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Q&A With Cyril Joshua Barker

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Cyril Joshua Barker
Staff Writer, New York Amsterdam News
Location: New York, NY United States
Joined: Sep 3rd, 2013

About (request update)

Cyril Joshua Barker is an award-winning journalist for the New York Amsterdam News and has been at the over 100-year-old Black newspaper since 2007. He reports on a wide range of topics including politics, social justice, profiles, crime, education and arts and entertainment.

Josh also serves as co-host on 107.5 FM WBLS/1190 AM WLIB on Sunday evenings on “Express Yourself with Imhotep Gary Byrd.”

His writing has appeared in other publications across the nation including The Source Magazine, the Philadelphia Tribune, the Seattle Medium, the Final Call, the Washington Informer, the Los Angeles Sentinel, the Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley News, the Atlanta Voice, the New Pittsburgh Courier, the Michigan Citizen and the Cincinnati Herald.

On the airwaves Josh has also been heard on AM 1600 WWRL, WBAI 99.5 FM, NPR and 1690 AM WVON in Chicago. His television appearances include Manhattan Neighborhood Network and Arise News.

Josh has won awards from the New York Association of Black Journalist including several first place awards for Best Spot/General News Story. He has also been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Prior to working at the New York Amsterdam News Josh was a crime, real estate and general assignment reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser in Montgomery, Alabama.

In the community Josh has served as a member of the New York Urban League Young Professionals, the HBCU Alumni Council of New York and the New York Association of Black Journalists where he currently serves as Vice President of Print and membership chair.

Maintaining his commitment to HBCUs, Josh participates in several New York-area college fairs and regularly speaks to local students about the importance of attending a black college. He has participated with the New York Metro Alumni Chapter of Alabama State University in several capacities including serving as emcee for the chapter's annual scholarship luncheon.

Mixing his passion for journalism and black colleges, Josh regularly recruits students attending HBCU journalism programs to intern at the Amsterdam News as well as linking them with other media opportunities in New York City.

Through his work in New York's large media platform, Josh also uses his print, online and broadcast platforms to advocate the importance of HBCUs.

Josh is native of Tulsa, Oklahoma and is a 2006 graduate of Alabama State University where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism (Print Media) with a minor in Sociology. While a student at ASU Josh was a member of the Might Marching Hornets band, concert band and jazz ensemble, an editor for the Hornet Tribune, a committee member on the Student Government Association and President of the ASU NABJ chapter. He currently resides in Harlem.

Education (request update)

Alabama State University class of 2006

Undergrad Major: Journalism

Claim To Fame:

- Named commentator for public affairs program on WBAI 99.5 FM. - Covered the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. - Discussed major issues affecting New York City's black community during the highly contested mayoral election on various media platforms. - Serving on the board of the NABJ chapter that recently won chapter of the year. - Recently wrote article about Robin Thicke's use of HBCU dance teams in "Give it 2 U" video and MTV VMA show that was picked up by other publications. (http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2013/aug/25/robin-thicke-spotlights-hbcu-dance-teams-video/) - Recently assisted in hiring new intern from Morgan State University.