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Further Accomplishments and Recognition
In 1977, Dorothy Butler Gilliam co-founded the Institute of Journalism Education, a nonprofit organization dedicated to implementing inclusivity and diversity in the journalism field.
Now named after co-founder Robert C. Maynard, the Institute offers courses and fellowship programs to help ensure diverse representation in journalism and the media. Gilliam served as the Chair of the Board of Directors from 1985 to 1992.
In 1993, Gilliam became President of the National Association of Black Journalists and President of the Unity Journalists of Color, which allowed her to further advocate for equal representation in the media. In 1998, Gilliam began working with the Washington Post to provide mentorship programs and journalism opportunities for high school students via the Young Journalism Development Project. Gilliam also founded Prime Movers Media, a journalism mentorship and opportunity program for disadvantaged youth in urban schools. For her work in journalism and her efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity in the media, Gilliam was inducted into the Society of Professional Journalists’ Hall of Fame in 2002 and awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Washington Press Club in 2010.
