Ida B. Wells Award

Bestowed annually by NABJ and NCEW, the Wells Award recognizes media executives who have made outstanding efforts to ensure newsrooms more accurately reflect the diversity of the communities they serve. It is named for the 19th century journalist who crusaded against lynching and is administered by Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Steve Capus, president of NBC News, is the 2007 recipient of the Ida B. Wells Award. Click here for a copy of the news release: http://www.nabj.org/newsroom/news_releases/2007/story/53137p-82019c.html

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2008 Ida B. Wells Award, presented annually to a media executive or manager who has made outstanding contributions toward making American newsrooms and news coverage more accurately reflect the communities they serve.

Administered jointly by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and the National Conference of Editorial Writers (NCEW), the award seeks to give tangible and highly visible recognition to an individual or group of individuals who have provided distinguished leadership in increasing access and opportunities to people of color in journalism and improving coverage of underrepresented communities.

First bestowed in 1983, the award is named in honor of the pioneering 19th century editor and publisher who was a champion of integration and whose crusade against lynching earned her acclaim on two continents. Professors at the Medill School of Journalism serve as curators of the award.

Eligibility: Any news executive, manager or journalist who has made significant contributions to newsroom diversity and/or improved coverage of communities of color is eligible for the award.

Nominations: Any person may nominate a candidate for the award by completing a nominating form and submitting it along with supporting statements to m-awards@northwestern.edu

Presentations: The award is presented alternately at the national conventions of the sponsoring bodies. The 2008 award will be presented at the convention of the National Conference of Editorial Writers, which will be held Sept. 17 - 20 in Little Rock, Ark.

For more information about the Ida B. Wells award or to nominate someone for this honor, Visit Here for a copy of the application. The deadline is May 15, 2008. Applications can be submitted via e-mail.

For more information about NABJ and Medill School of Journalism, visit:
http://www.nabj.org/awards/wells/index.html and http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/awards/wells.html.