Celebrating Excellence: Stephanie Claytor and Tampa Bay Journalists Honored at Griot Drum Awards Ceremony
Tampa Bay Journalists Honored for Excellence in Coverage of Black Communities
By [Your Name]
Date: November 14, 2024
TAMPA, FL — The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists (TBABJ) celebrated the achievements of local journalists at the annual Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Ceremony held on November 13 at Le Méridien Tampa. Among the honorees was Stephanie Claytor, a dedicated writer for the Florida Courier, who took home two prestigious awards for her impactful reporting on the region’s Black communities.
Claytor was recognized for her outstanding work in both Print General News Reporting and Print Feature Reporting. Her award-winning pieces included an in-depth look at Tampa General Hospital’s initiative aimed at increasing kidney transplants among Black patients, as well as a heartfelt feature on local resident Chloe Coney, who reflected on her life’s blessings.
The evening was graced by keynote speaker Kevin Merida, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and the first Black executive editor of the Los Angeles Times. Merida inspired attendees with a powerful message about the importance of journalism. “We have to fight for our profession. Hold it tight and never let it go,” he urged. “To the youth in the room, I say, ‘Don’t have small dreams. We’re in a big dream era.’”
In addition to Claytor, several other journalists were honored for their exceptional work. The 2025 award winners included:
- TV General News Reporting: Linnie Supall, WFLA News Channel 8
- TV Feature Reporting: Virginia Johnson, Spectrum Bay News 9
- TV Investigative Reporting: Emerald Morrow, 10 Tampa Bay News
- Best Overall Photo: Joseph Brown III, WFLA News Channel 8
- Radio General News Reporting: Chris Young, WMNF
- Radio Feature Reporting: Chris Young, WMNF
- Best Podcast: Rooted in Progress, WFLA News Channel 8
- Best Feature Reporting: Ken Cherry, WEDU
The ceremony also honored five trailblazers as griots, a term rooted in West African culture that signifies those who preserve history and culture through storytelling. The honorees included:
- Gwendolyn Henderson (posthumous), Tampa City Councilwoman
- Fred Hearns, Curator of Black History at the Tampa Bay History Center
- Gwendolyn Reese, Peaten Reese Peaton Consulting Inc.
- Former State Senator Arthenia Joyner
- State Senator Darryl Rouson
In addition to recognizing journalistic excellence, TBABJ awarded scholarships to three promising students with ties to the Tampa Bay area: Mikal Morris from Florida A&M University, Jaide Edwards from the University of Tampa, and Jasmine Oliphant from the University of Florida.
“TBABJ is powered by amazing volunteers and a generous community of partners,” said Saundra Weathers, TBABJ president. “Their power is brighter than ever, and we extend our deepest gratitude to the 2025 Griot Drum Awards sponsors: Coke Florida, Tampa Bay Rays, Duke Energy, and others.”
For more information about TBABJ and the Griot Drum Awards, visit TBABJ’s website.
As the evening concluded, the spirit of community and commitment to excellence in journalism resonated throughout the room, reminding all present of the vital role they play in shaping narratives and preserving the rich history of Tampa Bay’s Black communities.