NABJ’s ‘Thumbs-down’ award sparks backlash from ESPN sportscaster Stephen A. Smith

by Ariama C. Long

This year’s National Association of Black Journalists 2026 Salute to Excellence Awards Gala was overshadowed after the organization presented its “Thumbs-down” Award to five recipients, most notably ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. Many in the online space weren’t sure the NABJ made the right choices, as Smith publicly swore revenge.

“This year I believe it is especially important to understand this award in a larger context, at a moment when journalism is facing growing political, economic, and institutional pressure,” said NABJ President Errin Haines at the awards ceremony on August 15.

The Thumbs-down Award, in particular, is a portion of the event that “calls attention to an individual or organization for especially insensitive, racist, or stereotypical reporting, commentary, photography, or cartoons about the Black community or for engaging in practices at odds with the goals” of NABJ.

“Now look, I know the thumbs-down award can make people uncomfortable –– good,” said Haines. “Accountability is not supposed to be comfortable.”

The night’s recipients were Brendan Carr, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who was scrutinized for limiting press freedom and dismantling DEI initiatives; CBS Television Network, which eliminated its race and culture unit disproportionately impacting journalists of color; President & CEO of WISH-TV DuJuan McCoy has allegations against him about maltreatment of Black journalists; The Washington Post, which also laid off Black journalists as well as eliminated race and culture beats; and Smith, a veteran commentator who has been slammed for his disparaging remarks of prominent Black women officials and fellow journalists.

“The thumbs down award is not a new award,” said Haines in an interview with Capital B. “I know a lot of people are finding it now because of the headlines that we made with our announcement, but this is an award that we’ve given for years — trying to hold institutions and public figures accountable whenever their actions are harmful to Black journalists. That is the intent of the award. We don’t take it lightly when we decide to bestow these awards upon people. And it’s not about whether we personally like or dislike somebody.”

Smith had a visceral reaction to being given the Thumbs-down award. Soon after the convention wrapped, he ran to his platform, social media, and outlets, like Fox News, to clap back at NABJ. He claims that he has had nothing but a “difference of opinion” with several women. He vowed to be even more adamant and bullheaded in the future.

“I think it’s utterly ridiculous; I was raised by five black women,” said Smith on Sean Hannity’s show. “I find it highly offensive that they would label me in this way, give me a thumbs down award specifically for disparaging black women. I want everybody out there to know, there’s no such thing. That did not happen. That is a flat-out lie. That never happened.”

Haines, who was elected NABJ president in 2025, noted that Smith was involved in public spats with independent journalist Joy-Ann Reid, US Rep Jasmine Crockett, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former First Lady Michelle Obama.

“Stephen A. Smith is somebody that speaks publicly and has an opinion that is valuable as a prominent voice in this country, but what does it mean when that voice and that platform are being used in a way that diminishes the public voice and presence of Black women in our society?” asked Haines. “I thought it was appropriate to call this out, but also to extend an invitation to think about how we move differently going forward. I hope that he and I can have that conversation.”

Part of the pushback online is that NABJ has not only worked with and benefitted from Smith’s Straight Shooter podcast in the past but also platformed equally controversial people, such as President Donald Trump at the NABJ convention in Chicago when he was a Republican candidate for office in 2024.

Despite the controversy, during the NABJ gala, AmNews investigative reporter Shannon Chaffers picked up an award for her latest contribution to the “Beyond the Barrel of the Gun” series focusing on people impacted by gun violence: The Housing Barrier: Gun violence survivors struggle to find accessible housing.