NYABJ Announces Finalists for Excellence in Media Awards
Winners to be named at the 4th Annual Juneteenth Gala & Awards
NYABJ Announces Finalists for Excellence in Media Awards
NEW YORK (March 10, 2025) — The New York Association of Black Journalists is pleased to announce the finalists for its 2025 Excellence in Media Awards. The awards honor excellence in journalism coverage of people, issues and developments in African-American and African Diaspora communities in the Greater New York City area.
“The Excellence in Media Awards elevate the stories of Black communities and issues surrounding them,” said Bonita Sostre, president of NYABJ.
“I take immense pride in all our finalists, each of whom has demonstrated exceptional reporting and made significant contributions to our community. We eagerly anticipate celebrating all finalists and winners on Juneteenth.”
Award winners will be announced at NYABJ’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Gala & Awards, which will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, June 19, at Ila Penthouse & Rooftop, located at 253 West 28th St. in Manhattan.
Finalists for the 2025 Excellence in Media Awards are as follows:
Gwen Ifill Award for Excellence in News Reporting
News National/Syndicated
- “ NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt: New Memorial Marks The Enslavement of Millions of Black People”, by Lester Holt, Janelle Richards, Kim Cornett — NBC News
- “The CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell, Eye On America: Highway Deconstruction by Charlie Brooks,” Jim Axelrod — CBS News
- “The CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell, Eye On America: Tracing Roots” by Adam Verdugo, James Brown, Alicia Hastey — CBS News
- “New Orleans jail starts pilot program amid America's mental health crisis aired on Hallie Jackson NOW” by Antonia Hylton — NBC News
Long Form – 7 minutes+
- "Prisneyland," by Steve Patterson —NOW & NBC News NOW
- “The Girl Who Looked Like Me ,” by ABC News 20/20 — ABC News
- “America in Black: Black Wealth ,” by CBS News & BET News staff, Vladimir Duthiers — BET/CBS News
- “CBS Sunday Morning Texas Soldiers,” by David Martin Mary Walsh Steven Tyler — CBS News
Stuart Scott Award for Excellence in Sports Reporting
- “ COURAG3OUS: Aaliyah Gayle's CWSA Inspiration Award,” by James Decker, Mike Sypulkoski, Sean Brennan — CBS Sports
- “The 2019 Masters – A Sunday Unlike Any Other,” by Sellers Shy, Bryan Kosowski, Chris Burns — CBS Sports
- “With heart, humanity and a killer kick, C.J. Nickolas eyes men's taekwondo gold,” by Curtis Bunn Jiachan Wu Elise Wrabetz — NBC News Digital
- “Zakai Zeigler: Home Is Where The Heart Is,” by Sarah Rinaldi Andrew Lee Rocky Noili — CBS Sports
Ida B. Wells Award for Excellence in Print Journalism
Features
- “Street Wars” by Dodai Stewart — The New York Times
- “Black Men Open Up About The Silent Stigma Of Infertility,” by Taayoo Murray—Essence
- “Their homes were destroyed with little notice. Decades later, a settlement attempts to make amends.” by Curtis Bunn — NBC News Digital
- “Black students took a field trip to the birthplace of American slavery and walked away feeling empowered,” by Curtis Bunn — NBC News Digital
News
- “"I'm Black and Asian. Trump's attack on Kamala Harris was an attack on me." by Staceyann Chin— MSNBC
- “She Made an Offer on a Condo. Then the Seller Learned She Was Black.,” Debra Kamin — The New York Times
- “Sex Trafficking on Long Island,” by Sandra Peddie— Newsday
- “Truth About Hair Relaxers, ” by Linda Villarosa — The New York Times
Dyana Williams Award for Excellence in Podcast/Radio Program
- ”Vice President Kamala Harris: She Ready! The Podcast,” by Lisa Durden, Host/Executive Producer Cynthia Francillon, Director/Producer Christopher Carlstrom, Co-Director/Moderator — Lisa Durden Unlimited Productions
- “Children's Village X Emma's Torch,” by Patricia Robinson — Audacy
- “The Goodness Factor with Shelley Wade Podcast,” by Shelley Wade — Audacy
Ed Bradley Award for Excellence in Investigative Reporting
- “The Ghost Guns case of Dexter Taylor,” by Maurice DuBois & Stephanie Cassell — CBS News New York
- “ Maryland Mental Health Hospital ‘Crownsville’ Transformed”, by Antonia Hylton, Janelle Richards, Mary Godie — NBC News
- “ Women Suing Hair Relaxing Companies after Cancer Diagnoses as Companies Continue to Push Them In Africa”, by Zinhle Essamuah Senior Producer: Yasmine Salam — NBC News
- “Separate and Unequal: HBCU Underfunding,” by Michelle Miller, CBS News & BET News Staff — CBS & BET News
Max Robinson Award for Excellence in Local TV Reporting
- “Exonerated: Life after Three Decades in Prison,” by Jennifer Bisram, Dana Riccardi, Photographer/Editor — CBS News New York
- “Here & Now with Sandra Bookman 5 /19/24: Gun violence crisis, breaking dancing at the Paris Olympics,” by Tracey R Washington Bagley, Sandra Bookman, Jordan McIntosh, — WABC-Channel 7
- “Gavel-to-Gavel Coverage of the Daniel Penny Trial,” by Darla Miles — ABC7NY
- “Abyssinian Baptist Church's New Leader,” by Maurice DuBois & Kathy McGee — CBS News New York
Gordon Parks Award for Excellence in Visual Media
- “How the financial costs of gun violence hurt loved ones left behind ,” Damaso Reyes — The New York Amsterdam News
- “When Harlem Was 'as Gay as It Was Black',” by Derrick Bryson Taylor and Scott Reinhard — The New York Times
Purchase company tables: Click here.
Purchase sponsorships: See below
sponsorship opportunities now available
Sponsorships
We are now accepting sponsorships! Your support is crucial in helping us empower journalists, students, and our community. With your generous contributions, we can continue to do the important work that benefits so many. Every dollar counts and directly supports our mission. Join us in making a difference—together, we can create opportunities and foster growth within the industry! If you're interested in sponsoring, please reach out to us today! Thank you for your support!
Please email president@nyabj.org to learn more.
- The Breaking News, $300: half-page ad inside the program book, click here to purchase.
- The Headline, $525: full-page ad inside the program book, click here to purchase.
- Bronze Sponsor, $4,000: half-page ad inside the program book, half a table (5 tickets), recognition at the awards program and on NYABJ’s website, click here to purchase.
- Silver Sponsor, $7,500: full-page ad inside the program book, one table (10 tickets), recognition at the awards program and on NYABJ’s website and social media engagement, click here to purchase.
- Platinum Sponsor, $10,000: full-page ad on the back of the program book, one table (10 tickets), recognition at the awards program and on NYABJ’s website and social media engagement, click here to purchase.
