The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has selected Elise Durham as its next executive director. Durham comes to NABJ with more than 30 years of professional work
\nexperience in television news management, strategic communications, and
\ngovernment relations, and has an extensive background leading dynamic,
\nresults-oriented teams. She is also a longtime member of NABJ.<\/p>\n
Durham was selected after multiple reviews by the NABJ executive board and
\nad hoc executive director search advisory committee. Candidates were scored
\non key measurements critical to an executive director’s responsibilities,
\nconsidering the ever-changing landscape for journalists and media
\nprofessionals. Durham was a standout on each level.<\/p>\n
Currently, Durham is the assistant general manager of Marketing,
\nCommunications, and Public Affairs for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
\nInternational Airport, the busiest airport in the world. She oversees a
\nmulti-million-dollar portfolio and a team of 30 employees. In that
\nrole, she manages the airport’s relationship with corporate, strategic and
\ncommunity partners. Before that, Durham was communications director for
\nAtlanta Mayors Keisha Lance Bottoms and Andre Dickens. She also served as
\nexecutive director of Strategic Communications for Morehouse College where
\nshe contributed to a five-year capital campaign that raised $120 million.<\/p>\n
Durham’s commitment to NABJ has lasted for more than 35 years. During that
\ntime, she produced major events for NABJ including serving as convention
\nprogram chair, convention chair, and producer of several U.S. presidential
\ncandidate forums. \u00a0She also was behind the Founders’ reception held at the
\nAfrican American Museum on History and Culture in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
Her passion for NABJ runs deep. “I am honored and ready to help lead NABJ
\ninto its next, most transformative chapter grounded in vision, advocacy,
\ninnovation, and love,” said Durham. “I often say that NABJ is the longest
\nlove affair I have ever had, and I am excited about what the future will
\nbring.”<\/p>\n
As an “NABJ baby” Durham participated, as a student, in the very first NABJ
\nShort Course, held at her alma mater Florida A&M University -where she sits
\non the Board of Visitors of the School of Journalism and Graphic
\nCommunication. She has worked for six television stations including market
\npowerhouse WSB-TV, producing two of the No. 1 news programs in the country.<\/p>\n
Over the years, she has raised tens of thousands of dollars for
\nscholarships for the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists, where she
\ncurrently serves as Parliamentarian.<\/p>\n
As current NABJ Executive Director Drew Berry recently announced his
\nupcoming retirement later this year, NABJ leadership is looking forward to
\nwelcoming Durham.<\/p>\n
President Ken Lemon says, “The selection of our next executive director now
\nallows the current executive board, which also serves as NABJ’s personnel
\ncommittee, to fulfill responsibilities they were elected to do. That
\nincludes ensuring an Executive Director is in place and empowered to do the
\nbusiness of NABJ as we roll into our next 50 years.”<\/p>\n
NABJ made the decision to fill this critical role at this time to:<\/p>\n
* Allow for a smooth transition between the outgoing and incoming
\nexecutive directors,
\n* Ensure stability with sponsor and partner relationships, many of whom
\nare attending the convention this year, and
\n* Create synergy with the Board of directors and NABJ staff while the
\ncurrent executive director is in place.<\/p>\n
Retiring Executive Director Drew Berry says, “We are thrilled to welcome
\nElise Durham as NABJ’s next executive director. With a deep understanding
\nof our organizational history and culture, and a proven track record of
\nvisionary leadership, she is uniquely positioned and qualified to guide
\nNABJ into its next chapter.” Berry continued to say,<\/p>\n
“Serving this extraordinary organization has been the honor of a lifetime.
\nAs I prepare to pass the baton, I do so with pride and optimism, knowing
\nthat NABJ will be in capable and committed hands. I’m grateful for the
\nopportunity I’ve had to serve, and I leave this position proud of what
\nwe’ve built together.”<\/p>\n
Durham will officially begin her position as NABJ executive director this
\nfall.<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has selected Elise Durham as its next executive director. Durham comes to NABJ with more than 30 years of professional work experience in television news management, strategic communications, and government relations, and has an extensive background leading dynamic, results-oriented teams. She is also a longtime member of NABJ. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[307],"class_list":["post-16946","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-economy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16946","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16946"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16946\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16947,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16946\/revisions\/16947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16946"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16946"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16946"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=16946"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}