At our inaugural event, Henderson along with Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark announced a major project slated for production in Western New York in the near future surrounding the life of Rick James and his brother LeRoi Johnson called “My Brother’s Keeper”. It will be a 7-part miniseries.

ABOUT THE SERIES:

The Buffalo Association of Black Journalists intends to continue our mission to expand and highlight Black-created and Black-centered media by launching our Black Film Series. This will give members and the public the opportunity to have exclusive-looks at productions, meet and talk with filmmakers and actors, and see diverse work highlighted on the silver screen.

ABOUT THE FILM:

A film about a pandemic in the midst of a pandemic, “G.O.D. (Givers of Death)” is an apocalyptic, urban sci-fi tale of redemption. It is the journey of a man, a detective, and an entire city’s quest for peace. Set in Henderson’s hometown of Buffalo, New York, “G.O.D.” follows characters as they navigate a world where a virus has wiped out a third of the Earth’s population. With no cure in sight and imminent, painful deaths be- falling all victims, those who are too afraid to end their own lives hire hitmen knows as Givers to bring them relief and peace.

“G.O.D.” made its world premiere in August at the 24th annual American Black Film Festival, where it secured the award for Best Screenplay.

View the trailer here.

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER

Addison Henderson is an award-winning director, writer, actor, and founder of Night Owl Republic Films. In 2005, Henderson co-directed the documentary “The Forgotten City,” which chronicled the murder of his best friend in Buffalo. In 2008, he directed “The Experience,” a documentary about identity. The film was shot in Ghana, West Africa, and was distributed on The Africa Channel.

Henderson has since directed and starred in several short films, stage plays, web-se- ries and commercials. He also built a creative partnership with actor Chadwick Bose- man, having worked with him on numerous films, including “21 Bridges,” and the huge- ly successful “Black Panther.”

Henderson wrote, directed and starred in “G.O.D.”

https://www.addisonhenderson.com

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The Buffalo Association of Black Journalists is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to achieving expanded and more balanced media coverage of minorities, as well as increasing minority representation at both the staff and management levels in Western New York newsrooms.

Jhas Williams joins WIVB-TV Channel 4 as a morning traffic anchor starting September 7.

WIVB News Director Lisa Polster also announced meteorologist Jonathan Cubit has been promoted from digital meteorologist to an on-air position. You can now find him on the weekend evening newscasts at Channel 4.

WKBW-TV Channel 7 hired Eric Frazier as an overnight photographer. He comes from CBS2/Fox 28 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa but has spent time in DC, Chicago, Minneapolis, Jonesboro, and Midland, Texas. Frazier also served six years in the U.S. Air Force. He starts on September 14.

WGRZ-TV added sports anchor/reporter Ashley Holder to the roster in July as well as reporter Liz Lewin who previously worked across town at WKBW and spent time in Michigan before returning to Buffalo last year.

Congratulations to all, see the BABJ’s statement applauding increased newsroom diversity here.

Read more about member Nanette Massey’s weekly zoom calls to fight racial inequality HERE on Buffalo Business First.

Our market had no Black news anchors.

The Buffalo Association of Black Journalists shifted our stance from just calling for more diversity to actively taking part in helping our newsrooms better represent our communities.

We were vocal. We were direct.

Leadership in our newsrooms came to the table — agreeing to participate on diversity panels, attending conference calls, going out to conferences for journalists of color, and tapping into our networks to recruit talent.

In less than two years, the diversity of on-air talent in this market has more than doubled. 

We have three Black anchors, and we’ve seen Buffalo’s first ever Black female sports anchor come to the market in this time.

It is important to advocate for equitable coverage. It is just as important to applaud those who have stepped up to answer those calls.

The BABJ would like to thank our partners at Channel 4 (WIVB), Channel 7 (WKBW), Channel 2 (WGRZ), and Spectrum News Buffalo for their continued efforts to hear and address our concerns. We also thank the newsrooms at 930 WBEN-AM, 88.7 WBFO-FM, and The Buffalo News for taking part in these efforts.

Spectrum News Buffalo would like to highlight additional efforts here.

Channel 7 WKBW-TV would like to highlight additional efforts here.

Channel 2 WGRZ-TV would like to highlight additional efforts here.

88.7 WBFO-FM highlights work out of their newsroom here.

Townsquare Media, the parent company of Power 93.7 WBLK, submit a statement to BABJ regarding their efforts, read here.

It is no small task to create inclusive environments. This is hard, necessary work. 

We have more work to do, but it’s important to pause for a moment and say this:

We see you. We thank you. Our community is better for your work.

Sincerely,

The members of the BABJ

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Join the Buffalo Association Of Black Journalists in working with the American Red Cross of Western New York .Donate blood today. #GiveNow See more info at www.RedCross.org/giveblood
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#GIVEBLOOD thread by #BABJ
Karys Belger https://bit.ly/3hB4l9Y
Fadia Patterson TV https://bit.ly/2UT7Ezp

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CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE