Karen Carter Richards Chair, NNPA Fund
Dear Friends and Supporters,
Welcome to the 2025 NNPA Messenger Awards an unforgettable evening where we come together to honor and celebrate the outstanding achievements of Black publishers, journalists, storytellers, and media professionals across the country.
This year is especially significant as we continue to commemorate 198 years of the Black Press nearly two centuries of truth-telling, advocacy, and community upliftment. Our theme, “Elevate: Celebrating the Black Press 198 Years and Counting Toward 200 Years of Excellence,” is not only a tribute to our past but a call to action for our future.
I am proud to share that for the first time in history, the Messenger Awards are being live streamed, allowing us to share this powerful celebration of Black excellence with viewers across the globe. This milestone has been a long-standing vision of mine, and I am beyond grateful to see it come to life in 2025.
Tonight, we also celebrate the future of journalism through our NNPA Fund Scholarship recipients. Exceptional students at HBCUs who are preparing to carry our legacy forward with purpose, integrity, and passion.
To our incredible sponsors Google, the Google News Initiative, Comerica Bank, H-E-B, and Exclusive Engravings thank you for your commitment to our mission and for investing in the future of Black media. To our publishers, staff, judges, and supporters: your hard work and belief in the power of the Black Press make nights like this possible. Whether you're here in person or joining us virtually, thank you for being a part of this historic moment. Let’s continue to uplift, empower, and elevate the voice of the Black Press of America.
With deep appreciation, Karen Carter Richards Chair, NNPA Fund CEO and Publisher, Forward Times Publishing
Robert W. Bogle Vice Chair, NNPA Fund
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Welcome to the 2025 NNPA Messenger Awards a distinguished occasion that celebrates the brilliance, courage, and legacy of the Black Press of America.
Each year, the Messenger Awards serve as more than a ceremony they are a declaration of our collective commitment to journalistic excellence, truth-telling, and the upliftment of our communities. Tonight, we recognize the publishers, reporters, editors, designers, and storytellers whose voices continue to shape narratives and inspire generations.
As we mark 198 years of the Black Press, we also look ahead with clarity and purpose. From Freedom’s Journal to today’s digital platforms, the mission remains unchanged; to be the trusted voice of our people and a force for accountability, justice, and change. The Black Press is not merely reporting the news we are making history.
This year’s Messenger Awards are especially significant, as we proudly present our first-ever live-streamed production expanding our reach and ensuring that audiences across the country and around the world can witness the power and promise of Black media in real time. This is a defining moment, and I am honored to be part of it.
To all the scholarship recipients and award winners congratulations. Your work is vital. You remind us that our legacy is not just preserved, but actively evolving.
To our sponsors, partners, judges, and supporters thank you for believing in the mission and movement of the NNPA Fund. And to our member publishers, your tireless dedication continues to be the cornerstone of our success.
Enjoy this remarkable evening, and let it reaffirm why we do what we do. The Black Press is alive, thriving, and here to stay.
With pride and purpose, Robert W. Bogle
Vice Chair, NNPA Fund
Publisher, The Philadelphia Tribune
THANK YOU TO
OUR SPONSORS
