NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Association of Black Journalists (NOABJ) will host its inaugural Scholarship Jazz Brunch and Silent Auction at the New Orleans Jazz Museum on Aug. 26.
The inaugural event will honor the legacy of Black journalists who were pivotal in providing fair and accurate coverage of the Black community in New Orleans, such as former WWL-TV anchor Sally-Ann Roberts and former WDSU anchor Norman Robinson.
NOABJ, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, will also award scholarships to high school and college students during the brunch.
While sometimes undervalued, Black media has often been a catalyst for change – whether the anti-lynching campaign by Ida B. Wells; the ‘Freedom Journal’, the first newspaper owned and led by Black Americans or the presence of Black journalists on the anchor desk. Black media gives a full picture of the Black American experience through triumphs, failures and challenges.
The five journalists honored this year have created a legacy by telling important stories of Black New Orleanians to the mainstream audience. Historically, those stories have often been dismissed or only highlighted through negative connotations of the Black community.
These news veterans also fought challenges in newsrooms that didn’t always find the value in telling the “Black New Orleanian” story.
“As journalists, we are the writers of history. As the head of NOABJ’s scholarship efforts, I am not only able to honor the journalists who came before me, but also uplift the young people learning to write the histories of their communities and themselves. This event gives us the chance to gather and celebrate our heritage, community and accomplishments like only we can,” said NOABJ scholarship coordinator Mary Staes.
We are so proud to acknowledge these recipients for all their hard work done on behalf of the community and on behalf of young Black journalists everywhere.
“It’s my focus to make sure our local journalistic heroes are not only honored but that entry-level journalists are given the proper tools needed to succeed in this field. May it be through our educational sessions, networking events and scholarship offers, NOABJ is dedicated to assisting Black journalists professionally, mentally and financially. Events like the scholarship brunch will assist our organization in those efforts,” said NOABJ president Charisse Gibson.
The 2023 Legacy Award recipients are:
Norman Robinson – TV
Sally-Ann Roberts – TV
Warren Bell – Radio
Bill Rouselle – PR
Renette Dejoie-Hall – Print
NOABJ will celebrate these honorees and scholarship award recipients with a brunch, surrounded by and celebrating jazz in the city it was born. Food will be provided, as well as music by special guest Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra to set the tone. We also plan to auction off items with proceeds benefitting the NOABJ Scholarship Fund.
Please save the date for the 2023 NOABJ Scholarship Jazz Brunch and Silent Auction from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New Orleans Jazz Museum on Aug. 26. Help us celebrate the very journalists who have dedicated their lives to making our careers possible.
The New Orleans Jazz Museum is located at 400 Esplanade Ave. in New Orleans.
