Happy Birthday NABJ! Dec. 12 Marks 30th Anniversary of Founding of Historic Organization

Happy Birthday NABJ! Dec. 12 Marks 30th Anniversary of Founding of Historic Organization

Special DVD, Web celebration debuts at www.nabj.org

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Black Journalists celebrated its 30th anniversary on Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, honoring its founding principles of inclusion and fairness with a special Web package and DVD presentation.

On December 12, 1975, black journalists and media professionals gathered in the nation's capital to start what would become the largest and oldest organization of journalists of color in America.

The founding group of 44 men and women -- who on that date pledged to strengthen ties among and expand job opportunities for black journalists, encourage accurate coverage of the black community and foster the next generation of journalists -- has grown to more than 4,000 over the past three decades.

"We pause to honor our roots," said NABJ President Bryan Monroe, assistant vice president/news at Knight Ridder. "We cannot go forward unless we know from where we came ... and we come from a strong heritage."

This week, members and supporters will receive in the mail a special DVD video package showcasing the past 30 years. They will also be greeted online by a powerful multimedia presentation on http://www.nabj.org/30 .

The special Web package features more than 350 images with four interactive slideshows, a multimedia gallery of past NABJ Journals, and 30 memorable moments from the past 30 years in black journalism.

The online observance is a result of efforts by NABJ's 30th Anniversary Committee, which worked to collect, preserve and archive the association's artifacts, history and memories.

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 4,000 members, and provides educational, career development and support to black journalists worldwide.

Source: National Association of Black Journalists

CONTACT: Lisa Goodnight of National Association of Black Journalists,
+1-301-445-7100, ext. 107, lisa@nabj.org

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