Unapologetic new leadership for NABJ, ready to shake up stale agendas, drive us forward and put power back into members’ hands
I’m running for president because we can no longer settle for the status quo. NABJ stands at a crossroads, and our members and communities can’t afford to continue with business as usual. We need bold leadership that challenges complacency and advocates for our members who are undervalued and marginalized. As we mark 50 years, I see an opportunity to reimagine what NABJ can accomplish — expanding our influence, demanding respect for Black journalists and setting a new standard for excellence. I’m ready to lead NABJ into its next era with vision, integrity and real accountability.
The NABJ convention is a critical space for professional development, networking, and celebration of Black journalism. However, in recent years, many members have…
Our most talented members are walking away. They’re taking their skills, their energy, and their ideas elsewhere. I want to change that.
Over nearly two decades in journalism, I’ve reported from newsrooms large and small—from legacy Black newspapers, like the Atlanta Daily World and L.A. Wave, to the world’s leading financial publications, like The Wall Street Journal, Reuters and Yahoo Finance. I’ve led teams, launched new platforms and helped bring Black stories to the global stage. I know firsthand the challenges Black journalists face, because I’ve lived them—and I’ve mentored, hired and championed the next generation at every step.
A Bold Vision for NABJ: 5 Keys to Lead, Lift, and Unify
You’ve seen my five-point plan. Let me show you how we get there.
As a veteran business journalist, I’ve spent my career analyzing balance sheets, breaking down billion-dollar deals and holding powerful institutions accountable. I know what it takes to grow an organization—and I know when one is leaving money and opportunity on the table.
NABJ is sitting on more than $8 million in assets and is holding $2.4 million in cash, based on its latest tax filings. That’s not just financial stability—that’s potential. But instead of activating that strength to uplift our members, drive innovation, and expand our impact, we’ve watched leadership let that money sit idle, or worse, misallocate it on projects that do little to serve our mission.
That stops in 2025.
We can implement a strategic, targeted investment plan that will elevate NABJ in every way—from our local chapters and annual convention to our national influence and member services. We are not going to make vague promises. We have 10 clear, practical steps rooted in business, finance and leadership—steps that will strengthen this organization for years to come.
Here’s how we get it done.
I know your time is valuable, and I appreciate you giving it to this campaign. These FAQs are here to give you clear, honest answers about how my plans and priorities as president will directly benefit you as a member of NABJ.
Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned pro, this section is about making sure you understand not just what I’m proposing—but how it will work for you.
Let’s get into it.
Under the current administration, advocacy efforts have largely consisted of letters, emails and friendly meetings with executives at companies accused of mistreating NABJ members.
As president, I will implement a far more aggressive approach. We will establish a rapid-response team with NABJ’s legally trained members and external counsel to provide pro bono legal support and representation for mistreated members. This team will also organize targeted actions, including protests and digital campaigns, against companies with a history of mistreating our members. We’ll partner with civil rights groups and labor unions to hold bad actors accountable and demand real change, moving beyond the polite conversations of the past.
NABJ Ventures is an investment vehicle that will allocate $25,000 to local chapters and task forces to seed recurring events that each generate at least $50,000 in profit. This initiative, led by key executives in collaboration with the Executive Director, will create regional events that diversify NABJ’s revenue, strengthen local chapters and increase membership engagement. Our newly hired Chief Technology Officer will ensure the events are digitally optimized for maximum reach, while the incoming Development Director and Director of Philanthropic Partnerships will assist in securing necessary funding and sponsorships.
By purchasing larger hotel room blocks, we can negotiate better rates and prevent early sell-outs, ensuring that more members can access affordable accommodations. We will also subsidize convention registration for emerging journalists and scholarship recipients, making convention attendance more accessible. These efforts will attract more sponsors, increase membership and ultimately offset the cost of the subsidies.
NABJ has relied on volunteers and a small staff to manage a large, growing organization. It’s time to bring in experienced professionals to manage operations, fundraising and large-scale events. New hires like a Chief Technology Officer, Development Director and Chief Financial Officer will work collaboratively to build and refine NABJ’s infrastructure, drive new revenue streams and increase the impact and resources available for our members.
These professionals will complement our existing staff and volunteer committees, working alongside them to alleviate workloads and drive NABJ’s growth.
Our new leadership team will revamp convention programming by securing new sponsors, partners and advertisers. They will drive the creation of innovative and future-focused panels and secure sponsors for member-suggested panels, workshops and networking opportunities. All of these efforts will be aimed at providing members with new career development pathways. With expertise in event management, sponsorship and revenue generation, this team will elevate the convention experience to new heights in every way.
The current website doesn’t serve the needs of our members. A revamped site will become a dynamic career hub with job boards, networking tools and exclusive resources. It will also generate new revenue opportunities through advertising and virtual events, while serving as a platform for members to showcase their work and connect with potential sponsors.
NABJ’s current investment strategy has underperformed badly. From 2019-2023, while the stock market averaged a 17.4% return, NABJ’s investments grew by less than 1.4%. Based on the investments detailed in NABJ’s tax filings, the organization missed out on over $5.3 million in potential returns during this five-year period.
I will shift our investment strategy to low-cost index funds, which would have significantly outperformed our current approach. Additionally, I will move millions in cash currently earning no interest into high-yield accounts, generating up to $150,000 in the first year alone.
These new revenue streams will allow for the creation of new programs, support and improve current offerings and help NABJ grow to become a more powerful, more responsive and better organization.
A business line of credit is a flexible funding tool that allows NABJ to access a predetermined amount of money, as needed. It gives NABJ the right, but not the obligation to borrow capital. Unlike traditional loans, NABJ would only pay interest on the amount used.
Securing a business line of credit will provide NABJ with financial flexibility to respond to short-term needs, support growth initiatives and strengthen reserves—without dipping into our existing assets.
NABJ is in a solid financial position, with over $8 million in assets, according to NABJ’s latest tax filing. However, around $2.5 million is sitting idle in a non-interest-bearing account.
My plan includes revising our investment strategy to focus on index funds, which would generate 15 times higher returns than the current strategy, and redirecting idle cash into high-yield accounts.
By investing in our executive team and programs like NABJ Ventures, we will open new revenue streams, ensuring long-term financial sustainability and future growth.
Our new leadership team, including a Chief Technology Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Philanthropic Partnerships, will bring fresh expertise to fund growth and expand our impact.
Importantly, these people will not replace our existing staff or volunteer committees. These hires will help us build NABJ’s infrastructure to support long-term financial success and greater member value.
They will help the organization grow and improve, not take anyone’s job.
We will strengthen our ties with affinity organizations like NAHJ, AAJA, NLGJA, IJA, the Black press and HBCUs by creating new revenue-generating events and convention opportunities. We will also direct NABJ’s new executives to focus their efforts on forging new relationships with tech companies, nonprofits and other journalism organizations and deepening our current relationships. We will form ad hoc committees to find innovative ways to work with other journalism affinity organizations.
Our executives will be seeking large, multi-year commitments from well-funded tech companies and philanthropic organizations that align with NABJ’s mission to help and protect Black journalists across the board.
I fell in love with NABJ at 22 years old, when the student projects gave me my first shot at being a real journalist. That opportunity—and the connections I made at that conference almost 20 years ago—changed my life and launched my career.
Since then, I’ve become a leading financial journalist, building new platforms at the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Yahoo Finance, and more. I’ve worked in South America, reporting in Spanish and Portuguese, and in places like Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York. Every step of the way, NABJ opened doors for me.
But today, too many talented members are burning out or walking away. NABJ is losing its edge—and we can’t afford to let that happen.
I’m running for president because I know what this organization can be. I’ve built my career by challenging the status quo and delivering results, even when others told me to wait my turn.
It’s time for bold, fresh leadership. Let’s make NABJ work for everyone—students, freelancers, veterans, and everyone in between.
Join me. Let’s lead, lift, and unify NABJ—together.
Dion Rabouin
Candidate for NABJ President
