By: Cheryl Smith
Veteran journalist DeWayne Wickham, one of the 44 founders of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), recently praised fellow journalist and current board member Roland Martin, for addressing issues and sharing information that few if any other news organizations appear interested in.
On the Black Star Network, Martin hosts the popular Daily Digital Show, Roland Martin Unfiltered (RMU), a news show that continues to gain in popularity as a Black-owned news show/podcast that travels the country and also internationally, highlighting people and issues while calling for accountability and fairness in all areas.
Wickham appeared on the show recently, along with NABJ President Errin Haines, to discuss the awarding of NABJ’s 2026 Thumbs Down Award during the organization’s national convention in Atlanta. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpU080Kc_3I&list=PLVVhpySbZvKbM5nzaUCAIc4qT4Q-_TlB4&index=4
That Martin discussed the award’s history on his show is noteworthy, according Wickham, who is also a past president of NABJ and played a significant role in establishing the award that “addresses poor acts and deeds that are in direct opposition to the 51-year-old organization.”
NABJ’s Thumbs Down Award is presented to an individual or organization for especially insensitive, racist or stereotypical reporting, commentary, photography or cartooning about the Black community or for engaging in practices at odds with the goals of NABJ.
As a former NABJ board member, I have participated in at least seven deliberations for this very significant award. Some discussions have been intense and fruitful.
Leadership cannot be fearful. Under the Haines administration, clearly there were board members who showed they were bold and supportive.
In addressing critics and those who praised this year’s selections, Haines said they represent “forces and influential commentary making it harder for Black journalists to do their jobs and reinforcing harmful narratives, particularly against Black women.”
She eloquently stressed the importance of seizing the opportunity to have broader, candid conversation, and she welcomes any and all who feel inclined to engage.
I appreciate that she referenced meaningful dialogue and change. Is that too much to ask?
Maybe serious conversations this year, will move us to a better place across the board. People can gasp or laugh for a minute and then they need to shine the light on their houses and evaluate their situations,.
It’s like straightening up after you see someone else get whipped! They say experience is the best teacher. Well, you have a chance to benefit from someone else’s experience. That is if you really want to do better.
One thing is for sure, there’s a significant pool to choose from. We have more than enough people and organizations lacking in areas and in need of wake-up calls. I think you can best believe that it is only a matter of time before your day will come.
Launched September 4, 2018, RMU has more than two million subscribers and is aired on www.blackstarnetwork.com.
I encourage you to check out the five recipients of NABJ’s 2026 Thumbs Down Award:
2026 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
- Stephen A. Smith, ESPN personality & political commentator
- Brendan Carr, Chair, Federal Communications Commission
- CBS News
- The Washington Post
- DuJuan McCoy, Owner & CEO of Circle City Broadcasting
PREVIOUS NABJ Thumbs Down Award Recipients
2025 NOT GIVEN
2024 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
NFL
NOT GIVEN
NOT GIVEN
2021 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Walter Hussman
2020 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Cleveland Plain Dealer
2019 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
American Society of News Editors
CNN
2018 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
KTVU TV
2017 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
FOX News
Ebony magazine
2016 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Dow Jones & Company
The New York Times
The Washington Post
2015 – NOT GIVEN
2014 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
NPR
2013- NOT GIVEN
2012 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
TIME Magazine
2011 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Fox
Fox Business
MSNBC
CNBC
CNN
Blomberg
2010 – NOT GIVEN
2009 – NOT GIVEN
2008 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Fox News Channel
Pat Buchanan
2007 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
BET
2006 – NOT GIVEN
2005 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Armstrong Williams
2004 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Jayson Blair
2003 – NOT GIVEN
2002 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
William McGowan, Author, Coloring the News
2001 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
U.S. News & World Report
2000 – NOT GIVEN
1999 – NOT GIVEN
1998 – NOT GIVEN
1997 – NOT GIVEN
TITLE: 1996 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
New Republic Magazine
Buckley Broadcasting Corp.
TITLE: 1995 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
New Republic Magazine
The Atlantic Monthly
TITLE: 1994 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
The New York Daily News
CBS’ “Street Stories”
TITLE: 1993 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
WKBQ
TITLE: 1992 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
The Chicago Reader
The Chicago Sun-Times
TITLE: 1991 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
Mike Barnicle, Boston Globe Columnist
TITLE: 1990 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
The Richmond Times-Dispatch
TITLE: 1989 NABJ Thumbs Down Award
NBC News
Patrick Buchanan
