From West Virginia to NABJ: BBG Connects With Black Journalists in Atlanta

By Traci Philips

There’s something about being in a room full of Black journalists.

Last week in Atlanta, reporters, anchors, producers, photographers, writers, students and media veterans from across the country filled the halls of the Marriott Marquis for the 2026 National Association of Black Journalists convention.

I was there representing Black By God: The West Virginian — and, as the state’s only Black media outlet, making sure West Virginia was represented, too.

My days were packed with workshops, luncheons, the career fair and plenty of conversations in between. I met people whose work I’ve watched for years, caught up with familiar faces and introduced BBG to people who had never heard about the work happening in our corner of Appalachia.

One of my favorite connections happened by accident. I met Caitlin Leggett for the first time and, while talking, discovered she had contributed reporting to BBG. Leggett reported on women incarcerated at the federal prison complex at Hazelton who spoke out about alleged abuse and mistreatment. BBG recently revisited that reporting when Cardi B brought national attention to concerns about her friend’s treatment at the West Virginia facility.

Hundreds of miles from home, there was another BBG connection standing right in front of me. I also caught up with Angela Dodson after her panel discussion. The veteran journalist, editor and author has ties to West Virginia through Marshall University.

Of course, I couldn’t walk through NABJ surrounded by Black journalists from around the country without asking: What do you know about West Virginia?

ABC News’ Rachel Scott and Linsey Davis, journalist and author Omar Tyree, Felicia Michelle of FOX Seattle, retired Denver Post journalist and an NABJ founder Sandra Dillard, Deanna K. of NBC in Tampa, Erin from the sports world in San Francisco and Damien Harris of CBS Sports were among those willing to give it a shot.

Some went straight to sports. Others knew pieces of our history. A few answers had me laughing. Those moments became the NABJ edition of BBG’s “What You Know About WV?” series. 

But I came home with more than video and business cards.BBG plans to begin exploring the possibility of starting a West Virginia chapter of NABJ — creating a space for Black journalists, media professionals and students here at home to connect with each other and the national organization.

If that sounds like something you’d like to be part of, BBG wants to hear from you.

After Atlanta, one thing became clear: West Virginia may be a small part of the national media landscape, but we deserve to be part of the conversation.