WMNF 88.5 FM reporter Chris Young was recognized this month as one of the Tampa Bay region’s standout journalists, earning two Griot Drum Awards from the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists (TBABJ). The annual ceremony, held Nov. 13 at Le Méridien Tampa, celebrates storytellers who preserve and elevate the voices, histories, and struggles of Black communities across the region. This year, Young’s work rose to the top in both Radio Feature Reporting and Radio General News Reporting, underscoring his growing reputation for depth, clarity, and courage on the airwaves.
Young’s award-winning feature story, “This Juneteenth, the Tampa Theatre is celebrating local Black filmmakers,” captured an event that was far more than a film festival. Airing June 18, 2024, the piece transported listeners into a Juneteenth gathering centered on Black creative expression in Tampa Bay.
Through interviews with local filmmakers, Young highlighted the sense of pride and possibility that filled the Tampa Theatre that day. One director described the festival as “the Wakanda moment for us as indies… Yes, we’re celebrating Black independence from slavery, but we’re also celebrating indie filmmaking here in the Tampa Bay Area, period.”
The story blended cultural history with the personal stories of filmmakers who rarely get spotlighted on mainstream platforms. Young’s ability to capture both the excitement and the deeper resonance of the celebration helped earn him top honors in Radio Feature Reporting.
Exposing Racism Inside the Legislature
Young’s second award, for Radio General News Reporting, recognized his coverage of a tense and revealing moment in Florida politics. In February 2024, during debate over a bill aimed at protecting historical monuments, public comments veered into explicit racism and white supremacist rhetoric.
In his report, “Florida Senators walk out after racist comments in support of monument bill,” Young documented the shock and frustration that unfolded. His microphone captured the voices of commenters who openly embraced racist justifications, and it caught the reaction of Senate Democrats who walked out of the committee meeting in protest.
Young’s story didn’t sensationalize the moment, it clarified it. He laid out how the bill would have restricted local governments from removing most monuments, and why the racist public testimony changed the tone of the hearing. The reporting provided context, accountability, and a clear picture of what happened inside the room.
A Night Honoring Storytellers and History Keepers
This year’s Griot Drum Awards reflected the breadth of journalism in Tampa Bay, from television and digital to print, photography, and podcasts. Named for the West African griots, storytellers who safeguard cultural memory, the awards highlight journalists who do the same for modern communities.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Kevin Merida served as keynote speaker, urging attendees to fight for the future of journalism. “We’re in a big dream era,” he told the crowd. “Don’t have small dreams.”
The ceremony also honored community advocates who continue to shape and preserve Black history in Tampa Bay, including the late Tampa City Councilwoman Gwen Henderson, historian Fred Hearns, and State Senator Darryl Rouson.
A Win for Public-Interest Journalism
Young’s recognition adds to WMNF’s long-standing legacy of community-focused reporting. His stories, whether uplifting creativity or confronting injustice, reflect what grassroots journalism can achieve when it is grounded in curiosity, integrity, and the voices of everyday people.
