PEOPLE ’s Most Beautiful Woman can add another accolade to her already-crowded awards shelf. The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has announced Beyonce will receive a journalism award for her July 2011 ESSENCE Magazine cover story.
“Eat, Pray, Love” chronicled the singer’s nine-month hiatus from the spotlight where she says she savored the “tiny moments” by spending time with husband Jay-Z and traveling the world (and, presumably, making plans to start a family).
“She’s a real writer. We had to edit her, but everyone gets edited except Toni Morrison,” ESSENCE entertainment director Cori Murray told The New York Daily News.
The organization will present the award to Beyonce on May 15.
Switching to sports, Shaquille O’Neal will now be known as Dr. O’Neal when he graduates from Barry University with a doctoral degree in education on Saturday.
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The NBA champion spent the last five years focusing on organizational learning and leadership, with a specialization in human resource development. And while he might look like a goofball on-screen, professors insist O’Neal was the perfect student.
“I was skeptical at first, because I only knew what I saw of him on TV and media. I’m not a sports freak, and didn’t know what to make of it,” said department chair David M. Kopp. “But he insisted he wanted to earn it, and he certainly did that. He was thoughtful, asked very good questions, and never missed an appointment.’’
Graduating with a 3.81 GPA and a dissertation on “The Duality of Humor and Seriousness in Leadership Styles,” O’Neal is not taking his new title lightly.
“Kids can still call me Shaq, but adults should call me Dr. O’Neal,” he said. “I did this for two reasons. One, I wanted to continue challenging myself, see if I could do it. I was a medium-level juvenile delinquent, didn’t believe in school.”
“But my parents instituted no pass-no play in our house, and that changed my life. Also, a lot of kids look up to me, especially my own kids, and now that I’m not playing anymore, I want them to have something to look up to me for.’’