Introducing the 2025 NJ Ethnic and Community Media Awards nominees
The Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University is delighted to announce the nominees for the 2025 New Jersey Ethnic and Community Media Celebration & Awards.
The awards are meant to recognize the excellence and invaluable contributions of the more than 145 ethnic and community news outlets in the Garden State, reporting in nearly 20 languages.
While ethnic and community media is seldom recognized by mainstream awards, they are the most trusted source of news and information for immigrants and people of color in New Jersey. These multilingual, multicultural, and multimedia news outlets cover issues that matter to their diverse readership and often challenge cultural stereotypes, providing more auspicious and diverse portrayals of community members.
“In my three-decade journalism career, this is the first time I have received such [esteemed] recognition. I am truly honored,” said Maria del Carmen Amado, one of this year’s finalists and editor of New Jersey Hispano.
The winners in three categories — Ethnic & Community Media Lifetime Award, Ethnic & Community Media Champion Award, and Ethnic & Community Media Leadership Award — will be revealed during the luncheon event at The College of New Jersey, in Ewing, NJ, on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT.
The luncheon is open to the public and free to attend. Click here to register. All New Jersey journalists, communication and public relations professionals, and elected officials are especially encouraged to attend.
The categories and nominees are:
Ethnic & Community Media Lifetime Award
The Ethnic & Community Media Lifetime Award honors an outstanding ethnic and community news outlet that has significantly contributed to its community and played a pivotal role in advancing community engagement and development over many years.
Ethnic & Community Media Champion Award
The Ethnic & Community Media Champion Award recognizes an ethnic and community news outlet or organization that demonstrates values and commitment to informing, educating, and building community through local journalism.
- Front Runner New Jersey
- Bangla Patrika
- New Jersey Hispano
- NJ/NY Filipino American Press Club
- Atlantic City Focus
- The Korea Daily NJ
Ethnic & Community Media Leadership Award
The Ethnic & Community Media Leadership Award recognizes an individual local journalist, publisher or media executive who elevates the voices of people in communities, using their platforms to advance under-served, under-resourced, and under-heard communities.
- Penda Howell, NJ Urban News
- Raymond Tyler, WTTH 96.1 FM
- Kleibeel Marcano, Reporte Hispano
- Orhan Akkurt, Zaman Amerika
- Kenny Miles, The Trenton Journal
Congrats to all the nominees!
New Jersey ethnic and community media outlets are print, online, digital, and broadcast news platforms that cater to audiences defined by race, ethnic origin, religion or faith, ethnic origin, and gender identity.
Unknown to many, New Jersey is home to some of the oldest and longest-running ethnic and community news outlets in the country, some of which have been continuously publishing for more than 100 years.
👋 Join us at the awards ceremony!
RSVP HERE. Tickets are free of charge. Those who have registered, but can no longer attend on February 6, please let us know by emailing the Center directly at info@centerforcooperativemedia.org.
Oni Advincula is the ethnic media coordinator at the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. Contact him at advinculaa@montclair.edu.
About the Center for Cooperative Media: The Center is a grant-funded program of the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University. Its mission is to grow and strengthen local journalism, and in doing so serve New Jersey residents. The Center is supported with funding from Montclair State University, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Democracy Fund, the New Jersey Local News Lab (a partnership of the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Democracy Fund, and Community Foundation of New Jersey), and the Abrams Foundation. For more information, visit centerforcooperativemedia.org.
