NABJ Rolls Out Red Carpet for 2011 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Jan. 27, Washington, D.C.

Star-Powered Event to Honor Ed Bradley, Eugene Robinson, Among Others; Hosted by MSNBC’s Tamron Hall, Special Remarks by Senior Presidential Advisor Valerie Jarrett

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 11, 2011 – The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) will induct five legendary journalists into its Hall of Fame, the organization’s highest honor, and present the Ida B. Wells Award, the annual honor highlighting the achievement of a media executive who has demonstrated a commitment to diversifying the nation's newsrooms and improving the coverage of people and communities of color. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at the Newseum in downtown Washington, D.C. Proceeds from the gala benefit fellowship programs. The event will be hosted by MSNBC’s Tamron Hall, host of News Nation.

Annually, NABJ pays homage to legendary black journalists who have made outstanding contributions to the industry. Over the last 20 years, NABJ has inducted over 40 journalists into the esteemed Hall of Fame, such as W.E.B DuBois, John H. Johnson, and Carole Simpson.

"These trailblazers in the industry have endured great challenges so that black journalists today can have more freedom and professional opportunities,” said NABJ President Kathy Times.”As Black History Month approaches, we are proud to be the first event held at the Newsuem that solely recognizes the contributions of Black journalists in our industry.”

The star-powered event will include the following guests: Senior Advisor to President Obama, Valerie Jarrett; MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell, Chris Matthews, and Chuck Todd; President of NBC News Steve Capus; President and CEO of BET Debra Lee; Managing Editor NBC News' theGrio.com, David Wilson; Members of Congress, and many others.

Attendees will have access to the 250,000 square foot museum of news. The Newseum features seven levels of galleries, theaters, retail spaces and visitor services. It offers a unique environment that takes museumgoers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made. "This Week With Christiane Amanpour" is taped each Sunday morning at the Newseum.

The NABJ Hall of Fame inductees and the Ida B. Wells Award recipient were named at the organization’s Spring Board of Directors meeting in Washington, D.C.

The program will also recognize the event’s Honorary Chairman John Seigenthaler, the Newseum’s Vice President for programs Jack Marsh and the introductory announcement of NABJ’s newest Fellowship awards. 

NABJ Hall of Fame Inductees:

Ed Bradley – CBS News ‘60 Minutes’

Before his passing in 2006, Bradley spent nearly his entire 39-year career with CBS News. At CBS, the man once described as "the coolest guy in the business” rose to the pinnacle of journalistic achievement. 

Merri Dee – WGN-TV Chicago

Dee’s 30-year career in Chicago broadcasting and her charitable efforts on behalf of children and victims’ rights make her a standout honoree.

JC Hayward – WUSA-TV Washington

Hayward, reporter and anchor of 39 years at Washington, D.C.'s WUSA-TV holds the national record for a woman anchoring the same evening newscast at the same station.

Eugene Robinson – The Washington Post

Robinson is a columnist and former assistant managing editor at The Washington Post who won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2009. He won for a selection of columns on the 2008 presidential campaign, and also serves as political analyst for MSNBC.

Ray Taliaferro – KGO Newstalk 810 San Francisco

Ray was the first black talk show host on a major market radio station in the country. Taliaferro has literally owned the Bay Area's overnight radio listening audience since 1986 when his talk show moved to the 1 to 5 a.m. time slot.

Ida B. Wells Award Recipient:

Walterene Swanston – National Public Radio

Walt is diversity consultant and the retired director of diversity management for National Public Radio. She has a decades-long professional track record as a champion of media diversity. For more than 25 years, she has worked with newspapers, television and radio stations to recruit, promote, train and retain people of color and women.

For ticket and sponsorship information, go to www.nabj.org.

This event is sponsored by: BET Networks, Bloomberg, Capital One Bank, CBS News, CNN, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Gannett Foundation, KGO Radio, McCormick Foundation, MedImmune, NBC Universal, Northrop Grumman, Pepco Holdings, Inc. Phelps Stokes, GEICO, Prudential, Rent-A-Center, Washington Gas, The Nielsen Company, The Washington Post

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