BALTIMORE—The Final Call was one of several winners at the 2024 National Newspaper Publishers Association Fund Messenger Awards. The awards recognized the best of the Black Press as NNPA marked the 197th anniversary of Black newspapers in the U.S at its annual convention held this year in Baltimore.
The Final Call won third place in the Environment category and received the Wilbert L. Holloway Award for an article, “Forever chemicals contaminate half of country’s tap water,’
Written by Contributing Writer William P. Muhammad and won second place in the Editorial & Opinion category and received the Robert S. Abbott Award for an article written by Staff Writer Sister Dr. Nisa Islam Muhammad for the article, “Who taught you to hate yourself?”
Final Call Managing Editor Starla Muhammad attended the convention which was held June 19-22 and accepted the awards.
“I thank Allah (God) Who Appeared in the Person of Master W. Fard Muhammad; His Exalted Christ, the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad and Their Divine Servant, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, who is our publisher.
The Minister’s wisdom, guidance, fearlessness and faith in the Two Who back him is the driving force of The Final Call,” she said. “I also want to thank the Shura Executive Council of the Nation of Islam for their support,” Sister Starla added.
Sister Starla also thanked Final Call General Manager Abdul Rasul Muhammad, Final Call Editor-in-Chief Naba’a Muhammad and Production Manager Timothy 6X for their dedicated and tireless effort and work.
“All praise is due to Allah. I also would like to sincerely thank the entire Final Call editorial staff, including our staff and contributing writers and production assistants, as well as the F.O.I. and M.G.T., and each and every one of our readers,” she said.
The Messenger Awards, held June 20, were handed out based on specific areas of coverage, Equity (Health, Education, Social & Criminal Justice, and Environment); Perspective (Faith & Religion, Business, Editorial & Opinion, and Original Photography Use); Culture (Entertainment, Sports, Youth & Children, and Fashion and Beauty & Lifestyle);
Creative (Special Edition, Original Advertising Campaign, and Layout & Design); Digital (Website Excellence, Facebook Campaign, Instagram Campaign, and Video Campaign); and Audience (Community Service, Community Engagement, Newspaper Excellence, and Newsletter Excellence).
NNPA is a trade association of the more than 235 Black-owned newspapers from around the United States of which The Final Call is a member.—The Final Call
