Black Journalists Announce Annual Awards Call for Entries

Annual 'Salute to Excellence' Awards recognize outstanding coverage of black people & issues on the air, in print, and online.

WASHINGTON, -- The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) announces its 2010 Salute to Excellence Awards Call for Entries. Journalists spanning race, ethnicities and platforms compete for awards of excellence in coverage of African and African American themes. The contest is open to all journalists and entries will be judged on content, creativity, innovation and relevance to the black community. Deadline for Award Entries is Feb. 19.

"2009 has certainly provided plenty of coverage of the African American experience," said NABJ President Kathy Y. Times. "A historic inauguration, an ever-challenging economy, and a greater conversation of diversity in America are just some of the amazing stories this year."

2009 Winners include The Washington Post, Home Box Office, WGN-TV Chicago, Newsweek.com, EBONY Magazine, The Oprah Winfrey Show, TV One and BET News.

Nominees and Winners represent large and small-market circulation newspapers and magazines, online media, broadcast networks and market television and radio stations. New categories include Interactive Stories on the web. Only work performed from January to December 2009 is eligible for nomination.

Nominees are announced in June. Winners will be announced at the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala scheduled for Saturday, July 31 in San Diego, California. The awards gala is held during NABJ's Annual Convention and Career Fair, planned July 28 – August 1 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego.

The entry fee is $75 per submission for members and $100 for non-members. Checks, money orders or credit card payments must accompany each entry. Log onto www.nabj.org to download a Call for Entries packet. For questions regarding the NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards competition or gala, contact Ryan Williams, NABJ director of programs and professional development, at 866-479-NABJ, or email rwilliams@nabj.org.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation, with nearly 4,000 members, and provides educational, career development and support to black journalists worldwide.

SOURCE National Association of Black Journalists