The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) concluded its 2024 annual summer convention on Saturday, June 22, leaving its mark on Baltimore and making history as the first trade association with a presidential campaign as an event sponsor. The Biden-Harris campaign also announced a groundbreaking 7-figure advertising and sponsorship deal with the NNPA, which represents 250 Black-owned newspapers and media companies comprising the Black Press of America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn August of last year, our campaign announced the earliest and largest investment into Black media for any reelection campaign in history,\u201d said Jasmine Harris, the director of national Black media for Biden-Harris 2024. \u201cThis partnership with the NNPA is a continuation of those efforts and will strengthen our work in meeting Black voters where they are, to underscore the stakes of this election for Black America. President Biden and Vice President Harris are responsible for creating millions of new jobs for Black workers and record low Black unemployment. Black America has far too much to lose this election.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a letter to publishers, Vice President Harris asserted that the NNPA has remained steadfast in its commitment to supporting Black publishers. \u201cYour work helps ensure that communities gain critical knowledge and have access to accurate information on the pertinent issues impacting our country,\u201d Harris asserted. \u201cAs you know, the freedom of the press is essential to our democracy. I commend the efforts of the NNPA as you continue to be trusted voices of your communities and tell stories that too often go untold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr., emphasized that \u201cIt is extremely important to show support of the business side of the Black Press owned by Black business leaders. Verbal support is good, but financial support is better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2024 convention began with unveiling the \u201cMarylanders Cry Freedom, Civil Rights at Home and Abroad\u201d exhibit at Baltimore City Hall, which exhibit celebrated the 40th anniversary of Maryland\u2019s divestment from South Africa\u2019s apartheid regime in 1984.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The unveiling featured remarks from Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Democratic Maryland Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Dr. Chavis, Henry, AFRO Publisher Dr. Toni Draper, and other dignitaries. Distinguished guests included U.S. Black Chambers President Ron Busby and Dr. Camille Ragin of Fox Chase Cancer Center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The convention offered a series of insightful panels and discussions. A GenZ panel on voter issues featured Journalist Ashleigh Fields, University of Maryland Student Journalist Savannah Grooms, North Carolina A&T Student Journalist Melvin Harris Jr., Huffington Post Journalist Phillip Lewis, Community Organizer Brielle Morton, and Elijah Pittman, an Anti-colonial Afro-diasporic-centered journalist from Howard University. Additional panels, hosted by Wells Fargo, Google News Initiative, General Motors, Pfizer, and Reynolds, aligned with the convention\u2019s theme, \u201cEmpowering the Black Press, Communities, Families, and Voter Turnout.\u201d AARP was also a sponsor of the convention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the NNPA Fund\u2019s Merit Awards, Baltimore Times Publisher Joy Bramble was honored as Publisher of the Year. The St. Louis American led with twelve awards, including first place in the Armstrong Ellington Entertainment category and the Robert L. Vann Layout & Design Award. Real Times Media publications, the Michigan Chronicle, and the New Pittsburgh Courier collectively garnered eight awards. The Michigan Chronicle won five awards, while the New Pittsburgh Courier earned three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Atlanta Voice received six awards for journalistic excellence, including the Emory O. Jackson Award for health coverage and the Ada S. Franklin Award for fashion. The Sacramento Observer, whose publisher Larry Lee won the 2023 Publisher of the Year award, also secured six awards. Other recognized publications included The Washington Informer, Texas Metro News, Houston Forward Times, Houston Defender, Insight News, Minneapolis Spokesman-Recorder, Los Angeles Sentinel, New York Amsterdam News, and Seattle Medium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n