BirminghamWatch contributor Solomon Crenshaw Jr. has been named Communicator of Achievement of Alabama Media Professionals.

That distinction puts Crenshaw in the running for the national Communicator of the Achievement of the National Federation of Press Women, the parent organization of AMP.

Additionally, seven of Crenshaw’s works from 2021 were recognized in AMP’s communications contest.

Five of his articles earned first place, which puts them in consideration for NFPW honors at its national convention this summer. Two of his first-place works were produced for BirminghamWatch.

Emily Rushing, president of BirminghamWatch’s board of directors, wrote in an endorsement of Crenshaw’s nomination, “Solomon Crenshaw Jr. is the steady, insightful source of the latest news from the Jefferson County Commission, making sure the people of Alabama’s largest county know what they need to make important decisions.”

“Solomon is creative and takes advantage of the latest technology, using still and videos to enhance his reporting, Rushing said. “He brings a high level of integrity and professionalism to everything he does.”

Crenshaw was more humble about his accomplishments. “It’s not about me,” Crenshaw said. “It’s about the people who have trusted me to tell their story in words and images.”

Crenshaw’s award-winning work also has appeared in the Birmingham Times.

Here’s a list of his honored works with a link to each.

First-Place Specialty Articles – (BirminghamWatch) Government or Politics. ‘Can-Do Cal’ Takes a Customer-Focused Approach to New Job as JeffCo County Manager

First-Place Single Photograph – (BirminghamWatch) News or Feature Photo. Tony Petelos Says Goodbye to Jefferson County Manager Post

First-Place Feature Story – (The Birmingham Times) Print-based Newspaper. Alabama A&M Bulldogs Wideout to Honor Grandmother Who Died of COVID

First-Place Specialty Articles — (The Birmingham Times) History. One-on-one with Pulitzer winner John Archibald, whose debut memoir came out March 9

First-Place Specialty Articles – (The Birmingham Times) Sports. How Alabama A&M Bulldogs Quarterback Aqeel Glass Became One of HBCU’s Best

Second-Place Personality Profile – (The Birmingham Times) More than 500 Words. Leonard Smoot Coaches Miles College to National Golf Title

Third-Place Specialty Articles – (The Birmingham Times) History Birmingham Police: Meet the First 5 Female Captains to Serve at Same Time