Tulsa’s National Association of Black Journalists is holding its annual Salute to Excellence Awards Gala on Saturday.

The event Honors some of the best in the media industry. The key note speaker and award recipient Kelly Wright is an Oral Roberts graduate and he joined News On 6 to tal about his ties to Tulsa, his career in journalism, and the upcoming gala.

Wright expressed his gratitude for the opportunities he's been given.

"It's been a blessing. That's I'd like to start with that, and I'm grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to go to various parts of the world where the light is dim, and to actually show the light of America's hope, America's Promise, and the faith of people who live here in America," said Wright.

Wright has worked for numerous networks over the years, and he recently accepted a position as the senior White House correspondent for CBN News, his former stomping ground.

"I'm now just accepted the position as senior White House correspondent. So I'm going to have a very busy few years going up," he said.

Honored by the NABJ

The Salute to Excellence Awards Gala will not only feature Wright as the keynote speaker but will also induct him into the Oklahoma Black Journalist Hall of Fame, a recognition that caught him by surprise.

"That's a mind blowing experience. Actually, I didn't expect that. I'm very, very appreciative to NABJ for recognizing what's happened for me, the God given blessings that I've received," Wright said.

Bringing Hope Through Journalism

Wright emphasized the importance of journalists understanding their mission and focusing on providing hope to their audiences. "I want to challenge every journalist to understand their mission and to let them understand that it's important that we talk about the news of the day, but actually giving people hope," he said.

This sentiment is reflected in Wright's own show, "America's Hope," where he aims to balance the coverage of bad news with the search for light and hope in difficult situations.

"We talk about the bad news, but we also try to find ways in the midst of that bad news, in the midst of that despair, find the hope that shines the light. And our world needs that, and certainly in America right now, where we need to tone down the rhetoric and bring people together, it's time for hope in America," he explained.

Returning to Tulsa's Resilient History

Wright's connection to Tulsa runs deep, and he expressed a desire to return to the city to tell the story of the Tulsa race riots and the resilience of the African American community.

"I got to know about the Tulsa race riots and the massacre that took place, and it always stayed within me, and I was able to meet people from the Oklahoma Eagle, and I still have relationships with with people who actually ran that newspaper, and then the history and the resilience of the African American people here rebuilding it two years after it was torn asunder by racists and racism, and it's healing that has to take place," Wright said.

Wright believes that sharing this story is crucial, as it can serve as a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit.

"I want to come back and tell this story, a story that lingers, and a story that actually says to America, we're better than this. We can overcome this, and we can heal from this and actually repair the breach that's divided us for these number of years."

The Tulsa NABJ chapter is honored to have Kelly Wright as the keynote speaker and inductee at this year's Salute to Excellence Awards Gala, and his commitment to bringing hope and healing through journalism is truly inspiring.