2020 NABJ REGION I CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Pittsburgh Marriott City Center 112 Washington Place Pittsburgh, PA 15219 All events take place at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center unless otherwise stated.

FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2020

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - REGISTRATION & CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - RESUME CRITIQUE

9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - PITTSBURGH TOUR This charter bus tour will provide insight into the black experience in Pittsburgh, including stops at the Charles “Teenie” Harris photo exhibit at the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Negro League Baseball exhibit at the Heinz History Center’s Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum. Lunch will be provided to tour attendees.

10:00 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. - JOB FAIR Job fair appointments will be made online weeks in advance of the conference. Appointments will be available in 20-minute intervals from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. From 2 to 3:15 p.m., the job fair will be first come, first served.

1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. - UNLOCKED: BLACK MEDIA’S SHIFT Hear from journalists and others in an unfiltered discussion about the state and role of black media. Topics will include changing community perceptions of black media; the evolving legacy of being at the forefront of social justice coverage; and the innovations and challenges involved in competing with mainstream media outlets to retain talented staff, subscriptions, listeners or viewers, and advertising dollars.

This session is presented in conjunction with the NABJ Black Press Task Force.

Moderator ● Tené Croom, chair, NABJ Black Press Task Force

Panelists ● Lenore Williams, vice president, affiliate relations, American Urban Radio Networks

1 ● Rob Taylor, managing editor, New Pittsburgh Courier ● Sean Yoes, Baltimore editor of Afro-American Newspapers ● Elinor Tatum, editor in chief, Amsterdam News. ● Gary Wordlaw, vice president of news and programming, Black News Channel

ACCESS DENIED From the red carpet outside to the galas inside, reporters from black media outlets have historically had less access to cover celebrities and entertainment events than their counterparts from mainstream media outlets had. Issues of getting interviews with high-profile celebrities and credentials continue to be an issue for reporters of color. Panelists will engage in an open discussion about why and where the roadblocks exist, who the gatekeepers are, and efforts to make sure black journalists have equitable access.

Moderator ● Jawn Murray, founder and editor in chief of AlwaysAList.com

Panelists ● Kathia Woods, movie critic/entertainment journalist, creator of “CupofSoulShow,” Philadelphia ● Regan Farley, owner/publicist, Regan Farley Agency, Baltimore ● Simone Smalls, founder and president of Simone Smalls PR Inc., New York

SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNALISM — AND THE POWER BEHIND THE BOX SCORE College and professional sports are not just about entertaining the masses. They are businesses — multi- billion-dollar industries that are increasingly generating headlines for the moves that happen off the field, including the 2019 decision to allow NCAA student-athletes to profit from their names and images. Here we have a frank discussion about the relationship between business and sports, reporting opportunities that exist in this beat and how to approach coverage with fresh angles.

This session is presented in conjunction with the NABJ Sports Journalism Task Force.

Moderator ● Garry D. Howard, director of corporate initiatives, American City Business Journals; former assistant managing editor/sports, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Panelists ● Jabari Young, sports business reporter, CNBC, New York City area ● Nick Williams, business reporter, Milwaukee Business Journal ● Gregory Lee, senior managing editor, The Athletic, Washington, D.C., area ● Monique Jones, deputy editor, news, The Undefeated, Baltimore

1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - NBC UNIVERSITY (Invitation only.) This workshop is designed to give TV producers, on-air reporters and multimedia journalists’ tips and tricks for organizing themselves, and thinking fast on their feet during a breaking news story. You will also learn how to craft a compelling news package for broadcast. NBC University professors will walk you through how to focus your story, plan appropriately for a shoot, get the most out of your interviews, and outline your package in a way that maintains a viewer’s interest.

2 By participating in this free workshop, experienced journalists will expand their reporting skills and engage with NBC talent and senior producers.

You must be registered to attend the 2020 NABJ Region I conference to apply to NBC University.

Apply by April 1.: https://newsdiversity.wufoo.com/forms/q10azqt80dt08zp/ .

2:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. - JOURNALIST MULTIMEDIA DEVELOPMENT The news industry is more competitive than ever, requiring a multifaceted skillset from reporters. This session will take a deep dive into storytelling on multiple platforms and mediums.

Attendees should bring their cellphones with them.

This session is presented in conjunction with the NABJ Visual Journalism Task Force.

Moderator ● Kerwin Speight, executive producer, WPIX-TV, New York

Panelists ● Danese Kenon, director of video and photography, The Philadelphia Inquirer ● Jarrad Henderson, senior multimedia producer, USA Today; chair, NABJ Visual Task Force ● Imaeyen Ibanga, senior producer and presenter, Al Jazeera+, Washington, D.C., area ● David Trotman-Wilkins, deputy photo editor, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

COOL MOBILE TECH APPS Benet Wilson will do a lightning presentation of all her favorite mobile apps and tools to help journalists and communicators do their jobs on the fly!

Presenter ● Benet Wilson, past NABJ vice president of digital and credit cards editor for The Points Guy, Baltimore

EXPAND YOUR BRAND: AUDIO JOURNALISM 101 Learn the tips and techniques you need to transform your print reporting into radio and gain the resources to help you navigate the journey to audio reporting for radio and podcasts. In this interactive workshop, the discussion topics will include the tools of the trade and modifying your interview style for radio.

Moderator ● Cherri Gregg, Esq., community affairs reporter, KYW NewsRadio, Philadelphia

Panelists ● Allison Keyes, Washington correspondent for CBS News Radio, Washington, D.C. ● Annette John-Hall, co-host and producer of “The Why,” WHYY, Philadelphia

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - COOL MOBILE TECH GADGETS This session will show you how to compete with the best of them by expanding your mobile toolkit in ways that sharpen your ability to tell stories on the go. Want to function like you've got a production studio in your

3 backpack? Learn about mobile gear that can expand your production capabilities while in the field. We will show you a few dozen reasonably priced mobile tools that will help you step up your storytelling.

Presenters ● Allison Davis, founder, Coopty Productions, Teaneck, N.J.; co-founder, NABJ ● Denise James, journalist; adjunct journalism professor, Temple University, Philadelphia

BLACK COLLEGE JOURNALISM IN THE DIGITAL AGE Many journalism programs at historically black colleges and universities are being challenged to prepare students for a faster, more competitive, digital-first journalism market. Journalism schools across the country are reevaluating how to retool their curricula to better prepare students to enter an ever-changing industry. What does that mean for black college journalism programs, which struggle with smaller budgets and fewer resources than ever to provide students with a wider range of skills and training?

This session is being presented in conjunction with the NABJ HBCU Task Force.

Moderator ● Daarel Burnette, finance reporter, Education Week, Bethesda, Md.

Panelists ● Donovan Thomas, campus editor, The Hilltop (student newspaper), Howard University, Washington, D.C. ● Jacqueline Jones, assistant dean for programs and chair of the Department of Multimedia Journalism in the School of Global Journalism & Communication at Morgan State University, Baltimore ● Jason Smith, student chapter NABJ adviser and communications professor, Lincoln University ● Michael Grant, trainer, Google News Labs; Grambling State University alumnus

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - MENTOR-MENTEE MIXER Mentors and mentees who currently are participating in the 2019-2020 NABJ Region I Mentorship Program are invited to attend a mixer where they can chat face-to-face about career goals, summer plans or maybe what they have learned from the mentor-mentee experience. Those who plan to attend should RSVP in advance using the Eventbrite registration form that was emailed to them.

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION AT SAVOY Address: 2623 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 The host chapter for the conference, the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, will throw the opening night reception at Savoy Restaurant, an upscale eatery and lounge in the Strip District. Enjoy food and music while networking with journalists from some of the top media outlets in the country.

Buy tickets here: www.pbmfreception.eventbrite.com .

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2020

6:00 a.m. - 7 a.m. - SUNRISE YOGA In the yoga discipline, the morning is considered as a “divine time” and when an individual's spiritual energy is at its peak. Sunrise yoga brings your body more energy and nourishes you with a positive attitude to fully

4 prepare for the challenges of the day ahead. This is a gentler, less intensive form of yoga that's perfect for all fitness levels. Don't forget to pack your yoga mat!

Instructor ● Felicia Lane Savage, founder and CEO, YogaRoots on Location, Pittsburgh

8:00 a.m. - noon - REGISTRATION

8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. - REGION I CHAPTER PRESIDENTS’ BREAKFAST WITH NABJ PRESIDENT DOROTHY TUCKER This is an invitation-only event for Region I chapter presidents, who will receive emailed details from the NABJ national office.

8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. - CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, MEET & GREET, WELCOME

9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - DIGITAL MEDIA GAMECHANGERS Meet media gamechangers whose creative and innovative approaches are gaining new audiences as traditional news platforms continue to face challenges. This panel will focus on digital news entrepreneurs and organizations that are rewriting the rules for delivering news and growing audiences in today’s 24/7 news climate.

Moderator ● Marcus Mabry, vice president, Global News Programming, CNN Digital

Panelists ● Hasani Gittens, deputy editor, The City, New York ● Imaeyen Ibanga, senior producer and presenter, Al Jazeera+, Washington, D.C., area ● Brittany Johnson, senior executive producer, digital lead and on-air host at Podcast Village, Washington, D.C., area

PODCASTING ON A BUDGET This panel will teach individuals how to get their podcasts off the ground without breaking the bank. This session also will cover essentials tools, such as networking and finding community with your platform.

Moderator ● Salaah Muhammad

Panelists ● Brittany Johnson, senior executive producer, digital lead and on-air host at Podcast Village ● Brian H. Waters, creator of “Breaking Through Glass Ceilings w/Brian H.” and “Break It Down With Brian H.” podcasts ● Day Bracey and Ed Bailey, co-hosts of “Drinking Partners” podcast ● Greg Morrison, Bumper2Bumpertv founder and “Autonetwork Reports” podcast contributor; NABJ treasurer

5 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. - BROADCAST REPORTERS’ MASTER CLASS Telling compelling stories on deadline is an essential skill in broadcast news, and this workshop will give reporters the tools to do that. We’ll break down how the art of crafting great stories starts well before you shoot your first piece of video or interview, all the way to how to create memorable live shots to present your piece on air. The class will cover writing tight, concise scripts; finding good characters, using that sound and incorporating both under tight deadlines; and the art of the live shot.

Workshop attendees should have their reels available for review.

Instructors ● Lisa Sylvester, co-anchor, WPXI, Pittsburgh; former CNN correspondent ● Andrea Berry, executive producer, WCAU-TV/NBC 10, Philadelphia

DOING THE WRITE THING: USING AN OLD SCHOOL SKILL FOR NEW SCHOOL STORYTELLING The hands-on workshop looks at the craft of writing, why it’s still important in storytelling, and how to better get your point across using the written word at a time when news holes are shrinking. This workshop welcomes TV, radio, online and print journalists at all stages. The workshop will include writing assignments and guidelines to writing engaging and accurate news stories. Attendees should bring their laptops/tablets.

Facilitator/instructor ● Denise James, journalist; adjunct journalism professor, Temple University, Philadelphia

Instructors ● Denise Clay, political correspondent/editor, The Philadelphia Sunday Sun ● Janelle Griffith, breaking news reporter, NBCNews.com, New York ● Dan Bazile, anchor, host, and reporter at Spectrum News, Albany, N.Y.

10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. - JOB FAIR Job fair appointments will be made online weeks in advance of the conference. Appointments will be available in 20-minute intervals from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. From 2 to 3:30 p.m., the job fair will be first come, first served.

10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. - TV PRODUCERS’ WORKSHOP The responsibilities of TV producers are evolving in today's newsrooms. This session will provide insight to TV producers of all genres on the latest technological trends and responsibilities.

Moderator ● Olga George, assignment editor, KDKA, Pittsburgh

Panelists ● Minette Seate, senior producer, WQED, Pittsburgh ● Monica Robinson, producer/writer, CBS Philly/KYW-TV ● Manuel McDonnell Smith, managing editor, CBS Philly/KYW-TV ● Kerwin Speight, executive producer, WPIX-TV, New York

6 USING VIDEO TO PITCH YOUR NEWS RELEASES Panelists will discuss how those in the field of media relations can effectively use news-style videos to summarize and pitch stories to journalists. The goal is to give reporters and news desks a better understanding of the subject matter in order to attract coverage.

This session is presented in conjunction with the NABJ Media-related Task Force.

Moderator ● Terry Allen, media-related representative, NABJ; CEO, 1016 Media

Panelists ● Russell Bynum, owner, Bynums Marketing & Communications Inc., Pittsburgh ● Gabrielle Gambrell, Vice President Communications, Barnard College, New York ● Brian H. Waters, Johns Hopkins Medicine Communication Specialist, Baltimore

Noon - 1:00 p.m. - LUNCHEON WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER

1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. - COVERAGE OF THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL & CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS Several states in NABJ Region I, including New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, will play crucial roles in the 2020 presidential and congressional elections. This panel of political journalists will engage in frank discussions with attendees about what hot-button issues voters care about, how to effectively cover marginalized communities of color, and uncovering fresh angles in political reporting.

Panelists ● Averi Harper, 2020 campaign reporter, ABC News, New York ● Brie Jackson, national correspondent, Hearst Television, Washington, D.C. ● Chris Potter, government and accountability editor, WESA, Pittsburgh

LOCALIZING GLOBAL STORIES — HOW JOURNALISTS CAN COVER THE WORLD Journalists will share their advice for organizing successful overseas reporting trips. In recent years, the number and sizes of overseas bureaus have shrunk dramatically. This workshop will explore how finding unique local angles to globally relevant stories can make applicants more professionally competitive in their newsrooms, as well as for grants and fellowships to fund overseas reporting trips. Panelists will share their own experiences and help journalists develop a toolkit to report on international stories from both home and overseas.

This session is presented in conjunction with the NABJ Global Journalism Task Force.

Moderator ● Lynette Clemetson, director, Knight-Wallace Fellowships for Journalists

Panelists ● Ervin Dyer, senior editor, Pitt Magazine, University of Pittsburgh ● Stacey Samuel, executive producer, Al Jazeera America, Washington, D.C. ● Nichelle Smith, coordinating editor, investigations, USA Today, Tysons Corner, Va. ● Deborah Barfield Barry, Washington correspondent, USA Today, Washington, D.C.

7 ● Jarrad Henderson, senior multimedia producer, USA Today, Tysons Corner, Va.; chair, NABJ Visual Task Force

FROM NEWS CYCLE TO SOUL CYCLE: GETTING OUT OF THE NEWSROOM RUT A healthy journalist is a productive and engaged journalist. This session will offer attendees ways to maintain a balanced lifestyle while on deadline every day and unearth wellness benefits they didn’t know were available.

Presenter ● Dawn Angelique Roberts, certified USA Track & Field coach; director, external community relations, Temple University, Philadelphia

2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - GOOGLE NEWS TOOLS CERTIFIED ELECTION REPORTING TRAINING During election season, misleading news reports can sway opinions. Digital attacks can take important websites offline, silencing information when voters need it most. This workshop will show attendees time- saving methods to verify the authenticity and accuracy of photos, videos and reports. The session will cover several topics, including advanced search, trends and visualization.

Attendees should bring their laptops/tablets to visit, observe or test out sites, services and resources.

This training is sponsored by Google.

Presenter ● Michael Grant, trainer and teaching fellow, Google News Lab

LEAVING ON YOUR OWN TERMS: LIFE AFTER THE NEWSROOM This workshop is designed for people looking to make the transition from the newsroom to alternative markets. Fortunately for journalists, skills reporting, editing, videography and photography are in high demand in other industries. This panel will feature former journalists now working as their own bosses or in academia, foreign policy and public relations. They'll share their experiences applying their journalism skills to advance professionally outside of newsrooms and offer advice on making the transition.

Moderator ● Terry Allen, media-related representative, NABJ; CEO, 1016 Media

Panelists ● Allison Davis, founder, Coopty Productions, Teaneck, N.J.; co-founder, NABJ ● Clarece Polke, foreign service officer, U.S. Department of State, Jamaica ● Deborah Todd, communications manager, University of Pittsburgh

3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - CLOSING KEYNOTE & Q&A

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - CLOSING RECEPTION/AFTER-PARTY OFF-SITE

8 Thank you to our partners!

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