Ken Knight Awards
2023
Ken Knight Awards
2023
ABOUT
What are the Ken Knight Awards?
The celebration of Black History is an opportunity for our community to celebrate our trailblazers, current and future leaders. So often our members of the media are the ones telling those stories. So in 2020 Local Attorney Nwabufo “Obi” Umunna, Esq. created an appreciation event for the members of the African-American Media to honor those members of the media that lift up our stories. We are bringing together journalists as well as representatives from tv, radio, newspapers, and social media influencers under one roof. The award was named after Ken Knight because of his mission in life to uplift African Americans in the Media.
KEN KNIGHT
Who Was Ken Knight?
In 1949 Ken Knight moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he became program director, assistant manager and the first African-American announcer in the South, when all-white radio station WROD-AM 1310 hired him. He is credited with starting a movement in which African Americans asked for more of their music and announcements to be aired. Mr. Knight initiated training programs to prepare other African Americans for careers in broadcasting. He originated the Ken Knight Show which was the first African American television show in Jacksonville. The purpose of the show, according to Mr. Knight "is not only to show the talents of our people in music and other forms of entertainment but, also, present to the viewing public other fields of achievement by Negroes."
Ken Knight was giant to all Americans and we stand on his shoulders. So this year and every year we will present this award to people who you use their platform to advance and uplift Black people.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
SPONSORSHIP
The Ken Knight Awards is the only event of its kind, we are holding an appreciation event for all African-American media in Jacksonville. We will be bringing together journalists and media members from tv, radio, newspapers, and influencers. This event is not just for those in front of the microphone but this event will also honor those behind the scenes as well. During this event, we will be giving our first Ken Knight Award to trailblazers from all walks of African-American Media. Your sponsorship will put you in front of 50 - 100 of the top media tastemakers in Jacksonville as well as help honor a group of people that lift the African American community up.
Would you like to be a sponsor?
Sign up for 2023 sponsorship now!
RSVP
You are cordially invited to the Ken Knight Awards
Join us September 7, 2023 6:30 to 10:00pm at WJCT Building - 100 Festival Park Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202 for an evening honoring local Jacksonville media professionals in the African-American community.
Dress Code: Cocktail attire
This event is open to media professionals and their guests! RSVP is required.
NOMINATE
Nominate someone for a Ken Knight Award
Award nomination guidelines:
Eligibility
Nominees must be active participants of African-American media (including but not limited to journalists, representatives from tv, radio, newspapers, and social media influencers, etc).
Nomination Deadline
All award nominations must be received via the nomiation form on this page from July 19 to August 1, 2023. This deadline is based on Ken Knight Awards Policy. There are no exceptions or extensions.
Renominations
In general, an individual can be renominated for two consecutive years after the initial nomination. Subsequent nominations can be made after a one-year period.
2023 Ken Knight Awards photos are here!