FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 20, 2023
PRESS CONTACT: Kenrick Thomas info@wabjdc.org
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) announced that Erica Loewe, former Director of African-American Media at the White House, is the recipient of the 2023 WABJ Excellence in Communications Awards.
The award recognizes a professional communicator who has done significant work over the years and crafted campaigns that have had a positive and empowering impact on the Black community. Loewe will be honored at the WABJ Special Honors & Scholarship Gala on Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Armour J. Blackburn University Center on the campus of Howard University. Tickets for the gala can be purchased here.
Loewe is a member of the Biden-Harris administration and was recently promoted to Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff for the White House Office of Public Engagement. Previously, Loewe managed the White House’s media and communications as Director of African American Media, where she worked to ensure that the Black Press and other minority-owned media were provided unprecedented access to the White House and top administration and cabinet officials.
Loewe is a native of South Carolina and grew up in Miami. She attended the University of Florida, earning her bachelor’s in public relations, and later interned at the White House during the administration of President Barack Obama. She has worked as Press Secretary and Deputy Communications Director for Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and Deputy Communications Director for Congressman James Clyburn (D-S.C.).
“Colleagues and members of the media have praised Loewe for her commitment to increasing the value of diversity and empowering Black media voices,” said the WABJ Awards Review Committee. “She has dedicated herself to positioning Black media companies to the forefront of the press pool and has proven to be an incredible asset and connection for Black and Black-owned media to the White House. She is deserving of this prestigious award.”
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Founded in 1975, the Washington Association of Black Journalists is an organization for African American journalists, journalism professors, public relations professionals and student journalists in the Washington, D.C., metro area. WABJ provides members with ongoing professional education opportunities and advocates for greater diversification of the profession. WABJ was named 2023 “Professional Chapter of the Year” by NABJ. For more information, please visit www.wabjdc.org.
