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Baltimore Salute to April Ryan - 2017 NABJ Journalist of the Year
Three Baltimore journalism groups came together to celebrate White House correspondent April Ryan being named National Association of Black Journalists 2017 Journalist of the Year.

Baltimore Association of Black Journalists, Morgan State University School of Global Journalism and Communication and the Morgan State University Chapter of NABJ hosted a “Baltimore Salute to April Ryan” Sunday May 21, 2017 at Maryland Public Television (MPT).

More than 50 communications professionals, friends and family members packed the MPT Visitor Center to shower Ryan with appreciation for her work spanning several decades. The veteran White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks is also a CNN political analyst.

The 30 minute program featured comments from:

Baltimore Association of Black Journalists President Nicki Mayo;

Morgan State University School of Global Journalism and Communication Assistant Dean for Programs and Multimedia Journalism Department chair Jackie Jones and;

Morgan State University Chapter of NABJ President Penelope Blackwell. The student chapter leader gifted April a teddy bear wearing her chapter’s t-shirt as a reminder that Ryan will always part of the MSU community.  

Several of April Ryan’s old colleagues from Baltimore’s Heaven 600, WEAA 88.9FM and V-103 (no longer in operation) were featured in a special tribute video:

  • Doresa Harvey, Heaven 600 Personality;
  • Mike “Mike Nyce” Middleton, WEAA 88.9 FM Operations Manager/Host & Former V-103/Heaven 600 Personality;
  • Sandi Mallory, WEAA 88.9 FM, Community Affairs Director/Host & Former V-103 Personality;
  • Marcellus “The Bassman” Shepard, WEAA 88.9 FM Program/Music Director & Host;
  • Iyore Odighizuwa, WEAA 88.9 FM Senior Producer;
  • Charles Robinson III, Maryland Public Television;
  • Johann Calhoun,  NABJ Region 1 Director and
  • Dorothy Boulware, Former The AFRO-American Newspapers, Editor

The event concluded with remarks from April Ryan, followed by a reception with lite fare and cake. Ryan also greeted the guest during a book signing for her two latest works.

 

 

 

Special Thank You BABJ Team!

Event planners Kimberly Shorter and Chelsea Brown pulled together a gold star salute in under a week. Iyore Odighuzuwa was the much needed producer to help finish the tribute video. Talisha Dunn-Square and Kali Lyles offered decor and technical support. Linda Taggart thank you for opening the doors of Maryland Public Television to us. We packed the Visitor Center and even received coverage from WJZ-TV– special thank you to Vic Carter and Tim Williams for getting the word out along with Jannette Witmyer and Tanya Zebulum. Super shoutout to the social media team that made sure the world know everything that was happening in real time:
Monae Bevans (Twitter)
Jazmine Hawes (Periscope)
Niesha McCoy (Facebook Live)
Vance Brinkley (Photography for Flickr)