The New York Association of Black Journalists paid tribute to the late Gil Noble on May 15 during their 24th annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet at the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center.
The event honored the legacy of the veteran television journalist and long-time host of WABC-TV New York’s public affairs program “Like It Is” who passed away last month at the age of 80.
Noble, a four-time Emmy Award winner was born in Harlem and joined WABC-TV in 1967 as a reporter and later became an anchor of the station’s weekend newscasts.
Former diversity advocate Robert Naylor was also recognized with a lifetime achievement honor.
“From News 12 Westchester’s coverage of the Danroy Henry killing to CNN’s coverage of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. monument dedication to recording artist Beyonce Knowles’ Essence magazine article about how a nine-month break changed her life, we congratulate everyone,” said NYABJ President Michael J. Feeney.
“Robert Naylor, who spent more than 30 years as a reporter, editor, and news executive for newspapers, television stations-and most recently The Associated Press-is the recipient of the 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award for his tireless efforts as a diversity advocate to helping other minorities break into the news industry,” said Feeney.
Naylor spent most of his career at the Associated Press where he became the second Black bureau chief and later chair of the AP Diversity Council.
Naylor is a long-time member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, and a founding member of the LGBT Task Force.
He is also member of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, and has been a member of the Asian, Hispanic, and Native American journalist associations, as well as the National Association of Multicultural Media Executives and the Media Diversity Networking Group.
The work of more than 40 journalists was also recognized.
The event, hosted by WNBC’s Pat Battle and Black Enterprise Magazine’s Shannon Lanier, benefits the NYABJ’s college scholarship fund.
