During her time on ESPN’s flagship evening show, SportsCenter, Jemele Hill became a national name, not because of her opinions on the popular sports show but because she did not hesitate to call out Donald Trump’s tacit support of white nationalism on social media. Because of her fearlessness, the National Association of Black Journalists named Hill its 2018 Journalist of the Year.
In a statement announcing the honor, NABJ praised Hill’s dedication to speaking out on the issues that matter most to Black people.
“She uses her platform to address national, social and cultural issues, in addition to sports. Hill nearly broke the internet last year when she criticized President Donald Trump. She also, taking up the NABJ spirit of advocacy, addressed athletes’ rights to take a knee to protest police brutality. She did all this while co-anchoring a groundbreaking rebrand of ESPN’s marquee show SportsCenter, or SC6, along with fellow NABJ member Michael Smith,” the statement read.
NABJ President Sarah Glover said Hill was “a gem,” and praised the writer’s courage.
“Jemele Hill is a gem. She exhibits strength, grace, and doggedness,” Glover said. “NABJ appreciates the courage and steadfastness Jemele has demonstrated as a journalist and commentator speaking truth to power.”
Hill, who’ll accept the award in her hometown of Detroit at NABJ’s annual conference this summer, called the award “the biggest accomplishment of my career.”
“It would be a serious understatement to call this recognition from NABJ special. This organization has been a second family for me, both personally and professionally. I am humbled to be honored by an organization whose values not only match my own journalistically but has tirelessly dedicated itself to developing and nurturing journalists like me,” Hill said.
“This is the biggest accomplishment of my career.”