Finalists named for 2008 Griot Drum Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


Contact: Eric Deggans, TBABJ President, (727) 893-8521 (w); (727) 642-8907 (cell)

The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists is pleased to announce finalists for its fourth annual Griot Drum Awards.

Winners and categories will be named at the awards banquet Thursday, Nov. 20, 2008 at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, 801 Third St. South, St. Petersburg.

An opening cocktail reception starts at 6 p.m.; the banquet will begin at 7:30 p.m.Tickets for the event are priced at $30 each for association members and $35 each for non-members. Media organizations or individuals can purchase a ten-seat table for $300.



Our keynote speaker will be Mark McEwen, former anchor of CBS This Morning, and our host will be WFTS-Ch. 28 morning anchor Deiah Riley. Contact chapter president Eric Deggans for more information or to order tickets.



The finalist list:


Matt McGlashen, WFTS-Ch. 28, five categories.


Dennis Hollingsworth, WTSP-Ch. 10, one category.


Susan Casper, WFTS-Ch. 28, one category.


Ginny Diaz, WFTS-Ch. 28, one category.


Jackie Callaway, WFTS-Ch. 28, one category.


Brendan McLaughlin, WFTS-Ch. 28, two categories.


Spencer Briggs, WEDU-Ch. 3, one category.


Tom Lake, St. Petersburg Times, two categories.


Jamal Thalji, St. Petersburg Times, two categories.


Molly Moorhead, St. Petersburg Times, two categories.


Julie Kumari Drapkin, St. Petersburg Times, two categories.


Stephanie Garry, St. Petersburg Times, one category.


Demorris Lee, St. Petersburg Times, one category.


Rodney Thrash, St. Petersburg Times, one category.


Carrie Pratt, St. Petersburg Times, three categories.


Lara Cerri, St. Petersburg Times, three categories.


Sarah Hoye, Tampa Tribune, three categories.


Michelle Bearden, Tampa Tribune, one category.


Anwar Richardson, Tampa Tribune, one category.


Nicholas Williams, Tampa Tribune, one category.


Fred Bellet, Tampa Tribune, four categories.


Joseph Brown III, Tampa Tribune, one category.


Charles Cherry II, Florida Courier, six categories.


Wade Tatangelo, Creative Loafing, one category.


Alex Pickett, Creative Loafing, one category.


Megan Voeller, Creative Loafing, one category.