The National Association of Black Journalists recognized a Boston Globe columnist, reporters from the Globe’s Metro desk, and a Boston University professor in the association’s 2013 Salute to Excellence Awards.
“NABJ recognizes journalism that best covered the black experience or addressed issues affecting the worldwide black community during 2012,” the association said. Submissions in 69 categories were judged on content, creativity, and innovation.
Derrick Z. Jackson, a Globe editorial columnist, was honored in the newspaper specialty category for “Imprisoned by their fears,” a column on fear in gated communities and reaction to the lethal shooting of an unarmed teenager, Trayvon Martin, in Florida. He was also recognized in the newspaper sports category for “The black hole of sports,” an analysis of the science of concussions in sports.
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“Derrick’s in-depth analysis of the danger of football was eye-opening for thousands of parents and drew vital attention to the issue of injury in sports,” said Peter Canellos, editor of the Globe’s Editorial page.
These awards make Jackson a nine-time winner and 22-time finalist in the NABJ competition.
Metro reporters Maria Cramer, Meghan E. Irons, Akilah Johnson, Jenna Russell, and Andrew Ryan were honored in the newspaper special project category for “68 Blocks: Life, Death, Hope,” a five-part series on violence, hope, and love, in Boston’s Bowdoin-Geneva neighborhood.
“It’s incredibly gratifying to be honored for the hard and creative work that a team of Globe reporters, photographers, editors, and graphic artists put into the 68 Blocks project,” said Globe editor Brian McGrory. “Our goal was to provide readers an honest look at the hopes and dreams that residents of this neighborhood have, as well as the obstacles they face in realizing them. We’re delighted that the NABJ thought we did our job well.”
The Globe team beat reporters from the Washington Post and the Pittsburgh Tribune-
Review for this award.
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“As a former Globe editor, I can attest to the work of these outstanding journalists and their work over the past year,” said Gregory Lee, former president of the black journalist group and former senior assistant sports editor at the Globe.
Michelle Johnson, a professor of multimedia journalism at BU, was recognized as journalism educator of the year. She was earlier an editor at the Globe. “I appreciate doing work that means so much to me,” Johnson said in a statement.
Melissa Hanson can be reached at melissa.hanson@globe.com.