Cassandra Etienne wins 2024 PABJ President’s Award of Service
Etienne will be honored by the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists on May 17
I’m proud to share the incredible news that our very own Cassandra Etienne, associate director of programming and membership at the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University, has been selected to receive the prestigious 2024 President’s Award of Service from the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists (PABJ).
This well-deserved recognition is a testament to Cassandra’s exemplary media management skills and her significant impact on the New Jersey local news ecosystem.
I’m glad to see that Cassandra’s tireless efforts and dedication to supporting New Jersey journalists and local news organizations have not gone unnoticed. Her work has been instrumental in fostering a more inclusive and equitable media landscape, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and that communities of color are fairly represented in New Jersey media.
At the Center, we’ve had the pleasure and privilege of witnessing Cassandra’s commitment to her craft firsthand. Her passion for empowering journalists and strengthening local news ecosystems is inspiring. Cassandra’s ability to connect with people, her deep understanding of the challenges faced by media professionals, and her innovative approach to problem-solving have made her an invaluable asset to our organization and the broader journalism community.
Cassandra’s impact extends far beyond the walls of the Center. She has been a driving force in creating opportunities for collaboration, skill-building, and professional development for journalists across New Jersey — especially in South Jersey.
Her work with the South Jersey Information Equity Project, Stories Invincible, the South Jersey Community Reporting Fellowship, and the Black Publishers Collective has helped to foster a more resilient and sustainable local news landscape, ensuring that communities have access to the information they need to make informed decisions and hold those in power accountable.
We are incredibly proud of Cassandra’s achievements and grateful for the recognition she is receiving from PABJ. This award is also a reminder of the importance of organizations like PABJ in celebrating and uplifting the work of Black journalists and media professionals.
The awards for exemplary media management and community impact will be presented by PABJ on Friday, May 17, 2024, at 12 PM at Del Frisco Double Eagle Steakhouse in Philadelphia.
On behalf of all of us at the Center for Cooperative Media, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Cassandra Etienne on this well-deserved recognition. I’m so proud to call her a friend and a member of our team — and I’m excited to see the continued impact she will make in the world of journalism.
Please join us in celebrating Cassandra’s remarkable achievement and the important work being done by the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists.
Joe Amditis is the assistant director of products and events at the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. Contact him at amditisj@montclair.edu or on Twitter at @jsamditis.
About the Center for Cooperative Media: The Center is a primarily grant-funded program of the School of Communication and Media at Montclair State University. Its mission is to grow and strengthen local journalism and support an informed society in New Jersey and beyond. The Center is supported with funding from Montclair State University, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, Democracy Fund, the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium, the Independence Public Media Foundation, Rita Allen Foundation, Inasmuch Foundation and John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. For more information, visit centerforcooperativemedia.org.
