NABJ to Receive $335,000 Grant From CNN for Scholarships as Part of $1 Million Donation

NABJ to Receive $335,000 Grant From CNN for Scholarships as Part of $1 Million Donation

WASHINGTON, June 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Black Journalists is pleased to announce that CNN will give $335,000 to the association as part of a joint effort to provide scholarships for future journalists of color, NABJ President Herbert Lowe said today.

"This is fantastic news," said Lowe, a reporter at Newsday in New York. "We could not be more delighted to receive this money and to partner with CNN in our ongoing effort to help future black journalists get the training and preparation they need in college. For years, NABJ and its professional members have supported and provided annual scholarships and internships to its student members, many of whom are among today's leading journalists. This commitment from a major media company such as CNN will certainly help our cause tremendously."

CNN also announced today that, in conjunction with the cable news network's 25th anniversary, it would give a total of $1 million to NABJ, the Asian American Journalists Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. The money will be used to help each association create and fund a CNN25 scholar program, and rigorous criteria for the scholarships would likely require demonstrated journalistic excellence and a commitment to community involvement.

"CNN prides itself as the leader in providing the news of the world to the world anytime, anywhere," CNN President Jim Walton said. "We hope that by creating a scholarship program with these three leading journalism organizations, we can ensure that future journalists come from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and that newsrooms reflect the world."

As part of the total $335,000 grant to NABJ, $10,000 will be used to support its 30th Anniversary Convention and Career Fair, set for Aug. 3-7 in Atlanta, Lowe said. Another $10,000 will be given to the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, an NABJ affiliate chapter, and $15,000 will be used to help promote and administer the scholar program, he said.

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. For more information about NABJ and its student programs, visit http://www.nabj.org/ , or call (301) 445-7100.

Source: National Association of Black Journalists

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

Web site: http://www.nabj.org/

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