Howard-J Wins Big at NABJ Convention
Howard faculty and alumni gather for a photo at the NABJ convention in Cleveland. (Photo: Jennifer C. Thomas, contributed)
by dominic k. mckenzie, assistant professor of digital storytelling
Howard University Journalism walked away with five of seven Salute to Excellence awards in undergraduate collegiate reporting from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) on Saturday, August 9.
The Salute to Excellence Gala, held yearly at the NABJ convention, honors the best in reporting covering the Black experience. The awards were presented at the association's 50th anniversary convention in Cleveland.
In Digital Media, Vida Poyner-Chillious, '25, won the Online Feature Reporting award for her story titled '90 Years of Life, Love and Resilience: Elizabeth Chillious’ Story'. Asia Alexander, '25, won the Online News Reporting award for her story 'President Biden Establishes National Monument for 1908 Springfield Race Riot'.
In Television, the Fall 2024 NewsVision class (Juan Benn '25, Danilo Wrightsell '25, Skyler Winston '25, Trinity Webster-Bass '25) won Best Newscast and Trinity Kinslow, '25, won in the Feature: Short Form category for her story 'Kamala Harris Makes History: Supporters Leave DNC Ready to Work'.
Webster-Bass received the Salute to Excellence award in the collegiate Podcast category for her podcast 'How Kamala Harris Built Bonds for Life', published on the Howard University News Service. (Photo: Jennifer C. Thomas, contributed)
In Podcasting, Trinity Webster-Bass '25, won for her reporting titled 'How Kamala Harris Built Bonds for Life'.
All stories are published by the award-winning Howard University News Service (HUNS).
Jennifer C. Thomas, associate professor of broadcast journalism and director of the Annenberg Honors Program, was at the ceremony and noted the awards as timely during a vital time in U.S. history.
“Our students had the unique opportunity to cover both the 2024 Democratic National Convention and Presidential Election as credentialed journalists in real time with real challenges and deadlines,” she said. “This national recognition is a testament that their diligence, ethical standards and commitment to sharing stories affecting our community, matters.”
Among the honorees was Dr. Yanick Rice Lamb, professor of journalism at Howard, who received the coveted NABJ Educator of the Year award. Dr. Lamb credits her time at HU as her most fulfilling work.
"I'm grateful for this national recognition of my contributions in helping to lead one of the best journalism programs and nurture new generations of truth tellers," she said. "I'm so thankful to receive NABJ's Journalism Educator of the Year Award. The outpouring of love, excitement and Bison Pride has been incredible!"
Dr. Christine McWhorter, Dr. Yanick Rice Lamb, Prof. Jennifer C. Thomas and Dr. Ingrid Sturgis pause for a photo after the Educator of the Year presentation during the opening ceremony. (Photo: Jennifer C. Thomas, contributed)
The Hilltop, Howard's student newspaper, won Best Feature Reporting for its coverage of the 2024 Presidential Election. Former editor-in-chief of the paper, JD Jean-Jacques, received the NABJ Student Journalist of the Year award.
This caps one of Howard-J's most successful academic years in recent history.
HU News Service received a national award from the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) for Best Independent Online Student Publication in May, beating national finalists – the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas Tech University.