NABJ name Roland Martin "2013 Journalist of the Year"

buzzz worthy. . .

WASHINGTON (March 27, 2013) -- The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) announced today that Roland S. Martin, nationally syndicated columnist, television host, and radio and television commentator, is to receive the organization's Journalist of the Year award. It is one of NABJ's most coveted honors celebrating the accomplishments of black journalists and those who support blacks in the media. Martin was selected for the award by NABJ's Board of Directors. Martin currently is host and managing editor of TV One's Washington Watch with Roland Martin, and a senior analyst for The Tom Joyner Morning Show. He is also a nationally syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate and a contributor to CNN. "Roland Martin has had an enviable career as a multimedia journalist, becoming a respected and trusted voice in print, on air and online," said NABJ President Gregory Lee, Jr. "He is unapologetic about his quest to provide well-rounded coverage of the African-American community, and to provide unique insights to diverse audiences across the many platforms on which he is asked to contribute on a regular basis."   Martin will be honored with others at the association's Salute to Excellence Gala on August 3, 2013, during NABJ's 38th Annual Convention and Career Fair in Orlando. "I am enormously thankful and humbled that NABJ has bestowed this amazing honor on me for my work as a fearless voice in advocating the critical issues facing voters in the 2012 election, but especially as they relate to African Americans," said Martin. "I hope this honor serves as a lesson to any young or veteran journalist that Black media platforms are just as essential and important to us today as they have always been. Before CNN, TV One offered me a TV platform for my commentaries, as well my own show. After CNN, TV One and Tom Joyner, are still there. It pleases me greatly to be at a place where our voices and images are the norm, and not the exception. I'm enormously thankful for the opportunity." PRESS RELEASE COURTESY OF NABJ. TO SEE FULL VERSION CLICK HERE

TV ONE ANNOUNCES AMAZING GRACE: DRAMA IN THE BLACK CHURCH -  A WASHINGTON WATCH SPECIAL WITH ROLAND MARTIN,  SATURDAY MARCH 30, 7:00 PM/ET -- Topics include: the battle over leadership at Jericho City of Praise in Landover, Maryland; the rise, fall and redemption of Pastor Jamal Bryant and the controversial beginnings of The Church Without Walls -- -- Special prime time edition to precede network's television premiere of Russ Parr's 'The Undershepherd' which fictitiously examines controversial issues in the  Black church -- Roland S. Martin     TV One's Washington Watch with Roland Martin will tackle the themes of power, corruption and redemption in the Black church when it's primetime special Amazing Grace: Drama In the Black Church - A Washington Watch Special with Roland Martin airs Saturday, March 30, 7:00 PM/ET, leading into the world television premiere of Russ Parr's "The Undershepherd," and during Washington Watch's regularly scheduled time slot, Sunday March 31, 11AM ET. The special includes a one-on-one interview between Martin and Bishop T.D. Jakes exploring the depiction of the Black church in secular and pop culture media. Topics explored during the hour include: the battle between Pastor Joel Peebles, son of the late Bishop Dr. James R. Peebles, Sr. and Apostle Betty Peebles, and the members of Landover's Jericho City of Praise for control over church leadership.; the rise, fall and eventual redemption of Pastor Jamal Bryant and the rejection of Pastor Ralph DouglasWest by his church leading to the successful creation of The Church Without Walls. Panelists during the hour include: Founder and Senior Pastor of Community of Hope AME, Rev. Tony Lee; Senior Pastor of Third Street Church of God and Professor of Christian Ethics at Howard University School of Divinity, Rev. Dr. Cheryl Sanders and Senior Pastor of Nineteenth Street Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Derrick Harkins. "The multi-faceted role of the Black church in America provides a constant source of community, conversation and controversy as reflected by the varied offerings of films, books and plays on the subject," remarked host, political editor and analyst Roland Martin. "With our special, we hope to enlarge and continue the conversation in a respectful yet informative manner with a personalization of some of the larger issues routinely appearing in headlines.  We want to de-mystify the stories and the people behind church issues making news."