The Colorado Association of Black Journalists (CABJ) honored Colorado College with an award for Higher Education Institution of the Year.

"Multiple members of the Colorado Association of Black Journalists nominated Colorado College, stating the college's commitment to journalism and to supporting its students of color as reasons for the nomination," said CABJ President Micah Smith.

Journalism Institute Directors Steven Hayward and Corey Hutchins accepted the award during the organization’s inaugural gala at Cableland in Denver on March 2, 2024.

In an acceptance speech, Hutchins noted how small class sizes allow professors to form close relationships with students and mentor them throughout their college experience and beyond. He noted the college’s ongoing commitment to antiracism and the Journalism Institute’s contribution, and underscored the flexibility of the Block Plan, which allows bringing dynamic visiting professors to campus to teach important classes. 

In recent years, visiting instructors have included Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Wesley Lowery, who wrote the book "They Can’t Kill Us All: The Story of the Struggle for Black Lives," and Venneikia Williams of the media reparations group Media 2070 and Free Press. 

Colorado Association of Black Journalists board member and treasurer Marla Jones-Newman, who is vice president of people and culture at Mother Jones magazine, spoke at the ceremony about a partnership last year between the CABJ and CC’s Journalism Institute. 

The collaboration formed as part of Williams’ Block 8 class “Diagnosing the Media System.” In May 2023, the Journalism Institute and CABJ collaborated on a film screening of “Black in the Newsroom” and a networking event for journalists of color held at the Southern Colorado Public Media Center. Feedback from students and attendees, Jones-Newman said, was positive. 

Williams is scheduled to teach “Diagnosing the Media System” again in Block 3 this fall. 

The Colorado Association of Black Journalists honored Colorado College with the award for small colleges; Metropolitan State University in Denver earned an award in the large university category. 

In a speech at the awards ceremony, Hutchins said that while the higher-ed award is for 2024, the Journalism Institute would not look to it as recognition for something its instructors have done but rather as a reminder to live up to it each year in the future.

If you would like to support the CABJ, which raises money for scholarships, you can do so here.