Hachette Book Group Hosts Panel at National Association for Black Journalists’ 2026 National Convention Featuring Legacy Lit Authors Roland Martin, Tiffany Cross, and Errin Haines
Vice President and Publisher of Legacy Lit Krishan Trotman moderated the panel.
NEW YORK (Aug. 17, 2026) — Hachette Book Group (HBG) proudly hosted a panel at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention and Career Fair in Atlanta, Georgia, held Aug. 12 through Aug. 16, 2026, when top Black journalists discussed the year’s theme Our Revolution: Truth, Power and Black Journalism. NABJ is a membership nonprofit that advocates on behalf of Black journalists and media professionals in the U.S. and worldwide while providing innovative, quality programs and services to its members.
“For me, this conversation is both professional and personal. As NABJ president, I believe deeply in creating pathways for Black journalists to expand our platforms, our ownership and our impact,” Errin Haines, President of NABJ and Hachette Book Group author said. “As a journalist now writing my own book with Hachette, I’m experiencing firsthand what becomes possible when we have the space to take the reporting, history and stories we’ve carried with us and give them greater depth and permanence. Black journalists have always helped write the first draft of history; our books give us the opportunity to help shape how that history is ultimately remembered.”
Moderated by Krishan Trotman, Vice President and Publisher of Legacy Lit, the panel titled, “How Journalists Expand Their Imprint Through Authorship” featured Legacy Lit authors and award-winning journalists Tiffany Cross (Love, Me), and soon-to-be authors Roland Martin and Errin Haines.
“Legacy Lit is proud to be the literary home for many outstanding journalists. Literature and journalism share storytelling roots and allow journalists –the ultimate storytellers– to delve deeply and reflect on the most pressing issues facing societies today. The path from journalist to author paves a way for important stories to breathe,” Trotman said.
The Legacy Lit NABJ panel discussed how journalistic instincts evolve into long-form storytelling and why authorship is not a departure from journalism, but a continuation of it. The group dove into how journalism is often the foundation for authorship, particularly for Black journalists whose reporting has documented truth, challenged power and shaped public understanding in real time. In an era marked by media fragmentation, books remain one of the most enduring tools for preserving context, depth, and truth. This panel explored how these journalists extended their work into authorship, transforming reporting into lasting narrative and cultural records.
“Hachette Book Group is proud to support NABJ, which sets the foundation for Black authorship. Journalists pen the first draft of history. From the newsroom to the bookshelf, the historic organization has long inspired storytellers to expand their reporting into works that endure,” said Gabrielle Gambrell, Chief Communications Officer at HBG. “Every great book begins with a story worth telling, and NABJ has long supported the transition from journalist to author, ensuring that Black stories are remembered.”
This panel also underscored why journalist-authored books matter today. Moreover, panelists expanded on how their influence ensures that the stories shaping diverse and underrepresented communities are not only told but protected and preserved.
About Legacy Lit:
Legacy Lit is an imprint dedicated to giving voice to issues, authors, and all groups that have been underrepresented, under-served, and overlooked. Our mission is to inspire social change and to elevate and celebrate diverse communities. We are unapologetically intentional and committed to promoting equality and equity for all people. Our books uplift and celebrate diverse communities using fresh narratives, powerful storytelling, and big ideas that will educate, enlighten, and inspire.
About Grand Central Publishing Group:
Grand Central Publishing Group reaches a diverse audience through books that cater to every kind of reader. Our divisions include Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Nashville, and Union Square & Co.
About Hachette Book Group:
Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading U.S. general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group, Grand Central Publishing Group, Hachette Audio, Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit, Workman Publishing, and Running Press Group. We also provide custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to several publishing companies.
Our books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Prize, James Beard Award, and other major honors.
We are committed to diversity in our company and our publishing programs, and to fostering a culture of inclusion for all our employees and authors. We are proud to be part of Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest trade and educational publisher.
Visit hachettebookgroup.com to learn more about HBG imprints. For updated news follow HBG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, X.com, Snapchat, and YouTube.
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Press Contact: Gabrielle.Gambrell@hbgusa.com