Pittsburgh Magazine Freelancer Wins Black Media Federation Award

EMMAI ALAQUIVA | PHOTO BY SYDNEY MARTIN/YA MOMZ HOUSE INC

A Pittsburgh Magazine writer was honored last week with an award from the Pittsburgh Black Media Foundation.

The 37th Annual Vann Awards, which celebrate excellence in journalism and community impact, were held on May 28 at Point Park University’s Lawrence Hall Downtown. Kahmeela Adams-Friedson, a longtime freelancer for Pittsburgh Magazine, took home an award in the Excellence in Written Journalism/Magazines category for her profile, “The Cinematic Poet,” which tells the story of the Wilkinsburg film director and producer Emmai Alaquiva. 

“The Vann awards recognize journalism that goes the extra mile to make sure that marginalized voices and communities are heard, understood and valued as much as those with power and privilege,” Ervin Dyer, chair of the Vann awards, says in a statement.

The Federation’s panel of judges agreed that Adams-Friedson’s piece did exactly that.

“The language in this piece is lively and does a good job capturing the history and life’s work of the artist,” judges wrote. They also praised Adams-Friedson’s use of quotes, which they said added personal depth to the piece.

The annual “Night of Excellence,” marks PBMF’s 53rd year of advocating for fair and accurate representation of the African American community in the news, increasing the presence of journalists of color in media organizations and recognizing outstanding work in journalism.

The Vann Awards honor journalists whose work reflects integrity, depth and a commitment to telling the full stories of the communities they cover.

“We want to ensure that stories capture not only the facts as they are, but also the context and nuance that allow for fair and accurate reporting,” Deborah Todd, PBMF president, says in a statement. “Journalists must be willing to follow the truth wherever it leads, especially when it brings greater understanding to the communities they serve.”