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NABJ's finances looking upMarcus Braziel NABJ Convention Online Staff The NABJ is back in the black. During the NABJ business meeting Friday, NABJ President Condace Pressely said that since the end of 2001, the organization has experienced a significant turnaround from its earlier financial difficulties. She said the NABJ Board was responsible for the financial recovery. NABJ ended fiscal year 2002 generating $1.74 million in operating revenue. In the same year, NABJ reported $1.57 million in operating expenditures. Although the organization had projected $30,000 for year-end excess revenue, it actually ended up with excess revenue of $170,000. The NABJ board elected in 2001 inherited an operating deficit in excess of $400,000. “I commend the board for bringing us to financial stability because we were in trouble for a while,” said Deborah Simmons, deputy editorial page editor for the Washington Times. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the war on terror that followed contributed to an economic turndown that is affecting the organization, said Tangie Newborn, NABJ executive director. She said corporations and foundations had cut back on giving to non-profits such as NABJ. However, NABJ has managed to raise more than $500,000 in new money over the past two years for convention and other year-round programming, she said. Newborn said NABJ was able to remain financially stable by building a "knowledge-based" governance structure. Under this structure, the board engaged in leadership, financial, communication, governance and developmental training. In addition, the board revamped member programs and services, reorganized the national office staff structure to meet the current needs of the members, and produced a successful convention in Milwaukee. John Yearwood, national/international editor at the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, said the leadership of the NABJ was to be commended for righting the financial picture of the organization. “There should be a plan for going forward that not only maintains the organization’s fiscal responsibilities but, one that uses its resources for the betterment of the members and black journalists of color,” Yearwood said. In planning for the future, Newborn said, “The time is now. The day is today. … NABJ needs to build on our strength, work together and invest in the future of the organization with a renewed sense of energy and a sharper sense of purpose and direction.” Newborn said the NABJ plans to develop a new three-year strategic plan within the next three months. Because the environment is changing, this plan will actually have a five-year range. Its focus will be membership-development programs and building a solid financial base that isn’t dependent on the annual convention funding, which comes from foundations and corporations. Simmons said, “I am troubled that members aren’t given annual numbers for us to re-assure that we are indeed doing much better this year than in the late 1990s. In addition we weren’t given annual numbers on our membership so we can see where our strength is.” |
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