Rufus N. Rhodes Leadership in Media Award

The Rufus N. Rhodes Leadership in Media Award was a set of annual awards given by the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce to media leaders, journalists, or organizations who have made a significant, positive impact on the Birmingham area's economic development or public image. The award was named for Rufus Rhodes, founder of The Birmingham News and chairman of the Chamber in 1895. The awards were presented at the Chamber's annual Media Night event.

The awards were created in 2005 and first awarded on September 28, 2006. Nominations were allowed from any media outlet or the general public, although media outlets were limited to one nomination per category. The three categories were posthumous, individual, and news/media organization. They were awarded for "impact and outcomes, as opposed to journalistic talent."¹ Judging was done by a panel of community leaders and academic communications professionals.

Winners

2006

The 2006 winners were announced September 28:

• Kelli Hewett Taylor, writer for The Birmingham News, individual category
• Roy Williams, writer for The Birmingham News, individual category
• WBRC 6, news organization category
• Ron Casey, editorial writer for The Birmingham News, posthumous category
• Jimmy Mills, editor of Birmingham Post-Herald, posthumous category

2007

The 2007 winners were announced October 2:

• Jeh Jeh Pruitt, host of "Good Day Alabama" on Fox 6 (WBRC), individual category
• Birmingham Association of Black Journalists, news organization category
• Duard Le Grand, former managing editor of the Birmingham Post-Herald, posthumous category

2008

The 2008 winners were announced September 8:

• Rahkia Nance and Robert K. Gordon, metro reporters at The Birmingham News, individual category
• ABC 33/40 (WCFT/WJSU), news organization category
• Ingrid Kindred, reporter at The Birmingham News, posthumous category (tie)
• Raymond Hurlbert, leader in national public broadcasting, posthumous category (tie)

References

1. "Rufus N. Rhodes Leadership in Media Award." (May 25, 2006.) Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce.

• "Annual Media Night and the Rufus N. Rhodes Leadership in Media Award" (September 8, 2006). Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. Accessed October 10, 2006.
• Garrison, Greg (September 29, 2006) "Rhodes award winners named." Birmingham News.
• "Annual Media Night and the Rufus N. Rhodes Leadership in Media Award." (September 10, 2007). Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. Accessed September 18, 2007.
• "Chamber announces media award winners" (October 3, 2007). Birmingham News.
• "Annual Media Night and the Rufus N. Rhodes Leadership in Media Award." (November 10, 2008). Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce. Accessed December 4, 2008.