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Inspire Black Men

Baltimore Association of Black Journalist — Sun, 17 May 2026 05:28:43 -0400

The National Association of Black Journalists #InspireBlackMen initiative aims to inspire, support and develop training and mentorship opportunities for Black men working in journalism and media and those that aspire to.

2021 – #InspireBlackMen Focuses on Being a Black Man in Media

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ) hosted its 5th annual Black Male Media Project June 12, 2021 via Zoom meeting. This year’s BABJ Black Male Media Project centered on the impact of being a Black man in an American newsroom and/or media company.

2020 – #InspireBlackMen virtual panel via Zoom

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists hosted its 4th annual Black Male Media Project June 6, 2020 via Zoom video conferencing. The discussion “Black Men Navigating The Crisis” focused on Black men navigating the coronavirus pandemic and #BlackLivesMatter.

2019 – #InspireBlackMen at WBAL-TV

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists hosted its 3rd annual Black Male Media Project June 1, 2019 at WBAL-TV 11. The forum centered on the impact of negative images of African-American men and boys on journalism. More than 60 people attended the two hour panel discussion focused on ways to improve the community trust between journalists serving the Baltimore media market and Black men and boys.

2018 – #InspireBlackMen at Morgan State Univ.

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists hosted its second annual Black Male Media Project Saturday June 2, 2018 at Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism and Communication. BABJ Membership chair David Steele organized the panel discussion entitled, “Athletes, Activism and Community: Sports as a Platform for Change” focused on the role of athletes, public figures and journalists in advocating for issues impacting the Black community. (View photos and video)

2017 – #InspireBlackMen at WBAL-TV/Radio

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists hosted its inaugural Black Male Media Project June 10, 2017 at WBAL-TV 11 & WBAL 1090 AM Radio. The National Association of Black Journalists #InspireBlackMen initiative aims to inspire, support and develop training and mentorship opportunities for Black men working in journalism and media and those that aspire to. (View photos and video)

BABJ Holiday 2018

Baltimore Association of Black Journalist — Sun, 17 May 2026 04:58:55 -0400

The 6th Annual Baltimore Association of Black Journalists’ #BABJHoliday party kicked off December 4, 2018 at Flight American Fusion restaurant in Govans.

This year’s BABJ “party with a purpose” helped collect clothing and toiletries for Loving Arms – Maryland youth shelter in Gwynn Oak.

This was also a chance for BABJ members to catch up, fellowship and have a great time for a good cause.

Among the festivities, members played an impromptu Baltimore quiz game for prizes.

Those in attendance took time out acknowledge founders day for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and to wish Immediate Past President Nicki Mayo a happy birthday.

Everyone left the event with a special limited edition #BABJHoliday ornament/magnet.

BABJ members and party guests donated nearly 120 items to Loving Arms.

Here is a complete itemized list of the 2018 #BABJHoliday donations:

#BABJHoliday Loving Arms Shelter Donation Inventory

1 girls coat
1 young women’s sweatshirt
5 boys pajamas set
2 boys sleep pants
3 girls pajamas sets
29 individual pairs mens/boys underpants
29 mens/boys undershirts
12 pairs of women’s underwear
27 pairs of socks

Toiletries

4 toothbrushes
1 toothpaste
2 deodorants
1 vaseline
1 lotion
1 skin care kit
1 pack of maxi pads (16)

Our BABJ Holiday Hangout History

BABJ started in the fall of 2013 and immediately jumped into a holiday tradition of having a “party with a purpose” to help Baltimore-area charities and efforts while supporting Black owned businesses. Here’s a growing list of the #BABJHoliday efforts over the years.

2013 – In 2013 we celebrated the beginning for BABJ at Silo .5% (View photo gallery here)

We also teamed up with Philanthropix to benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities. (View photo gallery here)

2014 – Our second #BABJholiday in 2014 BABJ collected gifts at Teavolve for the “It’s Kindertime” Toy Drive. (View photo gallery here)

2015 – We hosted our 2015 #BABJHoliday at Flight American Fusion. BABJ continued the season of giving tradition with a coat and toy drive to benefit the Penn-North Kids Safe Zone in Sandtown. Several members also adopted 3 girls ages 8 and 11.

2016 – In 2016 we teamed up with Charm City Warmth Drive to help get winter protective gear to those weathering the winter on the streets. (View photos and video here)

2017 – Last year we collected and donated nearly 80 items to 2 Save Souls Records and Spirit 2 Spirit Ministries’ 2018 blanket drive during our party at 13.5% Wine Bar.

2018 – BABJ collected more than 120 clothing items and toiletries for teens at the Loving Arms – Maryland youth shelter during our party at Flight American Fusion. (View photos here)

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2021 Year In Review

Baltimore Association of Black Journalist — Sun, 17 May 2026 04:47:13 -0400

Uncategorized |

January 22, 2022

2021 was a slight repeat of 2020 filled with multiple variants developing in the COVID-19 global pandemic. This forced the Baltimore Association of Black Journalists to continue providing virtual programming to keep members and guests ready for the work from home demands, while also addressing the hostile climate in the world around us as Black journalists.

Here’s a look at the “BABJ 2021 Year In Review.”

BABJ 2021 by the Numbers

25 guest speakers and panelists in 2021.
7 Meetings with professional development or education.
1 Social event
1 Planning meeting
1 Membership Drive
1 #BABJPurpose charity fundraiser

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2021 BABJ State of the Union

Saturday January 23, Noon – 2p.m.

Annual planning meeting to set the course of the new year.

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After Effects Tips and Tricks

Thursday February 18, 7p.m. – 8 p.m.

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ) teamed up with the NABJ Visual Task Force on February 18, 2021 for a mini-meeting event focusing on Adobe After Effects. The panelists described best practices, tips and tricks to making eye catching videos. They offered ample breakdowns of hot to approach projects. The video animation experts also discussed career opportunities available to journalists interested in mastering After Effects.

PANELISTS

Justin Gladden, Filmmaker
Arielle Ray, Graphics/Multimedia Editor, The New York Times

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Covering Baltimore Crime RESPONSIBLY

Saturday Feb 27, Noon – 2p.m.

Homicide, gangs, narcotics, and more are parts of Baltimore crime. But more importantly are the people that crime impacts. BABJ is committed to calling for responsible reporting as journalists cover crime in Baltimore. Our panel discussed the issues, obstacles and possible solutions to covering crime in Baltimore RESPONSIBLY.

PANELISTS

Phillip Jackson, Baltimore Sun Criminal Justice Reporter
Lisa Snowden McCray, Baltimore Beat Editor
Barry Simms, WBAL-TV I-Team Reporter
T.J. Smith, Former Public Information Officer for Baltimore City and Anne Arundel County Police Departments

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Repurposing Your Journalism Skills

Saturday March 27, Noon – 2p.m.

Is there life beyond the newsroom? Maybe there’s another way to use your journalism skills beyond traditional news. The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists explored various options for journalists looking to repurpose their skills.

PANELISTS:

Crystal I. Berger, Commentator and Founder of EBO
Tanya Hutchins, Host of “Life After TV News”
Marcus J. Moore, Book Author
Jazmine Steele, Deputy Communications Director

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2021 Membership Drive

The BABJ 2021 Membership Drive from January to April 2021. Thanks to BABJ Membership Chair David Steel’s leadership we also hosted a competition to recognize the BABJ member that required the most people to join our organization.

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Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces for Journalists and Media Related Professionals

April 24, Noon – 2p.m.

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ) hosted its April 24, 2021 general meeting with a panel on live conferencing audio apps. Audio apps are where it’s at when it comes to cultivating online conversations. BABJ invited social media experts to discuss the ways to optimize the Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces apps to compliment a social media strategy. More than 20 participants signed on for the two hour discussion on audio apps. The panelists included:

Kamara Daughtry, Sinclair Broadcast Group Social Media Specialist
Regan Farley, Intel Media Co-Founder/Comms Strategist
Deprina Godboldo, Prina Media
Philip Lewis, HuffPost Senior Front Page Editor

The discussion covered: selecting the best audio app for your discussion; ways to promote upcoming discussions and the pros/cons of using apps. The experts also weighed in on; the importance of audience engagement; how to deal with trolls and disruptions; and best practices when transitioning listeners/guests to subscribers and followers of your media organizations.

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BABJ Participates in Inaugural Baltimore Black Artist Fair

May 2, 2021

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists participated in the inaugural Black Artist Fair. The Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts & Entertainment District hosted this three-day virtual event April 30th through May 2nd, 2021.

WBAL-TV’s Director of Programming & Public Affairs Jerome Chester served as the resident media expert during the May 1st panel entitled, “Gaining Access: Museums, Publishing and More.” This meaningful discussion with curators, publishers, creators, and artists focused on best practices and strategies for Black creatives to gain access to creative spaces, bookshelves, news coverage and more. The experts highlighted the importance of creating more Black-owned spaces to highlight the artistic brilliance within the Black Community.

Jerome Chester is an accomplished TV news producer, turned news manager. As WBAL-TV’s Programming & Public Affairs Director, Chester is in a unique position that allows him to share more of the great things, people and events of Baltimore with the general public beyond traditional newscasts. This proud Baltimore native works tirelessly to promote positive images and the talents within our community. Chester functions as a dual presence since he knows what gets coverage in a traditional newscast, but he also has the ability to offer a greater spotlight for longer interviews to showcase the arts.

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2021 – #InspireBlackMen Focuses on Being a Black Man in Media

June 12, Noon – 2p.m.

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ) hosted its 5th annual Black Male Media Project June 12, 2021 via Zoom meeting. The National Association of Black Journalists #InspireBlackMen initiative aims to inspire, support and develop training and mentorship opportunities for Black men working in journalism and media and those that aspire to.

This year’s BABJ Black Male Media Project centered on the impact of being a Black man in an American newsroom and/or media company. BABJ hosted a panel to discuss the state of Black men working in journalism and media-related professions. At a time when #BlackLivesMatter slayings are part of daily news coverage, this discussion centered on how are Black men coping and dealing with coverage.

Nearly 20 guests attended the BABJ virtual educational and healing event. The panelists included:

PANELISTS:

LaFontaine Oliver, President and General Manager at WYPR. Moderator.
Kamau High, Features Editor at The Baltimore Sun
Jessie Karangu, Video Producer at Sightline Media Group.
Kadrie Lamin, Media Strategist at Edelman.
Jason Newton, Anchor, WBAL-TV11.

BABJ’s 2021 Black Male Media Project was organized, produced and promoted by:

Vance Brinkley, SiriusXM Audio Editor, Journalist and DJ.
Henry Kenny III, Edelman Assistant Account Executive.
Tramon Lucas, BABJ Student Liaison and WBAL-TV Digital Editor.
David C. Steele, BABJ Membership Chair, Sports Writer and Author.
Brian H. Waters, Johns Hopkins Medicine Communications Specialist.

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Photojournalism in a Pandemic

September 25, Noon – 2p.m.

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ) returned from summer hiatus with a September 25, 2021 meeting focusing on visual storytelling. The “Photojournalism in a Pandemic” panel featured four local veteran journalists sharing their experiences over the years, while explaining how the pandemic has changed their careers forever.

More than 10 people attended the fireside chat discussion. The panelists included:

Manny Locke, Photographer, WMAR-TV
Karl Merton Ferron, Photographer, Baltimore Sun
Eugene Russell, Photographer, FOX 5
Fred Slade, Photographer, WMAR-TV

Baltimore and Washington D.C. photography and videography professionals shared their passion for the art of visual storytelling. The panel also explored their heroic stories from working in the field before and during the global pandemic.

The meeting concluded with a candid and lively “Ask Me Anything” questions and answers session.

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Newsroom Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accountability

November 20, Noon – 2p.m.

American newsrooms must be proactive to ensure coverage accurately and responsibly reflects the communities we cover. This means taking a bold accountability stance in the name of newsroom diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Baltimore Sun’s Diversity Committee teamed up with the Baltimore Association of Black Journalists to invite the fellow Maryland journalism orgs to discuss best practices for covering diverse communities with accountability. Baltimore Sun’s Diversity Committee Chair John-John Williams IV led the thoughtful discussion. The Sun’s Diversity Committee earned the 2019 Maryland | Delaware | DC Press Association’s Best Moves Award for their programming and advocacy which includes intense diversity training within the newsroom. The Sun was also the first newsroom in the nation to undergo a Maynard Institute content audit.

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9th Annual #BABJHoliday

December 14, 2021

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists hosted the ninth annual #BABJHoliday social in person at Nola Seafood & Spirits in Federal Hill. #BABJHoliday is our annual “party with a purpose.” BABJ Purpose Initiative Chair Maria Morales led our efforts to help spread some holiday cheer. She spearheaded a winter weather clothing drive for Weekend Backpacks. This group provides food to vulnerable, food-insecure Baltimore City youth to facilitate academic success and improve their lives both physically and emotionally. Thanks to Morales’ leadership BABJ collected: 50 items including: 25 pairs of gloves, 20 hats, 3 scarves, 2 pairs of earmuffs.

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Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces for Journalists and Media Related Professionals

Baltimore Association of Black Journalist — Sun, 17 May 2026 04:38:40 -0400

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ) hosted its April 24, 2021 general meeting with a panel on live conferencing audio apps.

Due to health concerns surrounding the spread of COVID-19, BABJ opted for a webinar in an effort to implement social distancing and keep members safe.

Audio apps are where it’s at when it comes to cultivating online conversations. BABJ invited social media experts to discuss the ways to optimize the Clubhouse and Twitter Spaces apps to compliment a social media strategy.

More than 20 participants signed on for the two hour discussion on audio apps. The panelists included:

Kamara Daughtry, Sinclair Broadcast Group Social Media Specialist
Regan Farley, Intel Media Co-Founder/Comms Strategist
Deprina Godboldo, Prina Media
Philip Lewis, HuffPost Senior Front Page Editor

Dean Jackie Jones Named a 2026 NABJ Hall of Fame Inductee!

Baltimore Association of Black Journalist — Sat, 16 May 2026 20:21:16 -0400

Congratulations are in order for Morgan State University's School of Global Journalism & Communication!

✨Dean Jackie Jones was named a 2026 NABJ Hall of Fame inductee!

✨And Morgan State University Association of Black Journalists was named a finalist for Student Chapter of the Year!

Morgan has been a longtime supporter and contributor to BABJ over the years, and we are happy to see another year of achievement!

#nabj #babj #blackjournalism #congratulations

Silence Is Not Safety: BABJ Backs Journalists Calling for Accountability at WJZ-TV

Baltimore Association of Black Journalist — Sat, 16 May 2026 20:09:35 -0400

November 17, 2025

The Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ) expresses deep concern and disappointment regarding credible claims of leadership failures, a toxic work environment, and mistreatment that have caused emotional and professional harm to several Black journalists under General Manager Kathy Hostetter and News Director Tanya Black at WJZ-TV, a flagship CBS-owned station in Baltimore, Maryland.

These claims were brought to BABJ by The WJZ Accountability Coalition, comprised of former and current WJZ employees who submitted detailed memos documenting an ongoing pattern of fear and retaliation, racial and professional inequities, diminished morale, inconsistent management communication, favoritism, uneven workloads, unsanitary work conditions, and the departure of multiple homegrown and diverse newsroom talent.

Since 2022, more than two dozen employees have exited WJZ under the current leadership structure—a turnover rate that underscores the depth of instability within the newsroom and its impact across roles, races, and departments. While company-wide reductions have occurred across the industry, the volume and pattern of departures at WJZ reflect deeper cultural and managerial failures that cannot be explained by layoffs alone.

Some in the coalition described claims of sexual harassment involving a longtime on-air figure whose conduct was previously the subject of an internal investigation that employees say failed to bring accountability. The handling of that matter, they said, reinforced a broader pattern of broken promises and selective enforcement that eroded trust throughout the newsroom.

These concerns—combined with the lack of protection, advancement, and retention of Black journalists—represent a serious breach of trust with the Baltimore community. Viewers have watched the alarming turnover and treatment of several local talent that once defined the station’s connection to this city, an issue that has drawn public scrutiny from national media-industry outlets, which has documented these patterns repeatedly since at least 2023.

With the support of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), BABJ calls for an immediate meeting with WJZ leadership to address the root causes of these failures and restore confidence among staff and the community.

Furthermore, BABJ advocates for the following actions:

Independent third-party review of WJZ newsroom culture and HR processes
Independent leadership audit focusing on management conduct
Anonymous employee feedback review conducted by a neutral third party
Review by NABJ of professional-membership standing for newsroom leadership named in coalition materials
Restorative measures for affected employees, including counseling access and career-rebuilding opportunities
Leadership training or reassignment for individuals whose management practices foster a hostile environment

We want WJZ senior leadership to know that we do not take these claims lightly. We expect a timely and transparent response; continued silence will not be seen as safety, but as complacency. BABJ and its partners will continue to pursue additional advocacy measures until meaningful accountability and reform are achieved.

Respectfully,

Baltimore Association of Black Journalists (BABJ)

On behalf of its Executive Board and Membership