NBC Nightly News Anchor Lester Holt Named 2016 NABJ Journalist of the Year

/EINPresswire.com/ -- WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - April 20, 2016) - Lester Holt, anchor of 'NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt,' has been selected as the 2016 Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

The annual award recognizes a black journalist who has distinguished himself or herself with a body of work that has extraordinary depth, scope and significance to people in the African Diaspora.

"Lester Holt is a dynamic broadcaster who is diligent in his pursuit of the facts and demonstrates a stellar work ethic that shows up in his reporting, which also provides context and superior coverage for television and digital audiences," NABJ President Sarah Glover said. "His quiet confidence and low-key demeanor have garnered trust and admiration from both the viewers who watch him every night and from journalists across the country."

Holt was named the permanent anchor of NBC Nightly News in June 2015. The promotion made him the first black solo anchor at a flagship newscast of a major American television network. Since assuming the role, he has helped NBC Nightly News maintain its ranking as the most-watched evening news program. He also continues as the anchor of "Dateline NBC," the network's signature newsmagazine and longest-running show in primetime.

As anchor, Holt has traveled across the world anchoring and reporting. He anchored from Paris following the Charlie Hebdo massacre on January 7, 2015, that killed 12 and was on site after a series of terrorist attacks on November 13, 2015, that killed 135. Following the attacks in France, he conducted an exclusive interview with one of the commanders of the SWAT team that took down the terrorists inside Paris' Bataclan Theater.

Last spring, Holt traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, to give viewers a close look at the protests sparked by the death of Freddie Gray on April 12, 2015. He was in New Orleans as the country commemorated the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. He reported for "The Today Show" and anchored nightly from Havana as President Barack Obama made his historic trip to Cuba. He has also led NBC's political coverage by interviewing candidates, leading Super Tuesday primary coverage and moderating the NBC News and YouTube Democratic debate.

Holt will be recognized at the association's Annual Convention and Career Fair, Aug. 3-7, in Washington, D.C. The NABJ Special Honors recognize the best journalism that addressed issues affecting the black community in 2015.

NABJ congratulates Lester Holt on this well-deserved honor.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization for journalists of color in the nation, and provides career development as well as educational and other support to its members worldwide. For additional information, please visit www.nabj.org.

CONTACT:
Aprill O. Turner
(202) 649-0719
aturner@nabj.org