The 19th has always known what a talent Errin Haines is; it’s why she was one of our very first hires. Today, we get to share with you the great news that our editor-at-large has been honored with the 2020 Vernon Jarrett Medal for Journalistic Excellence, a prize named for the pioneering Black columnist, and dedicated to reporting on Black life in America. 

The judges recognized Haines for her “Portraits of a Pandemic” series on women of color navigating the coronavirus pandemic, a project that was co-published with the Philadelphia Inquirer and made possible by support from the Pulitzer Center and the Lenfest Institute. Haines shares the honor, bestowed by Morgan State University’s School of Global Journalism & Communication, with Adam Serwer of The Atlantic. 

“This year we received an exceptional response to our request for submissions that focused on the impact of the coronavirus on African Americans, a group whose health care disparities have been exacerbated by the pandemic,” said DeWayne Wickham, the dean of Morgan State’s journalism school. “The judges were so impressed with the quality of these submissions that they decided to award not one, but two medals this year.”

We at The 19th could not be more proud of Haines’ extraordinary reporting, or of the leadership and experience she brings to our brand new newsroom. We hope you’ll follow her terrific work — and follow her on social media in the meantime. 

Please join us in congratulating her!