Media Federation to honor "Excellence" in Storytelling

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Federation to honor ‘Excellence’ in Storytelling

Group also announces tribute to late journalist Elaine Effort

PITTSBURGH (March 31, 2025) — The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation is excited to host its upcoming 36th celebration of the Robert L. Vann Media Awards.

The dinner, “A Night of Excellence,” will mark a special occasion as PBMF moves into its 52nd year of advocating for fair representation of the African American community in the news, working to increase the presence of journalists of color in newsrooms and other media organizations, and recognizing and promoting excellence and integrity in news coverage.

The event is set for 6 p.m., Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center, 980 Liberty Avenue, Downtown, Pittsburgh.

The theme of the evening, “A Night of Excellence,” is a reminder that integrity and the pursuit of access to information and truth allow journalists to not only report on government corruption, wars on the defenseless, and crimes against humanity, but also on local community heroes, regional politics, the arts, and more.

The evening is also a reminder that journalists must seek the highest standards of fairness and inclusivity in their reporting, recognizing that democracy is multilayered and that journalists must continue to pursue knowledge and a deeper understanding of communities that are different from their own.

“We want to ensure that stories capture not only the facts, but also the context and nuance of every community. This allows for fair and accurate reporting that follows the truth wherever it leads,” said Deborah Todd, PBMF president. 

“And that’s why the Vann awards program is significant — it celebrates journalism that shines a light on truth in local and diverse communities,” she added.

“The Vann awards help us to recognize journalism that goes the extra mile to make sure that marginalized voices and communities are heard and valued as much as those with power and privilege,” said Ervin Dyer, chair of the Vann awards.

“These stories show that all voices are part of the social, political, and economic fabric of the places that we call home,” he said.

All winning entries – to be revealed the night of the dinner – were published or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024. Vann’s professional contest presents awards for excellent work in print, broadcast, multimedia, visual presentation, and digital media categories in Western Pennsylvania, Western and Central Ohio and parts of West Virginia.

Finalists will be detailed in a later press release in May 2025 once judges’ evaluations are completed.

In addition to presenting the Awards of Excellence, the Vann program will present special honors to four individuals and/or organizations:

THE ELAINE EFFORT COMMUNITY CHAMPION AWARD -- In a tribute to the excellent and pioneering journalism of PBMF founding member, Elaine Effort, two organizations will receive the inaugural Elaine Effort Community Champion Award, named to honor Effort’s dedicated service to community. Elaine Effort passed away in November 2024.

o  Girl Scout Troop #52208 – For years, Elaine Effort worked with young women in the Girl Scouts. Now, Troop #52208, which is located in Wilkinsburg and was founded recently by Natajah Ford, a mother who wanted to provide a safe space for her daughter and other young girls in the community, is being recognized with the Elaine Effort award.

o  Dr. Carter G. Woodson Academy – an educational and self-development program operated by the Iota Phi Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. The academy was founded 12 years ago and teaches young people the importance of knowing their history as way to move into their future. It is also receiving the Elaine Effort award.

LEGACY AWARD -- Olga George is the press secretary for the mayor of the city of Pittsburgh, , a longtime advocate of New Horizon Theater, an independent producer with WQED, and a former KDKA-TV assignment editor. But another of her most important roles has been her longtime leadership with PBMF’s Frank Bolden Urban Multimedia Workshop, where, for 30 years, she trained hundreds of youths in journalism as a way to help them gain self-confidence and pride in their abilities.

COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR -- Emmai Alaquiva is an Emmy award-winning film director and photographer. He has worked with some of the world’s most notable icons from Harry Belafonte, Dr. Maya Angelou to Questlove and Colman Domingo. In 2023, he was selected to help oversee the film visuals by Roc Nation for Jay Z’s ground-breaking exhibit, “The Book of HOV.” Most recently, he was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to serve as vice chair of the arts for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Alaquiva’s philanthropic community impact has been recognized by President Barack Obama. His latest project is a feature documentary film about Black and Brown infant mortality called ‘The Ebony Canal.’ He is the founder of Pittsburgh’s Hip Hop on Lock.

TRAILBLAZER AWARD -- Ciora Thomas founded Sisters/Pgh in 2013. It is a Black and trans-led nonprofit that is dedicated to uplifting and empowering transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals, particularly those from Black and Brown communities. Sisters/Pgh works to provide housing, safe spaces and to dismantle racism and transphobia so that the people it serves can have productive, prosperous lives. Because of its success in Pittsburgh, it recently created a Ssisters branch in Philadelphia.

All special honorees were nominated and voted on by the PBMF Vann committee.

In addition, the evening will also feature a Salute to Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation, recognizing its commitment to exceptional journalism and civic engagement from media organizations local and regionally.

The evening will include an announcement of the student winners in PBMF’s Black History Month Essay Contest.

Tickets for the Vann awards dinner may be purchased online at www.pbmf.org until sold out. Tickets are $25 each for students, $55 each for PBMF members and $65 each for nonmembers.

No tickets will be sold at the door.

Sponsorship packages may be purchased online until May 17. Go here for more information: https://pbmf.org/make-a-donation

In 1988, PBMF launched its journalism awards competition named for Robert L. Vann, the legendary publisher of the Pittsburgh Courier. The intent was to honor his personal commitment to journalism and to create a voice for the Black community.

Proceeds from the Vann Media Awards help fund college scholarships for graduates of PBMF’s Frank Bolden Urban Multimedia Workshop for teens, as well as professional development programs, international reporting fellowships and other initiatives.

Founded in 1973, PBMF is a nonprofit organization whose members are professional journalists, public relations specialists, and professors and college students in schools of journalism or related programs. 

PBMF advocates for diversity in newsrooms, hosts programs that recognize excellent media coverage of minority communities, and trains young people to enter the media industry.

The National Association of Black Journalists named PBMF the professional chapter of the year in 2017. PBMF tied for the title in 2015.

For more information about the Vann Media Awards, contact Dyer at 412-624-4796 or edyer@pitt.edu.

The Pittsburgh Black Media Federation would like to thank its sponsors: the University of Pittsburgh/English Department and The Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University.