National Association of Black Journalists Honors Four African-American Women

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has honored several influential African-American Women with various awards. These women include Dawn Kelly for the Annual Media Professional Award, Yamiche Alcindor for the Emerging Journalists of the Year, Marissa A. Evans for Student Journalist of the Year, and Michelle Johnson as Journalism Educator of the Year. Roland S. Martin, Gregory L. Moore, and Dr. Shelley Stewart were also honored for Journalist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award and Community Service Award respectively.

NABJ, which began as an activism group in 1975 in Washington, D.C., will honor these women and honorees this summer at the organization’s Annual Convention and Career Fair in Orlando, Florida. The NABJ convention is the largest gathering of minority journalists.


The organization began announcing the recipients of the various awards in March through press releases.

Dawn Kelly, Vice President and Account Team Leader of Global Prudential Financial Inc., is the recipient of the 2013 Pat Tobin Media Professional Award recipient. The Pat Tobin Media Award is given to a public relations, advertising, or marketing professional that has made an impact in the media industry.

The organization stated that Kelly received the award because, “[She is] is responsible for providing ongoing internal communications and media relations support for Prudential's retirement business, which delivers retirement plan solutions for public, private, and nonprofit organizations.”

Kelly who is a member of NABJ, Public Relations Society of American and several other media related organization is a graduate of Howard University.

The second African-American Woman honored by NABJ is USA Today’s Yamiche Alcindor as the Emerging Journalists of the year.

Alcindor, who is a 2009 graduate of Georgetown University, currently works as a breaking news reporter at USA Today. She has covered many top news stories, which include, The Florida A&M University Scandal and the Sandy Hook Elementary Shooting.

Alcindor is considered an “NABJ Baby”, by growing up in the organization. As youth she participated in the NABJ Student Projects, a multimedia-reporting project, which allowed student reporters to cover the association and yearly NABJ convention.

Alcindor is very proud of the honor and thankful for the honor.

"To be recognized among peers who have shown me the hard work and dedication it takes to be a black journalist is something special. [..] I feel blessed to have been given the support and opportunities needed to tell the stories I have told,” Alcindor said.

The organization honored Alcindor for taking advantage of every opportunity presented to her to learn, grow and thrive.

NABJ also honored Marquette University Senior, Marissa A. Evans as Student Journalist of the Year.

NABJ Communications Chair Christopher Nelson has described Evans as, “Persistent and passionate, she has blossomed into a well-rounded storyteller who can work across.”

Evans is President and Founder of Marquette University’s student affiliate chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and founder of her own magazine, InHue. This summer she will intern at The Seattle Times as a Metro reporter.

The last African-American Women honored by NABJ is Boston University’s Michelle Johnson as Journalism Educator of the Year.

Johnson, an associate professor of multimedia journalism, graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Journalism and obtained a Master’s Degree in Journalism from Columbia University. Additionally, to being an associate professor Johnson founded the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and co-founded of it’s New England chapter.

Johnson has the legacy of a teacher and mentor, but thanks her past for dedication towards her students. "Because I didn't get to where I am alone, I strive to honor my mentors by giving back by helping to prepare the next generation of journalists of color to excel and innovate," Johnson said.

Each of these women Kelly, Alcindor, Evans and Johnson prove that a career in journalism is still viable financially, mentally and professionally. They are virtuosos in communication field because of hard work, dedication and innovation.

All honorees will be honored at the Salute To Excellence Awards Gala on Saturday, August 3, 2013 in Orlando, Florida.

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Tatiana M. Brown is a native of Washington, D.C. who is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism at Hofstra University. Follow her @TatianaMBrown, check out her website, or contact her at tatiana@forharriet.com