/ GRIOT DRUM AWARDS
Griot Drum Awards - Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026
In West Africa, a griot is a member of a group of traveling poets, musicians or storytellers who maintain oral history.
With that in mind, the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists hosts an annual banquet called the Griot Drum Awards that includes a guest speaker, a local media awards competition and the awarding of scholarships to students pursuing journalism.
The awards ceremony has included renowned speakers, such as Jemele Hill, sports journalist, Eric Deggans, former TBABJ president and NPR TV critic, Leonard Pitts, columnist, Jarrett Hill, professor and journalist, Tiffany Greene, ESPN commentator, Kimberly Godwin, former ABC News president and Don Lemon, former CNN News anchor.
About the Griot Drum Professional Media Awards
The submission period for the TBABJ 2026 Griot Drum Awards opens soon.
The contest is open to print, broadcast, and online media professionals of all ethnicities. Journalists submitting entries do not have to be a member of TBABJ, a local chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
Any individual or news organization in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties can enter materials published, broadcast, or presented online between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025.
The deadline to submit entries is 11:59 p.m., Friday, October 2, 2026. All entries must be submitted online. Entries are no longer being accepted.
Award winners will be presented during the program on November 13th.
Steps to Apply
There are just three steps to completing your submission:
1. Please complete the form below for each entry. Be sure to select the category name and number along with the title of your entry. If you have a link to your story or project you may submit it in the field provided on the form. Information on this form will be used to label the winning award.
2. Provide a link to the original source of publication for validation. Work published between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 31, 2025 are eligible. Also provide a link to the work uploaded to file sharing platform like Vimeo, Dropbox or YouTube without the need to login to view.
3. The last step is to pay entry fees. Submissions will not be accepted without payment of associated entry fees.
Entry Categories
TELEVISION
TV-1 General News Reporting (Single Story): Submit a story about a news event or issue impacting the local Black community.
TV-2 Feature Reporting (Single Story): Submit a story about a feature topic. Subjects may include, but are not limited to, personality profiles, sidebars, consumer information, historical perspectives or reviews of cultural events.
TV-3 Investigative Reporting: Submit a story for excellence in a single report focused on a problem in the community requiring research and investigative journalism
P-1 General News Reporting: Submit a story about a news event or issue.
P-2 Feature Reporting: Any news feature, profile, review or analytical piece on a specific topic or issue, including arts and entertainment.
P-3 Investigative Reporting: For excellence in a single report focused on a problem in the community requiring research and investigative journalism
RADIO
R-1 General News Reporting (Single Story): Submit a story or series about a news event or issue.
R-2 Feature Reporting: Submit a story or series about a feature topic. Subjects may include, but are not limited to, personality profiles, sidebars, consumer information, historical perspectives or reviews of cultural events.
PHOTOGRAPHY
PH-1 Best Overall Photo: Any news or feature photo, either with a story or stand-alone image.
PH-2 Best Overall Video: Any news, feature or Nat Sound package that best covers the Black community.
DIGITAL/ONLINE ONLY
MM-1 Best Online Story (Single Story): Any online only series, story or blog that features a significant amount of material relating to issues concerning people of color. The entry will be judged on information, quality, immediacy, style and impact.
MM-2 Best digital video (Single Story): Any online only video that features a significant amount of material relating to issues concerning the local Black community. The entry will be judged on information, quality, immediacy, style and impact.
MM-3 Best Podcast (Single Story): Commentary and discussion on any topic relating to the local Black community.
SPORTS
SN-1 Best Sports Coverage (Single Story)
HEALTH
HN-1 Best Health Reporting (Single Story)
