AL.com columnist Roy S. Johnson and Jesse J. Lewis Sr., founder of The Birmingham Times, will receive high industry honors for their contributions to journalism when the National Association of Black Journalists converges in Birmingham this summer.

The group announced Johnson and Lewis among their 2023 inductees to the NABJ Hall of Fame.

The honor celebrates Black journalists and communicators who have made outstanding contributions to the industry.

The induction and luncheon will take place during the 2023 NABJ Convention & Career Fair Friday, Aug. 4.

Lewis, 98, founded the Birmingham Times newspaper in 1964.

Before founding his newspaper, Lewis in 1954 opened one of the country’s first Black-owned public relations and advertising agency.

Both the Birmingham Times and what is now known as Agency 54 are still in business.

“I am so proud to receive it, and I have had a lot of people who have supported me,” Lewis told AL.com after learning of his honor.

“You don’t do anything by yourself and I’m so grateful for those people who have helped me along the way.”

Lewis, a World War II veteran, also served as Alabama’s transportation director, the first Black person in the state to serve as a member of the governor’s cabinet.

The NABJ honor is the latest in a series for Lewis. He was inducted into the Birmingham Business Hall of Fame in 2019, and in 2022 was awarded the Lifetime Achievement from the Vulcan Park Foundation.

Johnson serves as an AL.com columnist and is director of content development.

Johnson is a 2021 winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award for best national podcast and was a 2021 Pulitzer Prize finalist in Commentary.

Johnson was previously editor-in-chief of three prominent national magazines: Savoy magazine, which he founded, Men’s Fitness and History Channel.

Johnson was modest about his recent accolade, preferring to highlight others in the latest honoree class.

“I’m especially humbled to be sharing the honor with the incomparable Dr. Lewis—in this city where he birthed a proud, journalistic voice for the Black community that still speaks our truth,” he said.

Johnson is also a co-chair of this year’s NABJ convention.

NABJ President Dorothy Tucker noted the significance of honoring significant journalism leaders while meeting in in Birmingham.

“As we gather for our annual convention, in a place that shines as a beacon of light in the fight for justice and equality, NABJ is excited to recognize some of the most courageous barrier breakers and history makers in the journalism and media industries,” Tucker said in a statement announcing the 2023 honorees.

“We will also have the honor of celebrating some of the game-changers of the future of news and communications — perfectly underscoring our 2023 theme, ‘From Revolution to Evolution.’”

Other 2023 Hall of Fame inductees include: Sheila Dean Brooks, Rob Parker, Randall Pinkston, Dave Roberts, and Gwen Tolbart.