COURIER MANAGING EDITOR ROB TAYLOR JR., COURIER SPORTS COLUMNIST AUBREY BRUCE, COURIER PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER BRIAN COOK SR. (PHOTO BY MARLON MARTIN)
The New Pittsburgh Courier took home six first-place awards at the annual Pittsburgh Black Media Federation Vann Media Awards ceremony, held, Aug. 24, at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Downtown.
Longtime Courier sports columnist Aubrey Bruce won the top award in the sports category, for his story, “Bill Nunn Jr. inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.” Bill Nunn Jr. was the longtime Courier sports editor who was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a scout for his astute knowledge of Black players from primarily Black colleges.
The Courier’s Brian Cook Sr. won the top award in Sports Photography for his photo of the Steelers’ Diontae Johnson making a tough catch in the end zone for a touchdown during a game in 2021.
EMMAI ALAQUIVA
The Courier’s Emmai Alaquiva won the top award in the Personality Profile Photo category for his photos of Ashley Battle and her lifelong journey as a professional basketball player and her post-basketball career.
Courier managing editor Rob Taylor Jr. won three top awards: Spot/Breaking News, for a story on Ed Gainey making history by winning the Pittsburgh mayoral election in Nov. 2021; Page Design, for the design of the Courier’s front page on Mayor Gainey winning the election; and Health/Medical, for a story entitled, “A Ray of Hope—support growing for Black mothers who experience stillbirths.” The story focused on a Black family in Pittsburgh who lost a child due to a stillbirth, and how different Black women and organizations have teamed up to form a strong support group for Black mothers who have undergone a similar situation.
The theme of PBMF’s 34th Vann Media Awards was, “No Walls.” It’s a reminder that access to information and truth allows journalists to report on government corruption, war on the defenseless, and crimes against humanity. It is also a reminder that journalists must also be conscious to not erect or stay behind their own walls of implicit bias. They must continue to break down walls to gain knowledge and a deeper understanding of communities that are different than their own. This helps journalists to better report truth and gain trust in all of the communities they cover.
LEGACY AWARD WINNER JONAS CHANEY (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
Four special awards were also presented: To Jonas Chaney, who served for many years as the public affairs director and sports anchor at WPXI-TV Channel 11. His focus on community made it possible for scores of Black events and organizations to promote their programs and initiatives; The Advanced Leadership Institute (TALI), an executive development program that prepares African Americans to contribute more broadly to their organizations and the community. It is an innovation, spearheaded by founder Evan Frazier, that shares the message of the importance of diversity and inclusion to strengthening the community; Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of the Hill Community Development Corporation, for innovation in fostering community uplift and cultivating the next generation of community development professionals through the Hill CDC fellowship program; and The International Free Expression Project, founded and directed by journalist Greg Victor. The project uniquely reminds the world of the importance of protecting free expression and supporting the marketplace of ideas and artists.
MARIMBA MILLIONES, TRAILBLAZER AWARD WINNER (PHOTO BY J.L. MARTELLO)
About Post Author
