By Exavier Pope, NABJ-Chicago Member, Treasurer, NABJ Sports Task Force

Here are photos from “The State of the NBA and Sports Media,” presented by the National Association of Black Journalists Sports Task Force on February 14, during NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago.

Thank you to everyone who came out to attend. Thank you to former Chicago Bulls player Nazr Muhammad and his restaurant Eleven Eleven Chicago, for being our sponsor.

Thank you to our women panelists: Fox Sports Milwaukee’s Zora Stephenson, GiveMeSport’s Benny Bonsu, and the Washington Post’s Candace Buckner, who put on a powerful women’s panel that inspired us all.

Thank you to Chicago Tribune’s Phil Thompson and CBS 2 Chicago’s Ryan Baker for a lively discussion on covering the Chicago Bulls.

Thank you to former NBA All Star Kenyon Martin on the candid discussion of dealing with the media as a player and now being on the other side as a retired player.

Thank you to Sports Task Force Chair Emeritus, Marc J. Spears, for being an incredible moderator and an ace in the hole, in getting us key panelists to round out the discussion.

Thank you to our Sports Task Force Chair, Sherrod Blakely, for your help in getting panelists and for helping smooth the path of getting this event executed.

Thank you to our NABJ President Dorothy Tucker, and to our NABJ Chicago Chapter President Maudlyne Ihejirika, for coming out and giving remarks and encouraging our membership.

Thank you to WCIU’s Brandon Pope for volunteering to check in guests, and to freelance photographer Mark Brayboy for taking photos.

We look to do more “The State of” events moving forward. If you have any questions about this initiative, let me know.