50 Moments in Black Journalism History (1975-2025)

Capital B is partnering with Herbert Lowe to publicize the 50th anniversary of the founding of the National Association of Black Journalists – and to commemorate the many notable contributions it and its membership have made to the profession, to our communities, and to democracy. The list names Capital B as one of the organizations rewriting the rules, centering Black communities by delivering deeply reported journalism that produces tangible impact.

On Dec. 12, 1975, 44 brave men and women put pen to paper at a Washington hotel and founded the National Association of Black Journalists. Fifty years later, NABJ has 4,200 members and a legacy of service to journalism, community and democracy.

For this golden anniversary, these 50 milestones and moments tell a story of recognition, representation and resonance for NABJ and for Black journalists at large.

Now a journalism educator, I spent 22 years as a newspaper reporter — and served as NABJ’s 15th president (2003–2005). Many of the earlier moments inspired me as a young journalist. The rest simply make me proud of my profession and organization.

This “50 for 50” is not a ranking. It aims to affirm and educate, spotlight breakthroughs that transformed practice, accountability or access, and highlight achievements that expanded representation and visibility for Black journalists in enduring ways.

Taken together, the moments trace a story in three phases:

• Breaking In (1976-1994): Plenty of “firsts,” foundational training programs and growing visibility in major TV and print newsrooms.
• Changing the Narrative (1995-2010): Investigative series, powerful photojournalism, cultural influence and the rise of newsroom leadership.  
• Rewriting the Rules (2011-2025): More firsts, digital innovation, nonprofit news, race reporting projects and a renaissance in accountability journalism.

These phases show a profession transformed — not simply integrated.

Of course, many more moments could be included. Still, this tribute offers a lens to reflect, to celebrate, and to carry forward NABJ’s enduring legacy.

• June 1, 1976 – First hands-on training program launches
  St. Louis journalists create a program in which Black high school and junior college students meet with professionals on weekends to learn about journalism. It and many similar programs to come nationwide will offer countless students training, scholarships and mentorship and expand access to newsroom careers.

• March 15, 1977 – Institute for Journalism Education incorporates
  Founded in Oakland, California, by Robert and Nancy Maynard and colleagues, IJE aims to expand newsroom diversity. Begun as a volunteer project at UC-Berkeley and renamed in 1993 to honor Robert Maynard, IJE will place hundreds of journalists of color in newsrooms and train many for editing and leadership roles.

• July 10, 1978 – Max Robinson anchors ABC’s “World News Tonight”
  In a three-man format, Robinson is the first Black journalist to anchor a nightly network newscast. His tenure until 1983 disrupts racial exclusion and reshapes expectations for representation, trust, staffing and diversity in broadcast journalism.

• April 2, 1980 – Robert Johnson launches BET cable network
  Black Entertainment Television creates a groundbreaking national platform for news and public affairs, culture coverage and debates about media representation. BET will air “Lead Story,” a weekly news talk show focused on Black-related concerns the major networks ignore, and “BET Nightly News.”

• July 1, 1981 – Susan L. Taylor named editor‑in‑chief of Essence
  A year after debuting her influential “In the Spirit” column, Taylor expands the magazine’s reach and authority. Over nearly two decades, she blends journalism, advocacy and cultural representation, making Essence the premiere publication for Black women and one of the most influential editorial platforms in American media.

• Oct. 4, 1981 – Ed Bradley joins “60 Minutes”
  Already CBS’s first Black White House correspondent, Bradley’s debut on the venerable weekly TV newsmagazine begins a 25-year run of humane investigative storytelling. He earned 20 Emmy Awards, modeled rigor, cultural fluency and international range and become a defining touchstone for broadcast excellence.

• Jan. 4, 1982 – Bryant Gumbel becomes “Today” co-anchor
  The former sportscaster is the first Black co-anchor of a network morning show and elevates global coverage and hard news within the “soft news” format. His achievements during 15 years in the role for NBC include leading groundbreaking “Today” broadcasts from Africa and twice anchoring prime-time Olympics coverage.

• April 30, 1983 – Robert Maynard becomes owner of The Oakland Tribune
  Named its top editor in 1979, Maynard is the first African American to own a major metro newspaper – and his leadership foregrounds community-centered reporting, talent development and pioneering managerial diversity in U.S. newsrooms. His newsroom wins a Pulitzer Prize in 1990 for its Loma Prieta earthquake coverage.

• Oct. 1, 1985 – Charlayne Hunter-Gault reports on apartheid for PBS
  The “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour” correspondent presents a landmark segment on South Africa’s apartheid system. Her coverage illuminates daily realities for Black South Africans, challenges U.S. audiences to confront global racial injustice, and exemplifies the role of Black journalists in international human rights reporting.

• March 23, 1987 – Sylvester Monroe shares his “Brothers” story in Newsweek
  Monroe, raised in a Chicago public housing complex, co‑authors a groundbreaking cover story on 12 Black men from Robert Taylor Homes. Expanded into a 1988 book that humanizes poverty and resilience, the reporting challenges stereotypes while advancing collaborative narrative journalism on race and inequality.

• Oct. 9, 1988 – Carole Simpson anchors ABC’s “World News Tonight”
  Simpson becomes the first Black woman to anchor a U.S. network newscast when she takes the helm of the nightly show’s weekend edition. In 1992, she also made history by moderating a U.S. presidential debate, breaking barriers in broadcast journalism and inspiring generations of women and Black journalists.

• Oct. 13, 1988 – Bernard Shaw moderates presidential debate
  The CNN anchor opens the Bush–Dukakis debate by asking Michael Dukakis if he hypothetically would favor the death penalty for his wife’s rapist and killer. His wooden reply reinforces his “Ice Man” image to voters. Shaw’s tough question models accountability in televised politics, elevating respect for Black journalists.

• Jan. 1, 1989 – Emerge newsmagazine launches nationally
  The publication seeks to shape discourse with groundbreaking investigations and provocative covers, achieving peak influence after George Curry – the reputed dean of Black press columnists – becomes editor-in-chief in 1993. Publishing until 2000, Emerge forges a legacy of bold design and authoritative reporting.

• July 22, 1993 – NABJ president challenges rapper at convention
  With Bushwick Bill repeatedly insulting women with derogatory language during a session on hip-hop. Sidmel Estes-Sumpter, NABJ’s first female president, confronts him as droves of attendees leave in protest. The incident underscores NABJ’s role in demanding accountability in cultural journalism.

• Sept. 24, 1993 – Quincy Jones helps launch Vibe magazine  
  Vibe offers authoritative reporting on the music industry, race and youth culture, blending investigative features with cultural criticism. It also legitimizes hip‑hop as a subject of serious coverage, expands representation for Black artists and audiences, and reshapes mainstream media’s engagement with urban America.

• Oct. 1, 1993 – Stuart Scott debuts on ESPN2’s “SportsNight”
  Scott made his first ESPN appearance on the launch day of ESPN2, bringing hip‑hop culture, catchphrases like “Boo‑yah!” and authentic Black vernacular into sports broadcasting. His style broke barriers and reshaped “SportsCenter,” making millions feel seen and cementing his legacy as a cultural icon in journalism.

• April 18, 1994 – Isabel Wilkerson wins Pulitzer for feature writing
  The New York Times reporter is the first Black journalist to win the prize for individual reporting and first Black woman to win one for journalism. Honored for a profile capturing the life of a Chicago fourth-grader and her coverage of a Midwestern flood, her work models humane, narrative depth.

• June 1, 1994 – First Unity: Journalists of Color convention held in Atlanta
  After years of coalition‑building, 6,000 Black, Asian, Hispanic and Native American journalists gathered for the inaugural Unity convention. The landmark event advances solidarity, training and recruitment, pressing newsrooms to honor diversity commitments and proving the collective power to reshape the profession.

• Jan. 15, 1995 – “Songs of My People” anthology published
  Fifty-plus Black photojournalists collaborate on the landmark volume, reframing everyday Black life with dignity and nuance. It asserts visual authority, challenges deficit narratives in mainstream media, and offers a collective legacy of representation, artistry and cultural affirmation within photojournalism.

• Jan. 26, 1996 – Al Roker named weather anchor of “Today”
  Roker becomes one of the most visible Black journalists in U.S. history, redefining morning television through trusted presence and cultural storytelling. His Guinness World Record for a 34‑hour uninterrupted live weather broadcast in 2014 underscores that visibility, blending endurance, accessibility and innovation.

• May 20, 1996 – Michel Martin helps debut ABC’s “America in Black and White”  
  The “Nightline” correspondent earns critical acclaim for incisive reporting in the landmark series on race in America. Her coverage elevates representation for Black women journalists and reshapes late‑night broadcast news with candid examinations of racial stereotyping and national policy debates.

• July 19, 1997 – President Bill Clinton addresses NABJ in Chicago
  As the first U.S. president to address its convention — extending direct presidential engagement with Black journalists — his appearance underscores NABJ’s growing influence, affirming its role as a national platform for accountability, representation and dialogue between journalists and the White House.

• Nov. 10, 1998 – Mark Whitaker named editor of Newsweek
  He’s the first Black journalist appointed editor of a major weekly newsmagazine. Rising from intern in 1977 to managing editor in 1996, he had already led major story coverage during his predecessor’s illness — including the Monica Lewinsky scandal and death of Princess Diana — cementing his authority in national journalism.

• Sept. 10, 1999 – Gwen Ifill hosts “Washington Week” on PBS
  Ifill becomes the first Black woman to host a U.S. national TV public affairs program. She later co‑anchored “PBS NewsHour” and moderated U.S. vice presidential debates in 2004 and 2008, affirming the authority of Black women in national political journalism and reshaping public discourse with clarity and integrity.

• June 4, 2000 – “How Race Is Lived in America” series begins  
  The New York Times series examines racial experiences across schools, workplaces, law enforcement and the military. Co‑edited and with key reporting by Black journalists, the project reframes race as lived reality rather than abstract debate, earning acclaim for its depth, humanity and transformative journalistic impact.

• Sept. 11, 2001 – Black journalists aboard Air Force One on 9/11
  Reporter Sonya Ross, cameraman George Christian, sound technician Erick Washington and producer Kia Baskerville are with President Bush during that fateful day. In what’s typically a mostly white traveling press pool, their presence underscores Black journalists’ access to national security decision‑making.

• June 12, 2002 – Gregory Moore named editor of The Denver Post
  Moore had been managing editor of The Boston Globe since 1994. His appointment makes The Post the nation’s largest circulation daily led by a journalist of color. Under Moore’s 14-year tenure, the newsroom strengthened its investigative reporting — winning multiple Pulitzers — and advanced newsroom diversity.

• July 8, 2002 – Richard Prince expands his “Journal‑isms” column
  Begun in the NABJ Journal in 1991, Prince moves “Journal‑isms” online via the Maynard Institute. He also starts covering broader journalism diversity issues, including those affecting Hispanic, Asian American and Indigenous communities. It evolves into a trusted resource for its reporting, insights and curated content.

• Dec. 9, 2002 – Michele Norris hosts NPR’s “All Things Considered”
  The former ABC News correspondent joins the flagship evening program as its first Black host. Her incisive interviews with presidents and world leaders elevate public radio’s reach, while her tenure underscores breakthroughs in representation and credibility for Black journalists in national broadcast media.

• Dec. 14, 2003 – Alphonso Van Marsh reports Saddam Hussein’s capture for CNN  
  One of CNN’s first video correspondents, Van Marsh broke the story of the Iraqi leader’s capture in Ad-Dawr. Using lightweight digital newsgathering equipment instead of traditional crews, he advances a new model of frontline reporting and elevates the visibility of Black journalists in global conflict coverage.

• April 18, 2005 – Dele Olojede wins Pulitzer for international reporting  
  The Newsday correspondent is the first African-born journalist to win the prize. Honored for his haunting reports from Rwanda a decade after the genocide, his coverage blended vivid storytelling with accountability, elevating African voices while illuminating survivors’ lives and the enduring legacy of violence.

• June 4, 2006 – The Washington Post launches “Being A Black Man” 
  The paper begins a nine‑month multimedia project exploring the lives of Black men in America. Initiated and led by Black journalists, the revolutionary series challenges stereotypes, reframes representation and culminates in a book and a Peabody award, extending its impact beyond traditional journalism.

• April 4, 2007 – NABJ demands Don Imus’ removal 
  On the day he disparaged the Rutgers women’s basketball team, NABJ calls for the radio shock jock to be fired. Its decisive stance helps trigger advertiser backlash, broadcast suspensions and Imus’ termination. The response underscores NABJ’s power to enforce media standards and respect for Black women.

• Jan. 28, 2008 – The Washington Post introduces The Root 
  Conceived by Donald Graham and Henry Louis Gates Jr. (the founding editor in chief), the online magazine offers commentary, reporting and cultural analysis while exploring race, politics and identity. It marks a breakthrough in digital journalism, ensuring Black voices are central in the emerging online media landscape.

• Nov. 13, 2008 – Ebony secures first print interview with President-Elect Obama
  Editorial director Bryan Monroe sits with Barack Obama days after his election, cementing the historic magazine’s reinvigoration. With Obama addressing Black community expectations, his plans for education, jobs and health care, the interview also symbolizes recognition of the Black Press at a pivotal time in U.S. history.

• Sept. 25, 2010 – Don Lemon publicly acknowledges being gay  
  The CNN anchor is one of the first high profile Black broadcast journalists to openly identify as gay. His openness reshapes conversations about representation in TV news, affirming visibility for Black LGBTQ professionals in mainstream media and expanding dialogue on authenticity and inclusion.

• Oct. 10, 2012 – Robin Roberts helps “Good Morning America” become No. 1  
  The former ESPN anchor helps propel ABC’s show past NBC’s “Today,” marking a historic ratings triumph for a program co‑anchored by a Black woman — and underscoring the power of representation in broadcast journalism. A year later, she furthers her impact, as one of the nation’s most visible openly LGBTQ journalists.

• Oct. 1, 2013 – Eric Deggans named NPR’s first full‑time TV critic  
  Coming from the Tampa Bay Times, his appointment expands NPR’s cultural coverage, blending analysis of race, politics and media — and sets a precedent for diverse, intersectional commentary in public radio journalism.

• May 14, 2014 – Dean Baquet named NYT executive editor  
  Baquet is the first Black journalist to lead The New York Times. Formerly editor and managing editor of the Los Angeles Times — a tenure with 13 Pulitzer wins — his appointment in New York led to a defining era for journalism. The NYT won 16 Pulitzers during his eight years leading the nation’s “paper of record.”

• Aug. 9, 2014 – Black journalists cover protests after Michael Brown’s death 
  Wesley Lowery, Yamiche Alcindor, et al., chronicle protests and police response in Ferguson, Missouri. Their reporting, amplified by social media, challenges simplistic narratives, foregrounds systemic inequities and spotlights press freedom, shaping national understanding of race, justice and accountability.

• June 18, 2015 – Lester Holt named anchor of “NBC Nightly News”
  Holt becomes the first African American to permanently solo lead a major U.S. network evening newscast. His trusted reporting, steady leadership and high visibility during the most important news stories over the next decade cement his legacy as a groundbreaking figure in broadcast journalism and representation.

• May 17, 2016 – ESPN launches The Undefeated digital platform
  With former Washington Post managing editor Kevin Merida at the helm, the platform blends reporting and analysis about race, sports and culture. It nurtures emerging voices and proves sports journalism’s civic power beyond scores, situating athletic narratives within broader struggles for identity, equity and cultural meaning.

• Aug. 26, 2016 – Steve Wyche reports Colin Kaepernick’s anthem protest  
  The NFL Media reporter is the first to observe and report that the San Francisco 49ers quarterback was sitting and later kneeling during the national anthem. His coverage broke the story nationally, igniting debate on racial injustice, patriotism and athlete activism, and framing a historic protest movement.

• Sept. 4, 2018 – Roland Martin launches “Roland Martin Unfiltered”
  Martin debuts the first daily digital show focused on Black news and analysis, later expanding into the Black Star Network in 2021. His platforms redefine representation in journalism, ensuring Black perspectives remain central to political discourse, cultural commentary and the evolving digital media landscape.

• Aug. 18, 2019 – “The 1619 Project” reframes U.S. history
  The New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah‑Jones situates slavery’s legacy at the nation’s core, sparking fierce debate and curricular adoption. Her Pulitzer‑winning essay confirms journalism’s role in historical interpretation and civic education, fueling national discussions, newsroom editorials and public engagement.

• June 7, 2020 – Young Black journalists seek to reshape protest coverage  
  A national report conveys their push to frame George Floyd protests with urgency and lived context. Their approach challenges traditional notions of objectivity and representation — underscoring journalism’s evolving role in confronting systemic racism and pressing society and institutions toward greater accountability.

• April 14, 2021 – Kim Godwin named president of ABC News  
  Weeks after Rashida Jones becomes MSNBC president, Godwin is the first African American to lead one of the original TV news networks. Godwin brings decades of newsroom experience from CBS and local stations into her role, and their ascension signals progress toward diversity and inclusion at the highest levels of journalism.

• Jan. 31, 2022 – Capital B launches as a nonprofit newsroom  
  Founded by Black women, it aims to serve Black audiences, blending investigative journalism with practical service reporting. Its unpaywalled model and community‑centered mission mark a breakthrough in digital innovation, representation and trust‑building between Black audiences and media.

• Sept. 17, 2023 – Kristen Welker becomes moderator of “Meet the Press”
  The former chief White House correspondent — who also moderated the final 2020 Trump-Biden presidential debate — is the first Black journalist and second woman to lead the storied Sunday program. With NBC praising her incisive questioning, her appointment elevates representation in a space long dominated by white men.

• April 27, 2025 – Capehart, Daniels debut as co‑hosts of “The Weekend” 
  Jonathan Capehart and Eugene Daniels become the first openly gay Black men to co‑host a cable news program. Also hosted by Jackie Alemany, the MSNBC show underscores the growing visibility of Black LGBTQ journalists in mainstream media and expands the range of voices shaping national discourse.

From the 44 NABJ founders in 1975 to the many breakthroughs chronicled here, these 50 moments remind us that Black journalists have transformed the profession. Each milestone is a testament to courage, creativity and persistence — and expanding the nation’s understanding of itself and ensuring that truth is told with voices once excluded.

A native of Camden, New Jersey, Herbert Lowe is a senior lecturer at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.