NABJ-Tulsa 2022 Gala Souvenir Program

FOUNDATION

WHY GIVE?

Donations equal an avalanche of success…like the book a first-generation student needs to finish the first semester. Or the spark that leads to completing an associate degree… then a four-year degree. The career that follows changes the life of not just that student, but the whole family and builds a legacy of success.

From the Desk of the NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards

Tulsa Chapter President McKenzie Gladney

McKenzie Gladney, President

Oscar Pea, Vice President Broadcasting

MaKayla Glenn, Vice President Multimedia

Russell LaCour, Vice President Print

Jerry Goodwin, Treasurer

Autumn Bracey, Secretary

Charity Barton, Parliamentarian

Mary Williams, Special Projects Director

Members:

Anthony Cherry, Mia Fleming, Christina Giwa, David Goodwin, Victor Grimes, Bianca D. Harris, Le’Ondre Harris, Tatianna Hemphill, Lonnie Isabel, Ross Johnson, Ashley Jones, Naomi Keitt, Rebecca Marks-Jimerson, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Gary Lee, Jemia Midget, Charmaine Mukurazhizha. Dominque O’Neill, Deon Osborne, Carmen Pettie, Leon Rollerson, J. Kavin Ross, Kayvon Stubbs, Makeda Thompson and Philip Winfrey

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an organization of journalists, students and mediarelated professionals that provides quality programs and services to and advocates on behalf of black journalists worldwide. Founded by 44 men and women on December 12, 1975, in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation. Many of NABJ’s 3,500 members also belong to one of the dozens of professional and student chapters that serve black journalists nationwide. NABJ is committed to the following: * Strengthening ties among black journalists; * Sensitizing all media to the importance of fairness in the workplace for black journalists; * Expanding job opportunities and recruiting activities for veteran, young and aspiring black journalists, while providing continued professional development and training; * Increasing the number of black journalists in management positions and encouraging black journalists to become entrepreneurs; * Fostering an exemplary group of professionals that honors excellence and outstanding achievements by black journalists, and outstanding achievement in the media industry as a whole, particularly when it comes to providing balanced coverage of the black community and society at large; * Working with high schools and colleges to identify and encourage black students to become journalists, and to diversify faculties and related curriculum; and * Providing informational and training services to the general public. NABJ holds an annual convention and career fair each summer with dozens of plenary sessions and workshops for professional development.

From the Desk of the NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards

Gala Chairwoman

Mary L. Williams

It’s hard to say which aspect presents the greater challenge, whether it’s starting over and rebuilding again, or beginning something new that has never been before.

For NABJ- Tulsa, 2022 presented all the challenges of rebuilding on a foundation that tilted with the cracks of COVID, loss of leadership, and economic/employment shifts in Tulsa’ Black Media.

In our community Black Media Faces and Sounds were like a midding Voice of one Crying in the Wilderness for a pathway of opportunity to develop more young professional Black journalists and inspire students to dream about “Storytelling” through various forms of communication in media.

In July of 2022, I was asked by a small new group of young, gifted black professionals, and seasoned sagacious black journalists (who were ready for combat in a familiar war zone) to chair a gala-fundraiser.

I said, “Yes!” As a Community Organizer and founder of Color Me True Destiny Programs, I have found that a hard task is not always the problem. It’s engrafting a seemingly impossible vision into the hearts of uncommitted dreamers. Therefore, I knew I needed God to bless me with a committee of dreamers committed to the vision to raise funds and fix the foundational cracks needed to build a strong chapter again.

The Grand Gala Team (as I began to call them during our most challenging times) included: Honorary co-chairs, Mia Fleming and Lonnie Isabel; Russell LaCour, vice president of print; Jerry Goodwin, treasurer and new Chapter President McKenzie Gladney.

It became apparent that we would need to walk by Faith and not by sight as the core team. Yet, as with any leader, you must continue to take the first steps toward light in dark places. The Grand Gala Team Stayed the Course epitomizing that light will dispel darkness.

When we were dissected, they did not dissent! Opportunities were found in obstacles and by God’s Grace, the declaration of success was captured by the larger group. Today, our success is chronicled in the archives of many hearts in the community and our local chapter.

The support of Tulsa Community College and other organizations as well as friends is greatly appreciated. We truly hope our motto “Taking Media to the Heart of the community, while keeping the community in the heart,” was both seen and felt by all.

Our keynote speaker, award-winning journalist Deon Hampton, a former Tulsa World reporter and a current MSNBC correspondent represents the heartbeat of the NABJ-Tulsa chapter.

We have now picked up the building blocks for Meet the Press Day and the Urban Journalism Workshop. We believe the foundation is stable to build once again.

Each Salute to Excellence Award recipient crowned us with Grace while their presence beaconed as a principal reminder of our purpose. There is still much work to be done.

Ralph Ellison said, “A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.”

Therefore, as our Gala theme declares, “Storytelling: Staying the Course,” we will prayerfully look ahead and stay the course for greater events in the future and we hope to find you there.

God Bless,

Mary L. Williams

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS-TULSA SALUTE TO EXCELLENCE AWARDS

GALA

Tulsa Community College Center for Creativity

December 9, 2022

PROGRAM

Theme: Story Telling: Staying the Course

WELCOME ........................................................................................................Mia Fleming & Lonnie Isabel Gala Honorary Chairs

OCCASION ..................................................................................................

L. Williams, Gala Chairwoman, & Russell LaCour

NABJ-TULSA PRESIDENT’S REMARKS ........................................................................................

SALUTE TO NABJ-TULSA CHAPTER MEMBERS - VIDEO IMPORTANCE OF BEING A JOURNALIST — ROLAND MARTIN VIDEO

INVOCATION .....................................................................................................................

MUSIC

Gladney, “Why NABJ?”

Jamaal Dyer, Friendship Church

Church Tulsa Men for Christ

INTRODUCTION OF KEYNOTE SPEAKER ...............................................................................................................

SPEAKER

Dotson

Hampton Award Winning Journalist, MSNBC

“At Last,” Lyrics by Mark Gordon & Harry Warden

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Maulden, News Director, News On 6 Griffin Communications

Oscar Pea, Chief Photojournalist KOTV BEST PRACTICES AWARD ..........................................................

SPECIAL HONORS: PHOTOJOURNALISM AWARDS

Don Thompson

Turner Goodrum

Kavin Ross

Cory Young

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Carmen Pettie

NABJ-TULSA OUTSTANDING CHAPTER MEMBER ...................................................................................................... Ashley Jones

TCC BOOK SCHOLARS .......................................................................................................................................

YVONNE LEWIS URBAN JOURNALISM SCHOLARSHIP ....................................................

Foundation

Bland, Tennessee State University

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................................

CLOSING REMARKS ......................................................................................................

Fleming, Mary L. Williams

Gladney, NABJ-Tulsa President

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

Keynote Speaker

Deon Hampton

NABJ-Tulsa Speaker Deon Hampton is a national reporter for NBC News Digital. He is a two-time national award winner who covered the 2020 presidential election. He has been an investigative reporter in Cincinnati and New York City. In Ohio, Hampton uncovered nearly 300 COVID-19 deaths inside nursing homes that Gov. Mike DeWine did not want publicly disclosed. He won a Best Investigation award from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists and the Press Club of Cleveland for the story. In New York, his investigative series on abandoned properties lead to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign the Zombie Bill, which requires financial institutions to maintain delinquent mortgage or defaulted houses and comply with code requirements. Deon formerly worked at the Tulsa World and is a graduate of Langston University.

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

Lifetime Achievement

Oscar Pea, KOTV Chief Photojournalist

Chief photojournalist Oscar Pea believes that reporting and photojournalism go hand in hand giving context to the writing, capturing images that illuminate and communicate the reality of the people who are in the stories. He has spent a lifetime excelling as not only a master in his field, but as a management leader as well.

“It is not what you achieve in life, but who you become as a person due to those achievements.

- Curtis Martin

From the News on 6…

We want to recognize a big honor for a longtime News On 6 employee. Chief Photojournalist Pea was recognized with a lifetime achievement award by the Tulsa chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.

In his 34 years at News On 6, Oscar has traveled the world, bringing viewers stories about Oklahomans from Bosnia, Iraq, London, and Jordan just to name a few.

He's covered some of the biggest stories in Oklahoma and has been to countless crime scenes and victim interviews. His work has won numerous awards, including an Emmy and Murrow.

His character has earned him the respect and admiration of his co-workers. Congratulations, Oscar!

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

Best Practices

Chuck Maulden, News Director

KOTV NewsOn6, Griffin Communications

Best Practices is awarded to KOTV, The News on 6 and Griffin Communications for their considerable donation of their former facilities and equipment to Langston University, for their award-winning coverage of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial, and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in their workforce and management.

“The wise person doesn’t ask, ‘What have I achieved?’ but rather, ‘What have I contributed?’ “ - Marianne Williamson

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

SPECIAL HONORS

Photojournalism

Don Thompson

This Special Honor in photojournalism is awarded to Don Thompson for his photographic genius. Many of the people who are photographers today credit his work as inspiring them to become who they are with a camera. Don Thompson is an award-winning photojournalist with the lens of a sage. He passionately captures the history of Greenwood and his photo documentation of stories is an invocation for all people to tell.

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

SPECIAL HONORS

Photojournalism

Turner Goodrum

This Special Honor in photojournalism is awarded to Turner Goodrum for his steady presence not only as a photojournalist but as a community person who captures stories of Black Tulsa’s cultural life. His towering presence becomes a gentle memory of precious moments in all sectors of life. Turner Goodrum has chronicled years of NABJ-Tulsa’s growth and development. He is a community organizer with a camera.

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

SPECIAL HONORS

Photojournalism

J. Kavin Ross

This Special Honor in photojournalism is awarded to Kavin Ross for his award-winning chronicling of the stories facing Tulsa’s Black Wall Street and Historic Greenwood District. His photography is an ancestral walk through history. His photos are heralds that sing “keep hope alive and let justice ring.”

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

SPECIAL HONORS

Photojournalism

Cory Young

This Special Honor in photojournalism is awarded to Cory Young for his award-winning ability to tell a story with his photography, and for engaging a new generation of young photojournalists. Cory not only approaches you with a camera, but with a demeanor that says, “You can trust me.” In the words of our youth, Cory is “Woke” and he keeps it real through the lens of photojournalism.

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala Community Service

Carmen Pettie

Carmen Pettie has been a source and resource in media through the years on critical issues facing the Tulsa community while always remaining humble as she works untiringly to meet the needs of others. She forges through barriers leaving a path of hope for others to follow. Her legacy will be a story told by many.

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

Outstanding Chapter Member

Ashley Jones

Awarded for leadership and civic engagement, Ashley Jones is a visionary urging the NABJ-Tulsa chapter to reach out to aid the community in a variety of areas, from the Food Bank to the Day Center for the Homeless, she continues to involve NABJ-Tulsa in our community.

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

TCC Book Scholars

TCC Foundation

Two TCC students majoring in journalism will each receive $250 towards books for the school year.

FOUNDATION

SPECIAL THANKS GO TO TULSA COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT.

Dr. Leigh Goodson, Dr. Angela Sivadon, Dr. Greg Stone, Dr. Kristopher Copeland, Dean Annina Collier (Center for Creativity), Cindy Barton, Dean Kelly Clark (Visual and Performing Arts Department), Michelle Dixon, Dr. Beverly Bailey, John Niemeyer and Sam Levrault

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

Yvonne Lewis Urban Journalism Scholarship

Garrett Bland, Tennessee State University

The Yvonne Lewis Scholarship, named after one of NABJ-Tulsa’s most notable and dynamic founders, is awarded to Garrett Bland for his outstanding academic achievements, extracurricular activities, strong moral fiber and his commitment to telling our stories. Garrett joins a stellar list of winners, including Kim Jackson and Cory Young.

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

NABJ-Tulsa Urban Journalism Workshop

NABJ-Tulsa Urban Journalism Workshop

Urban Journalism Workshop – 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Moderator: Jerry Goodwink, assistant professor, Tulsa Community College, Panelists: Deon Hampton, National Reporter for NBC News Digital, Ashley Jones, Reporter, Tulsa World, and Kayvon Stubbs, Cinematographer and Digital Media Specialist

Topics to be discussed:

To discuss the 5 W’s of writing news, to review how local media can report on race fairly, and to evaluate importance of diversity and representation in storytelling/media production

, LP.D, MBA, is assistant professor of strategic and mass communication at Tulsa Community College. He is a former adjunct professor in graduate studies in marketing at the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and Research at Langston University-Tulsa. Over the last 22 years, Dr. Goodwin has taught courses in journalism and digital media, communications, and business, where his students have won countless national, regional, state, and local awards in journalism annually. Prior to teaching, he served as chief operations officer for The Oklahoma Eagle, the 10th oldest African American weekly newspaper in the country. He led the rise in the s ranking in its category from #13 to #3 in Oklahoma Press Association awards received at OPA’s annual program. He is a founding member and treasurer for NABJ Tulsa, a board member for the Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists Pro Chapter, and a member of the Public Relations Society of America.

s degree in business administration and is a recent s degree in cinema/television/digital media. She is currently interning as a production assistant. Stubbs has gained experience working on feature film sets and on numerous short films. She sees media as a platform to share stories from

is a national reporter for NBC News Digital. He is a two winner who covered the 2020 presidential election. He has been an investigative reporter in Cincinnati and New York City. In Ohio, Hampton uncovered nearly 300 COVID nursing homes that Gov. Mike DeWine did not want publicly disclosed. He won a Best Investigation award from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists and the Press Club of Cleveland for the story. In New York, his investigative series on abandoned properties lead to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign the Zombie Bill, which requires financial institutions to maintain delinquent mortgage or defaulted houses and comply with code requirements.

Ashley Jones has been a breaking news reporter covering crime and other spot news for the Tulsa World. She has written for The New York Times, St. Louis American, The Oklahoma Eagle, Black Wall Street Times, and other digital platforms. She received a bachelor from the University of Missouri.

NABJ-Tulsa Meet the Press Day

Meet the Press Day was an opportunity for the public to meet the leadership behind what we see in the local media. Panelists participating in the program were (l-r) Frank Volpicella, news director for KOKI Channel 23/5 (FOX); Jessica Childs, assistant news director, KTUL Channel 8 (ABC); Le’Ondre HarrisMiller, news director for KTUL Channel 8 (ABC); Chuck Maulden, news director at KOTV Channel 6 (CBS); and Gary Lee, managing editor for The Oklahoma Eagle newspaper. Photos by Jerry Goodwin/NABJ-Tulsa

At right, Russell LaCour, former president of the NABJ-Tulsa chapter, served as comoderator with Sam Levrault, managing editor of the TCC Connection media group, at Tulsa Community College for Meet the Press Day on Jan. 10, 2023.

NABJ-Tulsa Meet the Press Day

Meet the Press Day – 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Moderator: Dr. Jerry Goodwin, Assistant Professor, Mass Communication and Digital Media, Co-Moderators: Russell LaCour, NABJ-Tulsa, and Sam Levrault, Managing Editor, TCC Connection. Panelists: Gary Lee, Managing Editor, The Oklahoma Eagle; Chuck Maulden, News Director, KOTV Channel 6 (CBS); Le’Ondre Harris Miller, News Director, KTUL Channel 8 (ABC); and Frank Volpicella, News Director, KOKI Channel 5/23 (FOX)

Topics to be discussed:

To review how does a newsroom determine what is news and what is not news, to discuss how can people get their news in the news, and to examine the changes occurring in the newsroom – in news coverage, and print and television broadcasting

Sam Levrault is a digital media storyteller offering digital media consulting and freelance media services. Growing up in a media family, she has lived in various cities and media markets across the Midwest, eventually moving to Tulsa in 2016. Since 2019, Levrault ha been on staff of the TCC Connection, Tulsa Community College’s award-winning student newspaper, where she currently serves as managing editor. After completing her degree in digital media, she joined the staff at The Oklahoma Eagle and has served roles in print production and creative design, amongst others. In 2022, she founded Sam Levrault Media, a digital media consultant company, that helps others share and amplify stories from unheard and underrepresented communities.

Russell LaCour, with more than 17 years in print and 30-plus years in radio, is freelance correspondent for The Oklahoma Eagle and Marcom Weekly. He is former president and currently vice president for print for the National Association of Black Journalists-Tulsa. He is a founder and former director of the NABJ’s High School Journalism Workshop, where a scholarship was named in his honor, in addition to serving as a NABJ state and regional director on the NABJ board. He is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Gary Lee, a veteran reporter and editor, is managing editor of The Oklahoma Eagle. Lee was deputy chief of Time magazine’s Bureau in Bonn, Germany, and chief of The Washington Post Bureau in Moscow. He has written about the cultures of more than 40 U.S. states and 90 countries - from Maine to Hawaii and Afghanistan to Wales. Lee was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for coverage of Russia. After notable coverage of 9/11, Lee was awarded the Lowell Thomas Award for excellence in travel journalism. Lee, a scholar of Russian language and literature, also speaks German, French, and Spanish. In addition, Lee writes and ghostwrites books.

Chuck Maulden is the news director at KOTV NewsOn6 (CBS) in Tulsa. His career spans 44 years, including 22 years in the field as a broadcast photojournalist and 22 years in news management. He has worked in news stations in Alabama, Arkansas, Michigan, and Missouri. In 2022, Maulden received his first national award joining other members of the newsroom staff to receive the national Edward R. Murrow award for a 2021 documentary on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Additionally, Maulden has been recognized with 16 regional s awards and four regional Emmys.

Ondre Harris-Miller is news director at KTUL Channel 8 (ABC). As an Emmy award-winning leader in broadcasting and prior to her current title, Harris-Miller has served as an executive producer, associate producer, producer, and as assistant news director. She has worked in major markets in Georgia, Maryland, Oklahoma, and Texas. During her tenure at The Weather Channel, she was in the control room for dozens of major weather events, including Hurricane Katrina. Harris-Miller has coached journalists across the country. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Frank Volpicella, who has been in the communications industry for 44 years, is news director for KOKI Channel 23/5(FOX). Preceding his present position, he has worked as a general manager in print, executive producer, producer, special projects producer, managing editor, news director, video editor, photographer, and reporter. He has worked in markets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Texas, and Oklahoma.

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

NABJ-Tulsa Salute to Excellence Awards Gala

A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE NABJ-TULSA CHAPTER. OUR VISION HAS BECOME A PART OF YOUR VISION AS WE CONTINUE “TAKING MEDIA TO THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY WHILE KEEPING THE COMMUNITY IN OUR HEARTS.”

GOLD SPONSORS

Justice for Greenwood

Tulsa Community College

Mia Fleming Media

SCHOLARS SPONSORS

Terence Crutcher Foundation

Perry Publishing and Broadcasting

TABLE SPONSORS

News On 6, Griffin Communications

Holiday Inn Express Greenwood District

Metropolitan Baptist Church

North Tulsa Economic Development Initiative (NTEDI) Ingredion, Inc.

SUPPORTING SPONSORS

The Oklahoma Eagle

Westview Pharmacy

Evelyn’s Restaurant

Katheryn Hale’s Fine Jewelry

Tim Smallwood - Tropical Smoothie Cafe

TCC Connection

Oklahoma Watch

OPVEON

NABJ-TULSA GALA COMMITTEE

Mary L. Williams, Gala Chair

Mia Fleming, Honorary Co-Chair

Lonnie Isabel, Honorary Co-Chair

Russell LaCour, Vice President Print

Jerry Goodwin, Treasurer

McKenzie Gladney, President

GRAPHICS & DESIGN

Ross Johnson | Philip Winfrey

McKenzie Gladney | Russell LaCour

PRESENTERS

Mia Fleming | Lonnie Isabel | Jerry Goodwin | Russell LaCour | Mary L. Williams

Autumn Bracey | Gary Lee | Victor Grimes | Rebecca Marks-Jimerson

Ross Johnson | Kayvon Stubbs | MaKayla Glenn | McKenzie Gladney

Support Team

Monique C. Diemart

Ramona Connor

Tanyail Wiley

TaMicah Hill

Photographer

Cory Young