{"id":3446,"date":"2026-08-14T07:57:11","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T12:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nabjmonitor.com\/2026\/?p=3446"},"modified":"2026-08-14T07:57:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T12:57:13","slug":"meet-the-candidates-for-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nabjmonitor.com\/2026\/meet-the-candidates-for-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\"Eva<\/a>
Eva D. Coleman- VP of of Print Candidate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Aaron day- Region IV director candidate <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Shanita Akintonde- Media-related representative candidate <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Latonya Yarbro- Parliamentarian candidate <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Letrell Crittenden- Academic Representative candidate <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Vance Lang- Treasurer candidate <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lisa Armstrong- academic representative <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Tyler Clifford- Treasurer candidate <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

By Janelle Sears<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Association of Black Journalists is holding its 2026 election for six positions on the Board of Directors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voting for eligible members opened July 20, and polls close today at 5 p.m. Results will be announced shortly afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vice President of Print<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eva D. Coleman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lifestyle & culture editor <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Messenger Media LLC <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Communications and web director <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aubrey Independent School District. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe printed word is the basis for all we do. I\u2019ve been laser-focused on print membership, keeping the momentum of accountability going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parliamentarian<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latonya Yarbro<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Latonya Yarbro <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Executive producer <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WFAA <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Board member <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NABJ St. Louis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yarbro is running with three platform points: protect our mission, strengthen engagement and trust and transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academic Representative<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisa Armstrong<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor <\/p>\n\n\n\n

UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Independent journalist covering immigration detention and deportations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letrell Crittenden, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Director<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Center for Community-Engaged Media <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temple University Klein College of Media and Communication<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crittenden\u2019s platform features several plans to broaden the organization\u2019s support for academic members, including developing a national conference for NABJ academics and providing funding assistance to members for research and teaching projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know NABJ\u2019s history. And I will have and will fight for the academics and journalists alike as our industry faces an uncertain future.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treasurer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler Clifford<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking news editor <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bloomberg News <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Running on trust, transparency and tenacity, Clifford promises timely updates on NABJ financial reports, to establish a fundraising committee and to diversify NABJ\u2019s revenue streams. He serves on the finance committee and is past finance chair of the Young Black Journalists Task Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m committed to making NABJ\u2019s finances clear and accessible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vance Lang<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technical director <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CBS News <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Production manager <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CBS Sunday Evening News. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am not seeking a platform. I am a reliable professional offering a dedicated service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Region IV Director<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aaron Day<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

News producer <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good Day LA <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instructor <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cal State University Long Beach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s Black Male Media Project and was previously in leadership for Seattle, San Diego and Los Angeles ABJ chapters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have spent my entire career in Region IV,\u201d Day said. \u201cI want to continue giving back to a region that has given so much to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media-Related Representative<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shanita Akintonde<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founder and president <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ShanitaSpeaks LLC <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the past national chair for the Public Relations Society of America, Akintonde is running on a platform, \u201cAdvancing Our Stories,\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI represent a generation of media professionals who move fluidly across platforms, honoring the traditions of journalism while expanding its future.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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