Congratulating and honoring Philadelphia Daily News staffers for their professional excellence and achievements in winning six of eight categories in the Newspaper's Division of the National Association of Black Journalists 2015 Salute to Excellence Awards.

WHEREAS,

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an organization of minority journalists, students and media-related professionals. NABJ was founded by 44 men and women on December 12, 1975, in Washington, D.C., and it is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation; and

WHEREAS,

NABJ holds an annual convention and presents its annual Salute to Excellence awards and special recognitions for Lifetime Achievement, Journalist of the Year, Community Service, etc. to honor exemplary journalists for their outstanding performance in the industry. NABJ annually recognizes work from print, television, radio, online, photojournalism and public relations; and

WHEREAS, Staff with the Philadelphia Daily News were honored and awarded the prestigious Salute to Excellence award in six of the nine categories for the division of Newspapers with Under 150,000 Circulation at the annual 2015 NABJ Convention held in Minneapolis; and

WHEREAS, Jenice Armstrong was honored with four separate Salute to Excellence awards for exemplary leadership in multiple categories of journalism. Armstrong was awarded for her work "Celebrating Success," exceptional people doing exceptional things in the category of Feature Series. Armstrong was further recognized with awards for her work “MO’MENTOUS” in the Single Story category, and her work “HAIR-RAISING” in the category of Specialty Series. Armstrong was also was recognized for her contributions in “Commentary by Jenice Armstrong”; and

WHEREAS, Helen Ubiñas, was also recognized and honored in the Commentary category for her work in “Columns by Helen Ubiñas”; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia Daily News staff were further awarded for the collaborative work in the category of Special Project for "THE PROBLEMS & THE PROMIS," a special section detailing the impact of poverty on the city which also included Holly Otterbein of WHYY; Andrew Mendelson with Temple University Center for Public Interest Journalism; Todd Wolfson of the Media Mobilizing Project; and Solomon Jones with AxisPhilly; and

WHEREAS, Jon Snyder was honored for page design in the category of Art and Design for his work on “Tapped Out”; and

WHEREAS, Steven M. Falk won the NABJ photojournalism award for his work in “Controversy and Anger” in the category of Single Image

; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council hereby recognizes and congratulates Philadelphia Daily News staff for their professional achievements and award-winning coverage of Philadelphia news and national issues.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution shall be presented to the Philadelphia Daily News as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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