Washington, D.C. – The Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) is proud to announce that Ron Nixon, vice president of news and head of investigations, enterprise, partnerships and grants at The Associated Press, is the 2024 recipient of the Dorothy Butler Gilliam Trailblazer Award. The WABJ Executive Board presents this award to a D.C. area newsroom manager or editor for their trailblazing careers and exemplary editorial leadership skills.
Nixon will be honored at the 3rd annual WABJ Special Honors & Scholarship Gala on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at the Blackburn University Center, Howard University. Early-bird tickets for the gala are now available for purchase here.
“Ron Nixon exemplifies the qualities of an exceptional leader in journalism,” said the WABJ Executive Board. “He has not only excelled in his own investigative work but also made a lasting impact by mentoring and supporting journalists to ensure that the investigative journalism field becomes more inclusive and reflective of the diverse society the media serves. Nixon’s recent promotion at the AP is a testament to his profound impact and visionary leadership.”
Nixon joined AP in 2019 after nearly 14 years at The New York Times. He is a co-founder of the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, which aims to increase the representation and retention of reporters and editors of color in investigative journalism.
In his role, Nixon oversees AP’s global investigations team and enterprise reporting, and advises the news organization’s work in grants and partnerships. He has overseen investigations that have won major national and international journalism awards, including a News and Documentary Emmy, a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist in investigative reporting.
Known for fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation, Nixon received the News Leader of the Year award from the News Leaders Association in 2021. He has been a champion for digital storytelling and visual investigations, pushing AP to explore new frontiers in journalism.
Before his journalism career, Nixon served as a Marine Corps infantry veteran, seeing combat in the 1990 Persian Gulf War and serving in the Marine Corps security forces battalion.
The WABJ Executive Board acknowledges Nixon’s significant contributions to journalism, his commitment to diversity and inclusion, and his role in shaping the future of news reporting.
This was established in honor of print journalism giant Dorothy Butler Gilliam, who in 1961 became the first Black woman reporter at the Washington Post and later worked as an editor and columnist before retiring in 2003. The award-winning journalist is a former president of the National Association of Black Journalists and president of the now-defunct Unity: Journalists of Color (later renamed as Unity: Journalists for Diversity).
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Founded in 1975, the Washington Association of Black Journalists is an organization of more than 300 Black journalists, educators, public relations professionals and student journalists in the Washington, D.C., metro area. WABJ provides members with ongoing professional development opportunities and advocates for newsroom diversity, equity and inclusion. WABJ was named 2023 Professional Chapter of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. For more information, please visit www.wabjdc.org.
