
Episode #12
(ASS)OCIATION — It’s Right There in the Title-- THE 2026 NABJ CONVENTION
What happens when a nonprofit association decides to publicly call out one of its own? In this episode of Philanthropy N The Black , Celly Cel takes a hard look at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and its controversial Thumbs Down Award — an honor nobody wants to receive. This episode isn't about deciding whether Stephen A. Smith or NABJ is right. It's about something every membership organization needs to understand: Your members don't have to agree with you. Your sponsors shouldn't own you. Your critics don't define your mission. But if you're going to publicly hold somebody accountable, you better be able to prove that the mission — not personalities or politics — put that thumb down. Support the show






