Black Journalists Group Celebrates 25 Years Of Progress At Philadelphia Gala

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a gala reception in Philadelphia. Attending the event at the Philadelphia Marriott Hotel were NABJ founders and presidents as well as board members and long-time supporters.

The Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (PABJ), among the largest of NABJ's professional and student chapters, hosted the event in the city that has been home to a number of NABJ founders, presidents and other leaders.

NABJ President Will Sutton, deputy managing editor of The News & Observer in Raleigh, NC, praised the dedication and vision of the 44 men and women who met in December 1975 and founded the organization in a n effort to support, fortify and unify Black journalists who work at various media organizations. "Twenty-five years ago, Black journalists concerned about biased coverage of the Black community and the small number of Blacks employed in mainstream newsrooms gathered in a Washington, D.C., hotel and formed NABJ," Sutton said. "Since that meeting, NABJ has become the largest and most influential group of journalists of color in the country." NABJ now has about 3,000 members. One of the main goals of the organization is to increase the number of Black journalists who work in the field.

Lynn Norment, managing editor of EBONY Magazine and chair of the year-long 25th anniversary celebration, encouraged journalists to support their local and national organizations. "NABJ is only as strong as our members and chapters," she said. "By strengthening our organizations, we increase the coverage of our communities and our leaders."

The guests were entertained by Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band, guitarist Mark Whitfield and classical/gospel harpist Jeff Majors, who appeared courtesy of Radio One, the nation's largest Black-owned radio empire, founded by entrepreneur Cathy Hughes.

Corporate sponsors of the NABJ gala were Ford Motor Company, Merck & Co., EBONY Magazine and Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.

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