One of the 2022 inductees for the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Hall of Fame included the publisher/editor of Dallas, Texas-based I Messenger Media: Cheryl Smith. This latest honor was presented at the August 2022 NABJ Annual Convention in Las Vegas, where her numerous awards, years of service to the industry and contributions to black journalism were recognized.
Smith has more than 35 years of experience in the news publishing industry. She is the current executive director and publisher of I Messenger Media News Group, the owners of Texas Metro News, Garland Journal and I Messenger newspapers. She is also the region IV president for the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a board member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the immediate past president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Journalists (DFW/ABJ).
Smith was also recognized in the September issue of E&P Magazine within the 2022 “Class of 25 over 50,” a yearly group of news executives chosen based on an industry-wide nomination process. Her name was submitted by Eva D. Colman, NABJ region III director of the NABJ, where she cited that "Cheryl has dedicated her entire career to the betterment of our industry, those who serve in it, want to become a part of it and consume all that we bring to it." Colman said, "Watching Cheryl tirelessly pursue diversity and fairness at all costs has been inspirational to myself and others, not only in Dallas-Fort Worth, however globally as well. Leaders throughout the African diaspora seek her guidance in messaging, advocacy, human rights initiatives and so much more.”
In this 154th episode of "E&P Reports," we go one-on-one with Cheryl Smith, owner/ publisher of I Messenger Media News Group & 2022 inductee in the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) Hall of Fame, where we discuss her career not only as a successful news publishing executive, but also her views on the industry as a whole, where it is heading, and how we can achieve more diversity, equity and inclusion to better represent the communities we serve.
