By Christian Thomas
NABJ’s annual conventions have long been on Emmy-nominated producer Tahj Anthony’s journalism bucket list, but after being laid off from his senior producer role in August, his first convention this year in Atlanta became less of a curiosity and more a necessity.
“I had already purchased my NABJ ticket in January, so I already knew I was going to be attending this year,” Anthony said. “I did not know that I would be attending after getting laid off.”
From interning at “Good Morning America” and “106 & Park” to working as a newscast director, digital and social producer, and senior producer at local stations across the country, Anthony built a resume fit for a lengthy career in the industry.
“I’ve sacrificed so much for this goal and invested so much time,” Anthony said. “I did all the things because I was hungry, and I was passionate because it matters.”
But when leadership at New 12 the Bronx, where he worked for four years as a senior producer, sat in a Zoom call with fellow producers, reporters and his news director, his sense of job security was shattered after his entire newsroom was laid off.
“It’s already frustrating as it is because it’s really difficult to find a job right now,” Anthony said. “People are being replaced by AI, budgets are being cut, so they’re eliminating complete staffs. It’s scary.”
For hundreds of journalists in the United States, this year has been more than finding sources and writing headlines. They’re also finding new places of employment.
“I was just trying to survive,” Anthony said. “I was trying to remain an employed journalist in New York City. All I see on LinkedIn is people talk about how they’ve been unemployed for so long, and sure enough, I’m one of the ones.”
This week, journalists like Anthony have traveled to Atlanta for the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention in search of community, education and career stability.
A year after corporate flight and the removal of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the country contributed to the loss of NABJ sponsors during its Cleveland convention, the group’s president said it’s prepared to tackle the issue.
In May, NABJ expanded its members’ support initiative to assist Black journalists impacted by this year’s wave of layoffs.
The organization has connected members to resources to ease the transition through resources on its website including a Career Transition Hub, job seeker directory, layoff recovery webinars and social media amplification efforts.
“NABJ is meeting this moment by responding boldly and pushing back against any suggestion that diversity, equity and inclusion is not an American value, that the First Amendment is optional ‒ we know that it is not ‒ and that there is no American story without Black journalists,” NABJ President Errin Haines said.
Layoffs and mergers
In July, News 12 cut nearly 12% of its standalone operations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Westchester and Connecticut, opting instead for a single regional broadcast system, according to reports. .
“The writings were on the wall,” Anthony said. “I wasn’t too shocked about the layoffs because I noticed they started moving differently.”
Among this year’s NABJ Career Fair vendors, E.W. Scripps also recently laid off 12% of its total workforce, or 268 employees, at local TV stations, according to Scripps Senior Talent Acquisitions Partner J. Bates, as the company embraces AI for producer, assignment desk, director and photographer roles.
At the Career Fair, companies like Nexstar and TEGNA occupy separate booths as Nexstar’s $6.2 billion TEGNA acquisition continues to face legal hurdles in court.
‘Everything is so uncertain’
Even with aid from NABJ, journalists feel the widespread cutbacks from DEI have chilled recruitment.
“Wow, this is it,” a journalist said while entering this year’s Career Fair. “Back in the day it would be larger.”
This year’s career fair has fewer corporate vendors than the organization’s virtual convention in 2021, according to NABJ’s convention website. NABJ declined to comment on sponsorship figures.
“I think issues involving layoffs and cutbacks will continue to be strong points,” NABJ co-founder and former Washington Post columnist Joe Davidson said. “Donald Trump and his attacks on news media will be a continuing issue.” Davidson left the Washington Post in July 2025 in protest “of the new policy that prohibited commentary and opinion in a news column,” particularly regarding Trump.
Despite the unpredictable industry, journalists like Anthony are still working to carve a spot in a newsroom no matter how far from home.
“Everything is so uncertain,” Anthony said. “I just feel like this is the best time for me to experience my first NABJ. I’m just looking forward to meeting new people, making new connections and hopefully finding a job.”
For more on this year’s career fair, check out the latest NABJ monitor podcast:
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