Germany Kent Receives Big Award, Honored at National Press Club

ATLANTA – The Society of Professional Journalists honored Germany Kent recently at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. for excellence in journalism. The high-profile event brought together elite journalists from across the country to celebrate the best coverage of media published or broadcast in 2018. Kent received SPJ’s highest honor, the Sigma Delta Chi Award, considered one of the most prestigious and coveted awards given to journalists.

Kent’s work was honored for Deadline Reporting. The media maven blazed a new trail by becoming the first Black woman to win the award in the Deadline Reporting Independent Online field. Her work titled, "Tragedy in Thousand Oaks" includes exclusive interviews and high-quality video production with coverage in the wake of the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California last fall when a former Marine opened fire and killed twelve people.

The story, considered one of the best of 2018 by SPJ, features exclusive interviews and exclusive footage, on-scene reporting with survivors, parents of the victims, law enforcement and detailed coverage of the funeral for slain officer Ron Helus, who was killed in the line of duty. The work details the impact of trauma, crime, disaster, and violence. As an Independent media powerhouse, Kent filmed, edited, wrote, produced and published the media compilation herself.

Kent won in the same category as The Los Angeles Times, who took home top honors as the affiliate news organization in Online Deadline Reporting for their staff story “Gunfire and Flames in California,” which also covered the Thousand Oaks mass shooting.

The Society says 77 honorees were selected this year from more than 1,300 submissions. The awards, which are open to any U.S. news organization or international news outlet recognizes exceptional journalism in print, radio, television, arts/graphics, online and research.

During her acclaimed journalism career, Kent has worked for a variety of news, entertainment news, health, and lifestyle television shows and covered a wide range of stories that impact people and make a difference. Ms. Kent has been involved in creating and producing various multimedia. As an esteemed print and broadcast journalist, producer, and publisher, Kent has made valuable contributions to newspaper, online, magazine, radio, and television.

Over the years, in addition to anchoring community television and reporting for multiple outlets, Kent has worked in production behind the camera extensively as a writer, photographer, and executive producer, as well as a content creator and correspondent for a startup social media company. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Yahoo! Business, Bloomberg, MSN, and Fast Company.

Mentoring youth and community volunteerism are just some of the ways Kent spends her time. Under her direction, she became the first journalism mentor in history to bring elementary and secondary school students to cover the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards at the Biltmore in Los Angeles where her protégés interviewed the likes of Bob Barker, Diahann Carroll, Joe Mantegna, Tavis Smiley, among others.

Kent is the recipient of numerous humanitarian and professional awards and has earned repeated national recognition for her philanthropic efforts. In 2017 Kent received a Lifetime Community Service Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The following year, she represented the sorority in Leimert Park walking alongside CA Senator and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris in the 2018 Los Angeles MLK parade.

Kent, who is based out of Los Angeles but works bicoastal with media projects in Atlanta, is a well-known content creator and tv/film/radio producer. She has appeared on the Real Housewives of Atlanta, in addition to many other TV shows, music videos, and commercials. Aside from her stellar work in the industry, Kent is equally known nationally for her humanitarian work. She serves as a Marketing Volunteer for Atlanta's premier non-profit pioneering outreach organization Hosea Feed The Hungry & Homeless and offers support to various other charities.

In 2017 Kent was honored with a Trailblazer Award from Iron Man Wonder Woman in Atlanta. She has also been recognized by the RICE Awards and was named Humanitarian of the Year from Atlanta-based Kidz Rock Awards, in conjunction with the Atlanta Fulton County Library and Literacy Matters. Kent has also been named a Humanitarian of the Year Honoree by Jaby Inc's International Trailblazer Awards.

Other distinctions for Kent include a Global Philanthropy Award from Atlanta-based Empower Magazine, a Lifetime Achievement Honor Proclamation from Mississippi legislators, Legacy Award, two prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards and many other local, regional, national, and international honors.

"I am deeply humbled and grateful to receive such a prestigious award from one of the most respected journalism organizations in the country. To be recognized by my peers is an incredible honor and that makes this award very special," Kent said.

About the Sigma Delta Chi Awards

Dating back to 1932, the awards originally honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the Society granted the first Distinguished Service Awards. The honors later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

https://www.spj.org/sdxa18.asp