NABJ Salutes Members’ Newsroom Achievements

NABJ Salutes Members’ Newsroom Achievements

Mark Russell, Debra Adams Simmons Tapped to Lead Newsrooms; NABJ Founder Sandra Long Appointed to New VP Role

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 21, 2010 – This week The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) salutes the accomplishments of our members’ newsroom achievements:

Sandra Long has been appointed to the new role of vice president for editorial product development for Philadelphia Media Network, owner and operator of the Philadelphia Inquirer, switching roles from vice president of newsroom operations. Long is a founder of NABJ;

Debra Adams Simmons was named editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Simmons was promoted from managing editor;

Mark Russell was named editor of the Orlando Sentinel, Russell was also promoted from managing editor.

"This is an amazing week for NABJ,” said NABJ President Kathy Y. Times. "We are so proud of these three members and the trails that they are blazing as leaders in their fields. This is a true testament to the breadth of talent within NABJ. In the wake of adversity and trying times for journalists of color in newsrooms across the country, the talent of our membership is shining through in big ways."

This news comes after an ASNE issued report earlier this year, stating that the number of newspapers with no minorities on their staff rose to 465 last year in 2009, an increase of seven over 2008. Additionally, Black journalists in supervisory roles dropped by 20.3 percent to just 428 individuals helping decide what is considered news in print and online newspapers across the country.

 "NABJ applauds the appointments of Debra Adams Simmons and Mark Russell, bringing to 19 the number of black journalists holding top positions in our nation's print/digital newsrooms,” said Deirdre M. Childress, NABJ Vice- President of Print.  "Their hard work is an example to all of us and gives NABJ encouragement regarding the pipeline for black newsroom managers. Many African American middle managers lost their jobs in recent years as diversity took a back seat to the bottom line. These promotions of great journalists show that our hard work reaps rewards.”

For more information about NABJ, contact Ryan Williams at rwilliams@nabj.org or (301) 405-0248. 

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation, with more than 4,100 members, and provides educational, career development and support to black journalists worldwide.

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