CLEVELAND, Ohio – Fifty years ago this December, a group of 44 pioneering members of the media met in Washington, D.C., to support and advocate for their fellow Black journalists.
Five decades later, a group nearly 100 times that large will meet in Cleveland, a celebration of past achievements with an eye toward ongoing challenges.
The group, the National Association of Black Journalists, will hold its annual convention in Cleveland this week, the first time the organization has gathered in Northeast Ohio.
“Journalism is under attack and we really feel the brunt of it,” said Rhonda Crowder, president of the Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists. “A lot of progress has been made. But a lot of what the organization has been advocating for is still the same.”
Among the organization’s goals: to support and advocate for Black journalists, encourage fair coverage of the Black community and increase diversity in newsrooms across the country.
Crowder noted that Black journalists make up only about 10% of contemporary newsrooms. “And it’s an even smaller percentage of decisionmakers,” she said.
Though there is work to do, Crowder said much of the event this week will be celebratory. Eighteen of the original 44 founders are expected to come to Cleveland, along with a total of about 3,000 journalists, public relations professionals and others in the communications field.
Among the nationally known journalists who are expected to attend: Craig Melvin, co-anchor of the “Today” show; Yamiche Alcindor, White House correspondent for NBC; Bill Whitaker, correspondent for “60 Minutes”; and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith.
Non-journalist celebrities including NBA star LeBron James, singer Tamar Braxton and actor Jordan L. Jones are also scheduled to attend.
The five-day event kicks off Wednesday with a welcome party at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Other notable activities include a career fair with more than 70 media organizations in attendance, professional development seminars and panels, author showcases, a gospel brunch and a Salute to Excellence Awards Gala.
On Friday, the organization will host its annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony, with seven journalists added to the prestigious roster, including long-time Cleveland television anchors Leon Bibb and Wayne Dawson, along with Gregory L. Moore, a Cleveland native and former Plain Dealer editor who served as editor of the Denver Post for 14 years.
The NABJ conference last year in Chicago drew national attention, after a controversial and contentious interview between several journalists and President Donald Trump, who was running for election at the time.
Trump was not invited to this year’s conference, according to the organization.
“While we have a history of inviting presidential candidates to address our members, we do not consistently or routinely invite sitting presidents to the convention every year,” according to a statement provided by the national organization. “Our members had the opportunity to hear from President Trump last year during a highly charged election season. We’ve done that part of the work, and now, we’re looking ahead.”
Crowder said the emphasis this year would instead focus on the organization’s 50th anniversary. The event will feature the premiere of a new documentary about the organization, “Beyond the Headlines: The NABJ Journey.”
Destination Cleveland, which promotes tourism to the region, has been working with both the local and national organizations to help plan the event.
In addition to hosting the welcome party, Destination Cleveland has organized an event on Thursday and Friday dubbed The Land Lounge, which is open to the public. The event, on downtown’s Mall B, includes a vendor fair featuring local Black-owned businesses, live music and entertainment, happy hour drinks and food trucks, as well as interactive exhibits celebrating Black journalism, Cleveland’s Black history and NABJ’s 50th anniversary. The event runs from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. both days and is free. (For information: https://www.thisiscleveland.com/events/event-calendar/the-land-lounge)
In addition, Destination Cleveland has organized several tours on Saturday that focus on the city’s Black history. Among the options: Tours focused on urban farming, the city’s abolitionist and Civil Rights history, a tour of the Baseball Heritage Museum and more.
David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland, said it was an honor to host the group during its 50th anniversary.
“We’re excited to showcase our city to this influential group,” Gilbert said. “In addition to its economic impact, this conference will give attendees a firsthand look at The Land, including its Black history and culture, diverse food and drink scene and world-class attractions. We hope to inspire attendees and interest them in planning a return visit.”
Crowder, too, is looking forward to helping her fellow attendees discover Cleveland.
“This is an opportunity for us to show off all of the great gems that we have here,” she said. “It’s a huge win not only for our city but our state as well.”
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