ROCHESTER ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS NAMED 2019 NABJ PROFESSIONAL CHAPTER OF THE YEAR
Written by Andria on August 20, 2019
Press release
[ROCHESTER, N.Y. ] The National Association of Black Journalists announced recently at its 44th Annual Convention and Career Fair that the Rochester Association of Black Journalists is the 2019 NABJ Professional Chapter of the Year.
“We are profoundly honored to be recognized by the National Association of Black Journalists,” said Rochester Association of Black Journalist President Richard J. McCollough, who is also a local meteorologist and owner of Mirusmedia. “Frederick Douglass lived and worked in Rochester, where he published the North Star newspaper, a beacon of social change and champion of justice. Douglass’ work was important then as it is today in 2019. We stand on his shoulders and let us continue to support the black press and African American journalists working in the main stream media.”
RABJ shares the honor with the San Diego Association of Black Journalists (SDABJ).
According to NABJ Director of Communications Kanya Stewart, other affiliates chapters have shared the award before, but she didn’t have more details available at press time.
Accepting the award on behalf of the Rochester chapter were RABJ officers Joanne Gordon, vice-president of broadcast; Ericka E. Wilson, treasurer; Rashad Smith, recording secretary; and Rhonda Austin, corresponding secretary.
The NABJ Chapter of the Year Award is presented to a professional affiliate chapter for their accomplishments. The criteria include but is not limited to the number of new members who have joined the chapter and NABJ, the chapter’s community activities and programs, and the number and size of scholarships awarded by the chapter.
In 2018, RABJ had a variety of activities including as host of numerous panel discussions on the role of the media with such organization as the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and the United Way’s African American Leadership Development Program (AALDP). It also held a highly-celebrated Black Media Brunch.
The chapter successfully created a partnership with the popular Little Theatre to present the monthly “Black Cinema Series” with panel discussions. The group was actively involved in promoting the importance of voting within the local community throughout 2018.
RABJ also was a major voice in the outcry against the attack on the Frederick Douglass statue standing at the intersection of Alexander and Tracy streets in the city of Rochester. The vandalism occurred after a yearlong community celebration of the 200th Anniversary of Douglass’ birth, of which RABJ was an active participant.
The organization, which covers the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York, was founded on April 17, 2004 by reporters, photographers, and copy editors, along with those in allied professions such as public relations. RABJ works to groom future journalists of color, help chapter members thrive in their current roles, and advocate for African Americans to be depicted in a fair and balanced way in the media.
