Supporting Black Journalists: the NABJ Convention & Mary Ann Shadd Cary Fellowship

By Nana aba Duncan

When my friend and award-winning writer Vicky Mochama pitched the idea of sending Black mid-career journalists and students to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention and Career Fair in Chicago as a new initiative of the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism and Belonging, it was easy to say yes. 

As an associate professor at Carleton University and the Carty Chair in Journalism, Diversity and Inclusion Studies, and a former CBC broadcaster, I founded the Shadd Cary Centre to support inclusive journalism through research, education, and community building. The proposition aligned perfectly with these goals. 

More importantly, I have been to the NABJ Convention myself. Last year I went to the convention in Birmingham, Alabama, with award-winning writer Pacinthe Mattar, funded by the academic institutions we were associated with (Pacinthe as an Asper Fellow at Western University). It underscored the value of such opportunities, which I might not have had without financial support.

So, I said yes, let’s launch a fellowship. The three of us came together and set a goal of raising $70,000 to cover flights, accommodations, year-long memberships for each fellow, a stipend, and a $500 reporting grant for mid-career journalists. We hit the pavement and exceeded our goal with a final total of $85,000. Our funders, including CWA Canada, understood the assignment.

There were many applications to review, and the community of Black journalists in Canada is small enough that we may have had to recuse ourselves as judges in many instances. So, in the spirit of fostering cross-border connections, we enlisted Black journalists from the U.S. echoing the relationships Mary Ann Shadd Cary had with her peers south of the border.

Mary Ann Shadd Cary was a pioneer in journalism and activism, founding and editing The Provincial Freeman in 1853 to advocate for equality, education, and the rights of women, making her the first Black woman to publish a newspaper in North America and Canada’s first woman newspaper editor. Despite her significant contributions, her impact remains

underrecognized in Canadian journalism, something the Shadd Cary Center aims to address by promoting inclusive and belonging-focused journalism and facilitating community-building projects like this fellowship.

Thanks to Pacinthe’s connections, we enlisted several established, innovative and successful Black journalists from the U.S. to join the judging panel. There were more applications than spots available, and it hurt to have to say no to very worthy candidates.

The final group of fellows turned out to be so open, smart and ambitious. From journalism students to seasoned professionals in roles ranging from executive producer to magazine founder to digital content leaders, they represent a group that embodies a wide spectrum of expertise and innovation in journalism.

The fellows were also up for fun, which started on our ride from the airport to their apartments with the most ridiculous conversation about gum. We were immediately friendly together, and a bit silly. I loved it. 

More importantly, the fellows dove right into the workshops and panel discussions, booking interviews, and making connections.

We arranged some important engagements for the fellows. Before the trip, we set up a meeting with folks at Penguin Random House Canada and its imprints to discuss book ideas, a brilliant idea thanks to Vicky Mochama. 

In Chicago we organized an architectural boat tour, dinner with the judges, and finally, a table at the last night’s awards gala (where Jesse Jackson and Lynn Whitley showed up!).

Speaking of celebrities, we were all surprised when we heard that former President Donald J. Trump was going to be at the convention. Yes, it was a big deal, and historic, which Pacinthe has written about. But my mind was always tuned to the fellows’ experience and how we could support them. It was important for me to focus on that purpose.

I’ve enjoyed seeing how the fellows have come together as friends and supportive colleagues. I hope they will provide a feeling of belonging for others and know that they have each other as they move through their careers. They are leaders, and I hope they see that.