The Next America: Remarks by Bobbi Bowman, 2009 Ida B. Wells recipient

• By: ASNE staff
• On: 08/10/2009 16:09:00
• In: Diversity

Former ASNE Diversity Director Bobbi Bowman received the 2009 Ida B. Wells award at the NABJ convention in Tampa, Fla., during the Salute to Excellence dinner Saturday night.

Below is her acceptance speech.

Thank you very, very, very much for this greatest of honors. This is the only journalism award I've ever wanted to win. To the boards of NABJ and NCEW, thank you very much.

No one wins a cherished award like this alone. There are many people to thank.

In the next few minutes I want to thank special people and talk about the best story of our lives.

Bobbi Bowman with Ida B. Wells award, Scott Bosley (l), Wanda Lloyd, 1993 recipient (r).

Let me start by thanking my great boss — Scott Bosley. Scott is always wise, patient, supportive and a calming influence.

Ten outstanding editors have headed ASNE's Diversity Committee. They have given me great ideas, support and commitment. They are Wanda Lloyd, Milton Coleman, Sharon Rosenhause, Carolina Garcia, Charlotte Hall, David Yarnold, Greg Moore, Phil Currie, Pam Fine and Caesar Andrews.

Mary Kay Blake, of the Freedom Forum, and Phil Currie, formerly of Gannett, taught me how to advocate passionately without making folks mad.

Milton Coleman, Greg Moore, Gilbert Bailon, Wanda Lloyd and Caesar Andrews have all been long-time friends, mentors and fellow agitators.

Arlene Morgan and Sig Gissler of Columbia University and Keith Woods of the Poynter Institute  taught me and many others that writing about race and ethnicity equals great journalism.

Dori Maynard of the Maynard Institute and the Poynter Institute let me write columns for journalists to help them cover this historic story.

Lastly let me thank NABJ.  As a young reporter and editor this is the place where I came every year to remember that I was not the one in the newsroom who was crazy!

I became a journalist to change the world. I'm a child of the '60s. I believe we can change the world.

Now we stand on the brink of the Next America.

The theme of the 21st century will be written in the 2010 Census. That Census will make clear to everyone that the United States of America will become a minority majority nation in about 30 years. When you look at a white baby in the U.S. You are looking at America's new minority.

I challenge you to get a piece of this story. This is the best story of our lives.

Whether you cover sports, fashion, food or politics, you  will be reporting on the incredible implications of the country's rapidly changing population for the rest of your career.

To cover that story let me leave you with three important tips:

First, learn Spanish. Milton Coleman and I both speak Spanish so you know it's easy. Immigrants have amazing stories to tell. But they can only tell them in their own language.

Second, the Census is not about numbers. It is about power and money. The numbers tell you who gets the power and who gets the money.

Last, read the life story of Ida B. Wells and be inspired by her courage.

We are living through a revolution in our business with change coming every day. We need you to hang in there. Do the great stories. Become the boss.

Ida B. Wells and I know you can change the world.