NABJ Thumbs Down Award Recipients Stephen A. Smith, Brendan Carr And Major News Outlets Face Criticism Over Black Women, Press Freedom And Newsroom Diversity
The National Association of Black Journalists celebrated some of the profession’s best work Saturday night in Atlanta but the organization also reserved part of the evening for those it says need to do better.
During the Salute to Excellence Awards ceremony at the 2026 NABJ Convention and Career Fair, the organization presented its “Thumbs Down” award to ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, CBS, The Washington Post and media executive DuJuan McCoy.
NABJ President Errin Haines framed the awards as an exercise in accountability rather than simply public criticism.
“We are here to confront the systems and the people whose choices make your jobs harder,” Haines told attendees. “We are here to defend the truth. And that means telling it even when the truth makes our friends uncomfortable, especially them.”
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She called the recognition “not simply a thumbs down, but a call to do better.”
“The door is open. The conversation is available and the opportunity to change is real,” Haines said. “But NABJ will not be silent. Not in this moment and not on my watch.”
The National Association of Black Journalists advocates for Black journalists and media professionals through training, career development and industry advocacy.
Stephen A. Smith Criticized Over Commentary About Black Women
NABJ’s criticism of Smith centered on what the organization described as a recurring pattern in his commentary involving prominent Black women.
Smith “has established a recurring public pattern of disparaging commentary directed at prominent Black women across politics, sports, and media,” according to remarks delivered during the ceremony.
NABJ said the concern extends beyond any single statement.
“Such commentary reinforces harmful narratives, undermines the fair and respectful representation of Black women in public discourse, and stands in direct conflict with NABJ’s longstanding commitment to accurate, responsible, and inclusive portrayals of Black communities,” the organization said.
Smith has drawn criticism for remarks involving several prominent Black women, including U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former first lady Michelle Obama. Earlier this year, former MSNBC host Joy Reid accused Smith of repeatedly directing harsh commentary toward Black women, arguing that he had built a pattern of publicly criticizing prominent Black women across politics and media.
Smith remains one of ESPN’s most prominent personalities and serves as a featured commentator and executive producer on “First Take.” ESPN renewed his contract in 2025, and he continues to appear prominently across the network’s programming.
NABJ Raises Press Freedom and Newsroom Diversity Concerns
NABJ’s criticism of Carr focused on the use of government regulatory authority and what the organization described as threats to editorial independence.
Since taking leadership of the FCC, Carr has “repeatedly used the agency’s regulatory authority in ways that have raised serious concerns about press freedom and editorial independence,” according to the presentation.
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The organization pointed to scrutiny involving news organizations and Carr’s support for efforts pressuring media and communications companies to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
“Together these actions have contributed to a chilling environment for independent journalism and threatened the diversity of voices essential to serving the public interest,” NABJ said.
CBS and The Washington Post were criticized primarily over newsroom decisions.
NABJ said CBS eliminated its race and culture unit while implementing workforce reductions that disproportionately affected journalists of color. The organization also pointed to concerns surrounding editorial independence and internal newsroom decision-making.
“Taken together, these actions have diminished specialized coverage of underrepresented communities and raised significant concerns about the organization’s commitment to diverse journalism, editorial integrity, and public trust,” NABJ said.
The Washington Post faced similar criticism over newsroom restructuring. According to NABJ, recent reductions disproportionately affected Black journalists and other journalists of color, including reporters covering race, identity, extremism and protest movements.
The cuts also reduced staffing across local, international, opinion and sports coverage, the organization said.
“These decisions diminished newsroom diversity and subject matter expertise at a moment when robust, inclusive journalism is critical to public accountability and democratic understanding,” NABJ said.
DuJuan McCoy Included Over Treatment of Black Journalists
DuJuan McCoy, owner, president and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting, which owns Indianapolis television station WISH-TV, was also named a recipient.
NABJ said McCoy’s leadership “has been the subject of multiple allegations regarding the treatment of Black journalists,” raising concerns about workplace culture, equity and professional accountability.
“These reported practices are inconsistent with the standards of fairness, inclusion, and respect that NABJ has long championed throughout the journalism profession,” the organization said.
The remarks characterized the issues as allegations rather than established findings.
Taken together, the recipients represented several of the concerns confronting Black journalists and the news industry — from representation and workplace equity to newsroom cuts, government influence and editorial independence.
Haines closed the presentation by connecting accountability to the historic role Black journalists have played in confronting powerful institutions.
“There can be no revolution without accountability,” she said. “There can be no accountability without courage. And there can be no Black journalism that is worthy of its history if we are afraid to speak truth to power.”
For NABJ, she said, the Thumbs Down award is ultimately an invitation for those receiving it to change course.
