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Arizona Association of Black Journalists
Announces Ed Sharpe as
2009 Arizona Media Diversity Award Winner

Phoenix (June 26, 2009 - AABJ/GDP) -- The Arizona Association of Black Journalists has announced Ed Sharpe of the Glendale Daily Planet as the winner for the third annual Arizona Media Diversity Awards program. This is  Sharpe's second year to win this award.


The program aims to recognize Arizona journalists and media members committed to sharing diverse stories reflective of Arizona's minority communities.

Weldon B. Johnson, president of the Arizona Association of Black Journalists, explained the award as one that "highlights the rich diversity of the community [local journalists] serve." He adds that   “We’d like to salute Ed Sharpe and the Daily Planet for not only the quality but volume of his submissions,” he continued “Ed has demonstrated a commitment to showcasing the diversity of experiences of Glendale’s residents. He has also exhibited a great enthusiasm for concept of community journalism and telling the stories of all of the people of Glendale.”  

AABJ honors Sharpe for a collection of stories including a visit to Glendale by acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni, coverage of the city’s first Arab American Festival and the 2008 Arizona Black Expo. Sharpe entered his work in the online/new media category.  

  
These entries  consisted of  text and stills with many also offering full video of the keynote address by the dignitary in conjunction to links to other sites and a large banks of photos of the event for participants to be able to  download.

Sharpe, an Online Media and IPTV Pioneer, commented that "all I do is record what exists around me and package it and distribute it." He adds "the main credit for the richness of  the content is due to the interesting people and activities that are around me!. As Glendale grows we get more people from all over moving here with new businesses, activities and festivals. Pan you camera (or your eyes) around ... it's a fascinating world here!"

Winners of the  award back in 2007 include Jacque Tobias, a freelance writer, for her moving story on the Lost Boys of Sudan; and Omadelle Nelson and Todd Jackson of KPHO-TV5 for their story on an inspirational teacher at Phoenix Central High School.

Along with the fundamental elements of journalism, entries must reflect the spirit of diversity in content and subject matter. Entries were judged by a committee affiliated with the National Association of Black Journalists.

About AABJ
The Arizona Association of Black Journalists (AABJ) is an affiliate chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Founded in 1995, AABJ is dedicated to fostering opportunities for professional and aspiring journalists through various programs and scholarships. The group is comprised of working journalists in print, broadcast and radio outlets, and communication and public relations specialists statewide.

The AABJ board of directors is committed to the continued nurturing of aspiring journalists through its scholarship program. Also, advancing Arizona as a viable professional market to members of the National Association of Black Journalists, an initiative AABJ launched when it hosted the national convention in 2000.

AABJ is committed to:

• Strengthening ties among Black Journalists.
• Sensitizing all media to the importance of fairness in the workplace for Black journalists.
• Expanding job opportunities and recruiting activities for veteran, young and aspiring Black journalists, while providing continued professional development and training.
• Increasing the number of Black journalists in management positions and encouraging Black journalists to become entrepreneurs.
• Fostering an exemplary group of professionals that honors excellence and outstanding achievement by African-American journalists, and achievement in the media industry as a whole, particularly when providing balanced coverage of the Black community and society at large.
• Working with high schools and colleges to identify and encourage Black students to become journalists, and to diversify faculties and related curriculum.
• Providing informational and training services to the general public.
• Awarding annual scholarships to college and high school students.

Although the organization's focus is African-American journalists throughout the state of Arizona, they are dedicated to helping all journalists of color and minority journalists reach their respective goals and commitments. 

About  CouryGraph Productions / Glendale Daily Planet / KKAT-IPTV
Glendale Daily Planet, the parent organization of KKAT-IPTV was started in 2004 as the first community journalism news Web site in Glendale. Serving the Metro West Valley, Glendale Daily Planet has witnessed, participated in and recorded the further rejuvenation of the downtown core, the meteoric rise of the 'Glendale Sports Empire' and the restoration of historic sections of the town.

Sharpe  is a member of  the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS),  Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), Independent Feature Project (IFP) (IFP/PHX), The Arizona Association of Black Journalists (AABJ), Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), Southwest Museum of Engineering, Communications and Computation (SMECC), Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), Online News Association (ONA), American Pixel Academy (APA), International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE), and other associations.

The work of Ed Sharpe from CouryGraph Productions and other ethically minded community journalists and engineering staff may be viewed, 24-hours a day, seven days a week at  http://www.glendaledailyplanet.com/ .

Interested in having your work seen by the world? Contact the Glendale Daily Planet / KKAT-IPTV to schedule airing! Use the email link on the site.

ARIZONA ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                CONTACT:
June 22, 2009                                                                                                  

Weldon Johnson, 602-317-8719

weldonbjohnson@aol.com

2009 ARIZONA MEDIA DIVERSITY AWARDS WINNER

The Arizona Association of Black Journalists is pleased to announce Ed Sharpe of the Glendale Daily Planet as winner of the third annual Arizona Media Diversity Awards Contest.

AABJ honors Sharpe for a collection of stories including a visit to Glendale by acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni, coverage of the city’s first Arab American Festival and the 2008 Arizona Black Expo. Sharpe entered his work in the online/new media category.

            “We’d like to salute Ed Sharpe and the Daily Planet for not only the quality but volume of his submissions,” AABJ President Weldon Johnson said. “Ed has demonstrated a commitment to showcasing the diversity of experiences of Glendale’s residents. He has also exhibited a great enthusiasm for concept of community journalism and telling the stories of all of the people of Glendale.”

This is Sharpe’s second Arizona Media Diversity Award.

Entries were judged on displaying the fundamental elements of journalism while reflecting the spirit of diversity in content and subject matter.

About AABJ: The Arizona Association of Black Journalists, www.azblackjournalists.org, is an affiliate chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Founded in 1995, AABJ is dedicated to fostering opportunities for professional and aspiring journalists through various programs and scholarships.

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