WASHINGTON – The Howard University Association of Black Journalists members brought home four awards this past weekend from the 2021 Salute to Excellence Awards hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists.

Emceed by actress and comedian Kim Coles, the virtual award ceremony recognizes more than 70 works of journalism and communications that best cover the Black experience or addresses issues affecting the worldwide Black community. The Salute to Excellence Awards competition is open to all media organizations and individuals involved in print, broadcast, and all forms of digital journalism and communications and collegiate media.

“Congratulations to the members of the Howard University Association of Black Journalists (HUABJ) and the village supporting and challenging our students to do their best,” said Gracie Lawson-Borders, dean of the Cathy Hughes School of Communications. “I am proud our students have been recognized for their hard work and dedication to excellence, truth and service. This is a wonderful accomplishment to close the academic semester.”

Award entries are judged on content, creativity, innovation, use of the medium and relevance to the Black community.Along with HUABJ adviser and professor, Jennifer Thomas, the team secured the following awards:

• NABJ Student Chapter of the Year: Howard University Association of Black Journalists (HUABJ) Julia Weng, President; Professor Jennifer Thomas, adviser
• Television Undergraduate Feature: Short Film: Samantha Chaney, NewsVision “A Day in the Life of a Virtual School Teacher” Professor Jennifer Thomas
• Television Undergraduate Best Newscast: NewsVision Final Newscast Fall 2020, Samantha Chaney, Julia Weng, Kira Grant, Corrin Jones, Chandler Carter, Jaquatte Williams, Professor Jennifer Thomas
• Digital Media Undergraduate Best Use of Digital Media: Online Sports Reporting: Arthur Cribbs, “How Covid19 Has Impacted Undergraduate Baseball,” Professor Mark Beckford

“We’re very proud of the focus and commitment to storytelling demonstrated by our student journalists,” said Thomas. “Each winning team produced events and stories amid the pandemic when resources were severely limited. Their wins are evidence of the commitment to their craft and community and are the culmination of the collective tutelage by professors in the Department of Media, Journalism and Film.”

To watch the entire award ceremony, visit youtube.com/NABJHeadquarters.

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About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 14 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 12 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu.

Media Contact: Aaliyah Butler; aaliyah.butler@howard.edu