A public love note to #NABJ: Thank you for a significant honor

It was right after journalism school at Northwestern’s Medill School and planted in a public relations career when I attended my first NABJ Chicago meeting. Back then, it was “CABJ” – the Chicago Association of Black Journalists – and its leaders were legends to me – people like NBC5’s Art Norman , Ebony’s Renee Turner and Charles Whitaker , CBS2’s Valerie West, the Chicago Sun-Times' Mary Mitchell and the Chicago Tribune’s (late) Alan Johnson. CABJ gave me a chance to stay close to my journalism dreams, to work alongside newsroom heroes, to raise funds for its scholarships and to volunteer for its programs. It also was a way to spend time with my then-boyfriend David Rudd , then a Tribune reporter. ?He and I helped run CABJ’s Saturday journalism workshop for teens for several years; later, I was the liaison to the Community Media Workshop (now Public Narrative ) and Dave was a board member.

Being a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) member was a demonstration of my healthy respect for the responsibilities, challenges and unique points of view of Black journalists and storytellers. So, it was an absolute delight for David and me to be honored in July at the 2024 NABJ Conference and Career Fair with the organization's 2024 Patricia L. Tobin Award for Media Professionals.? The late Ms. Tobin was an industry legend and one of PR’s leading ladies. The ways in which she used PR as a bridge for building community, creating opportunities and challenging corporate responsibilities certainly inspire my work today.

A former TV journalist who transitioned into PR, Ms. Tobin founded Tobin & Associates, an LA-based firm that handled local and national assignments, used its relationships and talents for community activism and economic development, served stars and athletes, and changed the way corporations connected and marketed to Black consumers. She also was a founder of the Black Public Relations Society and an active NABJ member. She died in 2008.

This national recognition of our work was a “wow” moment; to have it happen alongside the induction of Hall of Fame members like Art Norman, famed Tribune photographer Milton Brown and emerging star award recipient Corey Antonio Rose made it more amazing.

I want to thank #NABJ board members for this honor and extend special appreciation to the members of the award-winning NABJ Chicago chapter who uplifted our names and the work we do at Rudd Resources LLC , especially Dorothy Tucker , Kathy Chaney , Raschanda Hall , Wynona Redmond , Brandon Pope , Yolanda Joe and event producer Georgia E. Dawkins . Hugs to my friends who brought magic with your presence and joy -- folks like Jessica Smith Bee , Katrina Waddy , Rashanah Baldwin, M.A. , Moleska Smith , Michon Ellis , Veronica Clemons and James Dodson . (Here's a short video from the event.)

I also want to thank Rudd Resources’ clients for their decision to hire our firm to work alongside their teams to advance people, communities and ideas across Illinois in sometimes audacious ways. In particular, the #Discover Chicago team showed up strong at this year's conference so that we could bring "banking & House music beats" to the conference agenda. (I will always enjoy the dance-floor videos with Matt Towson , April Williams-Luster and Moji Akinde !)?

Lastly, I want to thank the #rudders, past and present, whose commitment to our agency values contribute mightily to our agency’s ability to earn this kind of recognition.

#Chicago #PublicAffairs #RuddersAtWork?