 NABJ Region III Director Gayle Hurd (middle) congratulates BRAABJ Immediate Past President Michelle McCalope (left) and Cheryl Stroy, BRAABJ President, on receiving NABJ Chapter of the Year award.  NABJ President Sarah Glover presents BRAABJ Immediate Past President Michelle McCalope with NABJ’s Professional Chapter of the Year Award at the NABJ/NAHJ convention on Aug. 3 in Washington, D.C. Baton Rouge, Louisiana (August 2016) – The Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists (BRAABJ) was recently awarded the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) Professional Chapter of the Year award. The award was presented by NABJ President Sarah Glover at the NABJ/NAHJ Convention in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 3.
The NABJ Chapter of the Year Award is presented to a professional affiliate chapter for its accomplishments during the eligibility period. The criteria includes, 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. "Local chapters are the backbone of NABJ and help keep its mission alive. The chapter's talented members form a vital fellowship for black journalists across the country," said NABJ President Sarah Glover. "Local chapters help working journalists identify allies and advocates who live and work in the same market, formulating an indispensable network." “I am so proud of our chapter members who have all helped contribute to this award,” said BRAABJ Immediate Past President Michelle McCalope who accepted the award on the organization’s behalf. “And personally as president and founder of BRAABJ for the past four years, it’s one of my proudest moments. BRAABJ has done alot in its short history and I know we’ve impacted the community. I’m looking forward to the organization continuing its legacy. “ Statement from NABJ as to why Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists was nominated and received the award: “The Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists (BRAABJ) has worked tirelessly to ensure that both local journalists and the community at large are engaged in an ongoing basis. The chapter hosted a breakfast meeting with New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet, the first African-American to hold that position. There was also a very successful "Secrets to Accessing the Media" workshop, designed to help nonprofits and small business owners be successful in getting their events covered by the press, learn how to write a news release and how to conduct themselves during an interview. The event has drawn more than 70 people each year. To engage students, there was a mentoring workshop with students from both Southern University and Louisiana State University. The community has also turned out in force for the chapter's annual scholarship luncheon in April, where they honored pioneering journalists and raised money for student scholarships. This year they raised nearly $14,000.” BRAABJ was founded in 2012. Its mission is to support journalists of color and mentor and provide scholarships to aspiring student journalists and promote diversity in our newsrooms. It is an affiliate of the NABJ.
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 BRAABJ President-Elect Cheryl Stroy (left) and BRAABJ President Michelle McCalope (right) congratulate the 2016 BRAABJ scholarship recipients (from left) Daris Schneider-Bray, Southern University; Ward Colin, LSU; Paige Vaughn, LSU and Danita Winfrey, Southeastern Louisiana University. The Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists (BRAABJ) recently awarded four scholarships to area college students to attend the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention and Career Fair in Washington, D.C. The recipients who are mass communications students at their respective schools are Ward Colin, a graduate student at LSU who is working on his master’s degree; Paige Vaughn, a 2016 Spring LSU graduate; Daris Schneider-Bray, a senior at Southern University, and Danita Winfrey, a junior at Southeastern Louisiana University. The scholarships will cover their convention registration, airfare and hotel, a total of more than $5,000. “We are so excited to once again give aspiring student journalists an opportunity to attend the NABJ convention and meet journalists from across the country who can help guide them in their careers,” said BRAABJ Immediate Past President Michelle McCalope. “The experience is lifechanging.” As part of the convention, students will have an opportunity to meet thousands of journalists and potential employers from across the country and attend a myriad of professional workshops. NABJ will host the convention along with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. "It is truly a blessing to receive this scholarship,” Winfrey said. “It feels great that the work I'm putting in is starting to pay off. I’m excited to see what the convention has in store for me.” “This is one of the first opportunities where I'll get to interact with successful mass communicators from all over the world and learn practical, helpful career information in one setting,” Colin said. “I’m looking forward to this great experience.” The scholarships are funded by money raised at the BRAABJ Fourth Annual Scholarship Luncheon which was held in April. Thanks to all of our sponsors including Entergy, Baton Rouge Magnet High School, Southern University Student Media, LSU Manship School of Communication, Baton Rouge Press Club, Attorney Preston Castille, Louisiana Lottery, Sharon Weston Broome, Coca Cola Bottling Company, Shiloh Baptist Church, Greater King David Baptist Church, Cox Communications, Everything Philly, Dianne Andrews In Black and White, WBRZ Channel 2, Belle of Baton Rouge, Chicken Shack and Haynie and Associates. This is the third consecutive year BRAABJ is sending students to the NABJ Convention. Since 2014, the organization has sent seven students and two media professionals to the convention which doesn't include this year's recipients. If you would like more information on BRAABJ membership, events, or meetings please email us at brareaabj@gmail.com or send mail to P.O. Box 66401 Baton Rouge, LA 70896. |
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