NABJ Cuts Relief Checks to Gulf Region Journos

By: Miki Johnson The National Association of Black Journalists has issued six $500 checks to members affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The money came from NABJ's Katrina Relief Fund, which was established in September to help professional and student journalists in the disaster's aftermath. The checks were awarded to one working journalist and five college students, one from Metaire, La., and the other five from New Orleans.

Recipients, whose names have been kept private, said they are planning to spend the money on basic necessities and items to help them continue work at school and on the job, like a scientific calculator and a suit for job interviews.

Through personal contributions and donations from other journalism associations, NABJ has raised nearly $19,000 in aid for members in the Gulf Coast region. Donations can still be made at www.nabj.org.

The association also has established the NABJ Gulf Coast Fellowship, through which five NABJ members will receive funding up to $2,500 to prepare multi-media pieces for use on the NABJ Web, NABJ Journal and other outlets.