CBC’s Paul Pope is honored by the TABJ with its Humanitarian Award. |
The Triangle Association of Black Journalists held their annual awards gala and one of our own was presented a well deserved recognition.
CBC VP of Community Relations & American Tobacco General Manager Paul Pope was presented the TABJ Humanitarian Award. WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Ken Smith proudly introduced him, and spoke on how Pope has been an influence in his career. WRAL-TV Anchor/Reporter Valonda Calloway presented the Scholarship Recipient for this year.
The Triangle Association of Black Journalists is an organization of reporters, editors, photographers, and other media professionals working in the Raleigh-Durham metropolitan area. They are a chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.
The mission:
- Support for black journalists and other media professionals, as well as others whose ambition is to work in the media.
- Networking opportunities for Triangle Association of Black Journalists members.
- Resources for the members of the black communality, to help them understand how the media work and how to deal more effectively with the media.
- Mentoring and guidance for students who aspire to media careers.
- Media monitoring for the Triangle community, to ensure that issues involving the minority community are covered fairly and accurately.
As a double honor, the TABJ Humanitarian Award that Pope received will be renamed The Paul R. Pope Award.
Paul Pope (right) chats with several of his TABJ colleagues, WRAL-TV’s Ken Smith (left) & former CBC’er Renee McCoy. |
Paul Pope shows his groovy side as he burns up the dance floor with his fellow TABJ attendees. |
The keynote speaker was world-renowned poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator, Nikki Giovanni. She was most recently remembered for her speech to the grieving Virginia Tech student body following the tragic shootings. Dr. Giovanni is a University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia.
CBC’s Paul Pope (center) is surrounded by (l to r): former WRAL-TV Anchor Renee McCoy, current WRAL-TV Anchor Ken Smith, Gala Committee Chair Gail Hurd & WRAL-TV Anchor Valonda Calloway. |
The TABJ Humanitarian Award is the latest in a long list of honors Pope has received. The National Association of Black Journalists inducted him into its Regional Hall of Fame in 2003. Earlier this year he won the Bishop’s Award for Business And Professional Service for his dedication to the community. He is also the recipient of the South Central Wake NAACP 2005 Humanitarian Award and the African American Cultural Complex’s 2001 Media Award, among others.
Pope graduated from North Carolina Central University in 1975 and began his career in broadcasting at WRAL-TV. He became the first African-American to be named engineering operations manager for WRAL-TV, the first to serve as station manager for WJZY-TV in Charlotte, and the first to be appointed as a vice president at Capitol Broadcasting Company. Pope also volunteers with many community and charitable organizations.
Pope dances the night away after receiving his award. |
Pope (left) shares a belly laugh with former co-worker Renee McCoy. |
Thanks to WRAL-TV’s Clarence Williams for this capcom story
& to Kinea Epps for these capcom photos.
