NABJ Commends ABC News for Hiring Member Byron Pitts

WASHINGTON (April 1, 2013) – The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) offers its sincerest congratulations to NABJ member Byron Pitts on his new appointment as an anchor and chief national correspondent at ABC News.

Pitts joins ABC News after 16 years at CBS News, first as a correspondent at CBS Newspath the affiliate service, and then as a network correspondent. Over the course of his career, Pitts reported across platforms for CBS and in 2009 was named a contributing correspondent for the network's flagship news magazine and the industry standard bearer 60 Minutes. He has reported domestically and internationally on some of the biggest news stories including the September 11 attacks, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the tsunami in Indonesia, the Elian Gonzales saga, and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

"I congratulate Byron on his new position with ABC News and I am confident that he will continue to produce news that is of the highest caliber," said NABJ President Gregory Lee, Jr. "Byron's reports are clear, detailed, and compelling. He is a master storyteller who engages his audience and tells them a well-crafted story. Those of us in the industry continue to be amazed by his personal story, and I am proud to have him as an industry role model and friend."

Pitts, a Baltimore native and graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, has also made news of his own penning the well-regarded memoir Step Out on Nothing: How Faith and Family Helped Me Conquer Life's Challenges. In this inspirational story, Pitts chronicles his battle with dyslexia, a speech impediment, and other challenges from childhood to his college years.

In 2002, Pitts was named NABJ's Journalist of the Year. He is also the recipient of several Emmy Awards. He and his wife, media executive Lyne Pitts, are loyal members of and steadfast supporters of NABJ. 

NABJ also celebrates two other members, Susan Saulny and Rob Nelson, who have new roles at ABC News. Saulny joins the ABC News Washington bureau as a correspondent.  For 12 years, she was a national correspondent for the New York Times covering national news and contributing to the newspaper’s digital video efforts. After nearly three years as co-anchor of World News Now and America This Morning, Nelson will move dayside as a correspondent reporting for all platforms and programs.

"NABJ commends ABC News President Bob Sherwood for increasing the network’s diversity by hiring these distinguished journalists,” said NABJ Vice President of Broadcast and television station management diversity census author Bob Butler. "NABJ welcomes the opportunity to partner with media companies to provide training for members on and off the air and to assist stations in identifying candidates to fill openings in their newsrooms.”

NABJ wishes Pitts continued success in his new role.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization for journalists of color in the nation, and provides career development as well as educational and other support to its members worldwide. For more information, please visit www.nabj.org.

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