, Summer 2008 From the executive director Karen Wynn Freeman, IOM, CAE JourNAL Dear NABJ, Summer 2008 | Vol. 25, No. 2 Next fall, a moving van will back up into a ranch style single-family dwelling – an oasis in the Official Publication of the woods two miles behind the University of Maryland campus that houses the national office of the National Association of Black Journalists largest minority journalism organization in the country. Journal Staff For many of you who have visited 8701 Adelphi Road, you understand the association’s PUBLISHER excitement as we head to a new space on the campus of University of Maryland. Barbara Ciara WTKR News Channel 3 The plan to relocate has been in the works for more than two years and before it’s over, the univer- sity will have invested $30 million dollars for a building that will house the journalists of tomorrow. MANAGING EDITOR The NABJ Office suite will offer a state-of-the-art facility for staff operations, enabling this Ernie Suggs The Atlanta Journal-Constitution hard working crew with the ability to effectively train members through NABJ Media Institute programming, access to journalism faculty and students and further support the NABJ mission. PICTURE EDITOR Sarah J. Glover We continue to listen to you to better understand what you need to do your job, better yet, The Philadelphia Inquirer to help you hold on to what you have. However, this support can’t continue without your input. EDITORS NABJ needs your influence and ability to inform others to gain the financial support we need Russell LaCour to make this move happen. We understand that you may not be able to give during this difficult Tulsa World time, however, you probably know individuals or organizations that would be willing to contrib- Lisa Gibson ute. Please ask them for their support. Our move can’t happen unless we all pull together as a team. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Review this wonderful issue of the Journal and see the services your organization provides. Diane Hawkins Louisville Courier-Journal Perhaps you will attend UNITY ‘08 or one of the many educational opportunities we will offer Demorris Lee throughout the year. If you’re looking at a career move, work the NABJ network or navigate the St. Petersburg Times NABJobs Online service. As you take advantage of all NABJ offers, think about how you can help Natasha Mitchell our organization become an even stronger force than it is today. As I said to you when I first came NewsOK.com/The Oklahoman aboard, “the success of this organization will come from the efforts of everyone.” Rashida Rawls The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Ismail Turay Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun Emiene Wright The Miami Herald The First Question CONTRIBUTORS Lolly Bowean Should NABJ continue to participate in UNITY? Kip Branch Talia Buford I see no reason for NABJ to end