Last week, the National Association of Black Journalists
(NABJ) announced its selection of FloridaA&M University (FAMU) alumna LaCrai
Mitchell as its 2016 Student Journalist of the Year. The award is presented to
a college student who has excelled within the field of journalism.
"LaCrai Mitchell is someone whose resume speaks for
itself," NABJ President Sarah Glover said. "She has worked hard to
gain internships and fellowships that have prepared her for the professional
world. She serves as a great example of how a student journalist can succeed
when they take advantage of opportunities."
Mitchell earned her bachelor's degree from FAMU in December 2015 and immediately began work as a news associate at CBS News, where she researched, compiled footage, fact-checked material and used social media to contribute to the success of the network's news program "48 Hours." She is currently a production associate for CBS News.
While a student on FAMU's campus in Tallahassee, Fla.,
Mitchell worked as the online content producer for the FAMU TV-20's News at
Five newscast. She managed and created content for the newscast's web page and
managed the show's YouTube, Twitter and Instagram accounts. A Homecoming
special she produced as a sophomore won a Student Emmy Award.
"LaCrai is a fabulous woman whose grace, kindness and
humility are matched by her keen multimedia and multilingual skills, tenacity
and vision," said Ann Wead Kimbrough, dean of FAMU's School of Journalism
and Graphic Communication."Congrats to LaCrai on her earned honor."
Mitchell served as the editor-in-chief of the university's
Journey Magazine, where she edited stories, repurposed stories for the website,
created multimedia elements, video edited web stories, directed photo shoots
and scouted models. She also participated in the 2012 NABJ Multimedia Short
Course at North Carolina A&T University.
While in college, Mitchell interned for CNN International in
Atlanta. She also was chosen as one of five Knight Foundation HBCU Digital
Media Fellows who participated in the Online News Association's annual
convention in 2015. She received an Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE)
scholarship to attend the group's annual NICAR conference to further her
passion for investigative and enterprise reporting. She also was named the
winner of RTDNA's 2015 Michele Clark Fellowship, named for the the first
African-American woman named as a network television correspondent.
Mitchell was named to The Root's list of Young Futurists for
2016. She is also serving as the assistant director and associate producer for
J Vision Pictures, where she is part of a team that will hire a cast for an
independent film. She also serves as the company's social media director and
communication facilitator.
Mitchell will be honored this summer at the NABJ/NAHJ
Convention and Career Fair in Washington, D.C.