By Janelle Sears
The National Association of Black Journalists is holding its 2026 election for six positions on the Board of Directors.
Voting for eligible members opened July 20, and polls close today at 5 p.m. Results will be announced shortly afterward.
Vice President of Print
Eva D. Coleman
Lifestyle & culture editor
I Messenger Media LLC
Communications and web director
Aubrey Independent School District.
Running unopposed for vice president of print, Coleman promises to strengthen ties and opportunities for all writers. She is a former Region III director and is running for a second term as vice president of print.
“The printed word is the basis for all we do. I’ve been laser-focused on print membership, keeping the momentum of accountability going.”
Parliamentarian
Latonya Yarbro
Latonya Yarbro
Executive producer
WFAA
Board member
NABJ St. Louis.
Yarbro is running with three platform points: protect our mission, strengthen engagement and trust and transparency.
“I will advocate for transparency, accessibility and member-focused initiatives, while helping ensure NABJ remains positioned to serve and advance Black journalists for years to come.”
Academic Representative
Lisa Armstrong
Professor
UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
Independent journalist covering immigration detention and deportations.
Running for re-election, Armstrong maintains that in her time on the board, she has not only worked on behalf of the academic members of NABJ but all members.
This work includes ensuring NABJ academic members can vote for all NABJ board positions, upholding the constitution, advocating for Black journalism professors under attack alongside the Academic Task Force co-chairs, and representing NABJ on a coalition that makes sure public and philanthropic journalism funding reaches outlets run by people of color.
Letrell Crittenden, Ph.D.
Director
Center for Community-Engaged Media
Temple University Klein College of Media and Communication
Crittenden’s platform features several plans to broaden the organization’s support for academic members, including developing a national conference for NABJ academics and providing funding assistance to members for research and teaching projects.
“I know NABJ’s history. And I will have and will fight for the academics and journalists alike as our industry faces an uncertain future.”
Treasurer
Tyler Clifford
Breaking news editor
Bloomberg News
Running on trust, transparency and tenacity, Clifford promises timely updates on NABJ financial reports, to establish a fundraising committee and to diversify NABJ’s revenue streams. He serves on the finance committee and is past finance chair of the Young Black Journalists Task Force.
“I’m committed to making NABJ’s finances clear and accessible.”
Vance Lang
Technical director
CBS News
Production manager
CBS Sunday Evening News.
Lang maintains that his persistence is an indicator of his capacity to fulfill the role and prepare journalists for the next 50 years of the organization. As former president of the New York NABJ chapter, he spearheaded the promotion of digital equity and the uplifting of underrepresented voices.
“I am not seeking a platform. I am a reliable professional offering a dedicated service.”
Region IV Director
Aaron Day
News producer
Good Day LA
Instructor
Cal State University Long Beach.
As Region IV director for the last two years, Day has grown the region by three student chapters, with plans to add a new professional chapter. The first regional conference was held in April in Sacramento, California, the first in over a decade. He was chair of NABJ’s Black Male Media Project and was previously in leadership for Seattle, San Diego and Los Angeles ABJ chapters.
“I have spent my entire career in Region IV,” Day said. “I want to continue giving back to a region that has given so much to me.”
Media-Related Representative
Shanita Akintonde
Founder and president
ShanitaSpeaks LLC
As the past national chair for the Public Relations Society of America, Akintonde is running on a platform, “Advancing Our Stories,” through which she promises to elevate voices, build connections and create opportunities through media, innovation and connection. Her company, ShanitaSpeaks LLC, helps individuals and organizations tell better stories across media channels.
“I represent a generation of media professionals who move fluidly across platforms, honoring the traditions of journalism while expanding its future.”
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