Cleveland to host 50th NABJ convention this week
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President Donald Trump visited last year's NABJ Convention in Chicago. Photo: Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
More than 3,000 journalists, media executives and students will descend on Cleveland this week for the National Association of Black Journalists' 50th Annual Convention.
Why it matters: Hosting NABJ isn't just a major economic win for Cleveland.
- The city's legacy of Black political and cultural firsts — from Carl Stokes becoming the first Black big-city mayor to our outsized influence in civil rights, music and sports — offers a symbolic backdrop for a gathering centered on Black storytelling.
State of play: It's the first time the membership and advocacy organization will host its flagship gathering in Northeast Ohio.
- The program of daily panels and discussions, plus a career fair, will take place at the Huntington Convention Center.
- But the whole city will be jammed with special events into the weekend, including an opening night bash Wednesday at the Rock Hall, co-hosted by the Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists (GCLEABJ).
Flashback: When Cleveland made its pitch at the Miami convention in 2019, members were floored by the presentation, said NABJ executive director Drew Berry in a Destination Cleveland video.
- "Coordination between the entire Cleveland community, it sent us a strong message. Yo — they really want us to come," he said.
👀 Celebrity sightings: Among the dozens of prominent Black media personalities in Cleveland this week will be ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, the New York Times' Nikole Hannah-Jones and NBC's Yamiche Alcindor.
Shameless plug: Axios will be well represented, with editor-in-chief Aja Whitaker-Moore and Local managing editor Delano Massey both scheduled to speak.
The big picture: Rhonda Crowder, president of the GCLEABJ, tells Axios that the convention will be a celebration, especially for the organization's 50th anniversary, but also a time of reflection.
- "This is a moment to stop and think about how we can bring more youthful, diverse perspectives into Cleveland newsrooms, especially if we want to keep a healthy news ecosystem," she says.
Editor's note: This story was corrected to reflect that LeBron James will not be in attendance at NABJ this week.