McLean, VA – March 26, 2012. UNITY: Journalists of Color today unveiled its new logo, an emblem symbolic of the organization’s decision to expand and further diversify its alliance. The logo represents the organization’s brand and the unity of its alliance associations together committed to advancing diversity in news media.  Current members of the alliance include, the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), and UNITY’s newest alliance partner, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLJGA).

The logo features a yellow and gray design with a prominent “U” for Unity and “J” for journalism. The four featherlike stripes reflect the four founding members of UNITY: Journalists of Color – AAJA, NAHJ, NAJA and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) – and invoke the Phoenix, the mythical bird that rose renewed from its own ashes. The Phoenix is also the name of the first Native American newspaper, the Cherokee Phoenix, a weekly that first published in 1828 in New Echota, Ga.

“With the many changes that have occurred in our industry in recent years, it is certainly a new day. The alliances that form UNITY are working hard to strengthen our foundation and embrace our legacy as we continue to build on our relationships,” said Joanna Hernandez, president of UNITY. “I love everything our new logo represents. It reflects our past, present and the endless opportunities in front of us.”

UNITY is holding its fifth quadrennial convention Aug. 1-4, 2012, at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas. This must-attend event will offer numerous opportunities to engage the news media industry, newsmakers and industry thought leaders; connect with fellow journalists, media professionals, journalism educators and newsroom recruiters; and embrace new media, digital technologies, emerging business models and our alliances.

For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Onica Makwakwa
Executive Director
UNITY: Journalists of Color
Telephone: 703.854.3594
Email: executive@unityjournalists.org

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About UNITY — UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc., an alliance of four journalism organizations representing more than 4,000 journalists, is the nation’s most diverse journalism organization. It is a strategic alliance advocating fair and accurate news coverage about people of color and LGBT issues and aggressively challenges news organizations to increase diversity in whom they employ at all levels of their companies.