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HOUSTON ASSOC. OF BLACK JOURNALISTS ANNIVERSARY AWARDS DINNER

Hilton Americas Hotel - Friday, April 3, 2009 – 6:30 p.m.

Houston—March 18, 2009 – The Houston Association of Black Journalists on Friday, April 3 will host their annual awards dinner to honor three media icons.   The 23^rd Anniversary HABJ Awards Dinner will be held at the Hilton Americas–Houston at 1600 Lamar and features a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by a 7:30 p.m. dinner.  "Multi-Tasking in the Multi-Media Millennium" is not only the dinner theme; it is also HABJ's mission.  The three honorees exemplify the theme. They include:

Byron Pitts, veteran award-winning CBS News Correspondent, will receive the coveted HABJ Pinnacle Award.  Pitts is Chief National Correspondent for CBS and was recently named a contributing correspondent to the Sunday news magazine 60 Minutes. Pitts is a longtime committed member of the National Association of Black Journalists.

Melanie Lawson, KTRK-TV Anchor will receive the HABJ Lifetime Achievement Award for her many years of exemplifying excellence in journalistic standards. Lawson co-anchors KTRK’s Live at 5 and its community affairs show Crossroads.  Lawson has won numerous awards for her work including an Emmy for her coverage of President Clinton's visit to South Africa. 

Reshonda Tate Billingsley is this year's HABJ Spirit Award Winner. She is an award winning and national best-selling author and journalist.  Billingsley writes for the Houston Defender Newspaper and is a former radio and television news reporter.  She has written eleven books which have been published under Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books.  Three of her books are being made into movies, and she will serve as executive producer.

Kim Davis, KPRC Local 2 Host of Beyond the Headlines, and one of the dinner co-chairs, says, “We know all will enjoy this phenomenal evening highlighting media trailblazers and celebrating all the good things that HABJ does throughout the year.” 

Two-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, successful businessman and Minister George Foreman serves as the Honorary Chair and special guest.  KHOU’s Chief Meteorologist Gene Norman, one of this year’s co-chairs says, “This will be an unforgettable and inspiring evening.  Our industry is at an historic crossroads but it is still viable and it is still necessary to have the perspective of people of color in the multimedia millennium.”

HABJ is a nonprofit organization of media professionals in the Houston area with members in every facet of print and broadcast media as well as public relations. Part of HABJ's mission is to provide professional development, honor excellence in journalism, cultivate young journalists and ensure accurate coverage of the minority community.  Consistent with its mission, HABJ provides scholarships, future workforce development and summer training opportunities for college students majoring in communications. Additionally, HABJ presents community outreach programs, seminars and town hall forums free of charge for the community and communication professionals.   

For more information regarding the HABJ 23rd Anniversary Dinner, please go to www.habj.org or contact dinner chairs KPRC’s Kim Davis 713-448-4917; Melinda Spaulding of KRIV Fox 26, 713-479-2924; or Gene Norman at KHOU at 713-284-8718.