The National Association of Black Journalists, or NABJ, at Northwestern State University is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Black journalists and media professionals. It was founded in 1975 to advocate for diversity in newsrooms, fair representation of Black communities in media and career development opportunities for Black journalists.

Kevin Washington is a freshman communication major and member of NABJ who joined to be a part of an organization of like-minded people. “NABJ provides networking, training, scholarships and an annual convention that brings together journalists, media executives and students,” Washington said. “It’s one of the largest and most influential journalism organizations in the United States, working to ensure that Black voices and perspectives are represented in the media industry.”

NABJ is a unique organization when compared to other journalism organizations because it specifically focuses on advocating for Black journalists. “NABJ also actively works to address systemic inequalities in the industry, push for diversity in newsroom leadership and support Black media ownership,” Washington said.

Camden Stroughter is a senior strategic communication major who joined NABJ when looking for new organizations last year. “For me, NABJ is a place where you can express yourself and be yourself. They host conferences that you can go to and network, get new contacts and build new relationships,” Stroughter said.

Stroughter encourages students interested in NABJ to reach out and join the organization. “If you’re a writer, looking to join an organization or be a part of something on campus, I feel like NABJ is the perfect place for people who love to create and write,” Stroughter said. “And we would love to have y’all.”