Following Hampton University's Censorship and Seizure of Its School

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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS • WINTER 2004

NNABJAJOURNALBJ

Staff of the Hampton Script The Silent Treatment Following Hampton University’s censorship and seizure of its school paper, NABJ examines HBCUs, student rights and the mis-education of black college journalists

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 161 Harrisonburg, VA

NABJ members from around the nation form the association’s first gospel choir and sing praise at the Gospel Brunch in Dallas. PAGE 40

PHOTOGRAPH BY JO-ANN PIRSON

SPECIAL REPORT FROM THE TOP ALSO INSIDE HBCU Mis-education? Black and in Charge Message from the Paper seizure at Hampton Executive editor Ronnie Executive Director University poses questions Agnew and managing editor PAGE 7 about what journalism Don Hudson are leading the Student’s Corner students are learning. way at The Clarion-Ledger in PAGE 34 PAGE 20 Jackson, Miss. PAGE 14 Associate’s Corner THE NABJ INTERVIEW PAGE 35 Q&A with NABJ’s CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT Talkin’ Tech 15th President Making Moves in S.D. PAGE 37 The San Diego Association of Herbert Lowe shares his Message from the vision for the association for Black Journalists makes its mark in the community. UNITY President the 2003-2005 term. PAGE 46 PAGE 33 PAGE 10

The NABJ Journal (USPS number pending) is published four times a year by the National Association of Black Journalists—the largest organization of journalists of color in the world. To discuss news items, photos and letters, call (301) 445-7100, ext. 110; fax to (301) 445-7101 or e-mail [email protected]. For information about advertising, call Gerald Van Treeck at Achieve Communications at (847) 562-8633; fax to (847) 562-8634 or e-mail gvtgvt@ earthlink.net. NABJ members receive one free copy; additional copies of this or back issues are available to members and non-members at $3.50 each; annual subscription is $14. Reprints not permitted without written approval of NABJ. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to NABJ, 8701-A Adelphi Rd., Adelphi, Md. 20783-1716. CONTRIBUTORS

NNABJAJOURNALBJ ERRIN HAINES is a CORTNEY HILL is Winter 2004 Vol. 22, No. 1 reporter at the the health and Official Publication of the Orlando Sentinel and human services National Association chairwoman of the reporter for the of Black Journalists NABJ Young Salisbury Post in NABJ OFFICERS Journalists Task Salisbury, N.C. President Force. Herbert Lowe Newsday (New York) Vice President/Broadcast Barbara Ciara NORM PARISH is a WTKR-TV (Norfolk) JERRY MCCORMICK reporter at the St. Vice President/Print is NABJ’s Region Bryan Monroe X director and a Louis Post-Dispatch Knight Ridder copy editor for The and a former NABJ Secretary San Diego Union- Region IX director. Sarah Glover Tribune. The Philadelphia Inquirer Treasurer John Yearwood The Miami Herald Parliamentarian Melanie Burney The Philadelphia Inquirer Region I Director C. KALIMAH REDD KEITH REED, Neal Scarbrough is a suburban staff formerly of the ESPN.com writer for The Baltimore Region II Director Boston Globe. She Business Journal, Rachelle Dickerson Christie previously worked is a business The Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.) at the Portland reporter at The Region III Director J. Elliott Lewis Press Herald in Boston Globe. Freelance Maine. Region IV Director Ernie Suggs The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Region V Director Marsha J. Eaglin MASHAUN SIMON, ERNIE SUGGS is a Christian Community Health Center an NABJ intern political reporter (Chicago) the past two at The Atlanta Region VI Director summers, is a Journal- Stephanie Jones reporter at the The Commercial Appeal (Memphis) Constitution. He is Atlanta Daily Region VII Director the NABJ Region Russell LaCour World. IV director. Tulsa World Region VIII Director Vickie Newton KMOV-TV (St. Louis) Region IX Director Also contributing: Victor Vaughan Arizona Daily Star APRIL BETHEA is majoring in journalism and mass communication and Region X Director political science at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. She Jerry McCormick has been an NABJ intern at The (Raleigh) News & Observer and the The San Diego Union-Tribune Associated Press. Associate Representative Angela McClendon TIFFANY BLACK, a former NABJ student representative, is an online San Antonio news editor at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Convention & Visitors Bureau MICHELLE JOHNSON, a former editor at The Boston Globe, freelances the Student Representative Caleb Wilkerson newspaper’s Personal Tech column and lectures on online research at Louisiana State University Boston University. (Baton Rogue) PEARL STEWART, a former newspaper editor, is director of career and development services at Florida A&M University. from the president Two Young Women Making a Difference

By Herbert Lowe ‘ very NABJ member should NABJ steadfastly be proud of Talia Buford supports ensuring that Eand Efe Osagie, two aspiring black journalists who demon- every black journalism strated great courage and student gets not only the solving a problem…[and] a huge leadership in helping to hold rift that truly upset me. I wanted university officials and racists best education, but also unity, one cause, and one course accountable. access to quality of action.” Both of these young women campus media. Unity is not always possible. recently showed that you don’t But I believe these leadership need 20 years in the business lessons will help make Buford before you have the responsibili- ’ and Osagie, and the student editors and chapter leaders who ty to protect the First she was born in the Bronx and fought with them, not only Amendment or to fight for fair raised not far from Rutgers, better journalists after they and sensitive coverage of our where she’s a senior majoring in graduate, but more able and community. journalism and media studies— willing to fight for the concerns Their experiences also showed and president of the Rutgers we all share in our newsrooms why our presence as a national University Assn. of Black as well. For sure, they are the organization with strong local Journalists (RUABJ), one of our kind of future board members professional and student newest student chapters. we want for our local profession- chapters is vital. Osagie made sure the chapter al chapters or our national board By now, many of you know joined other black student of directors. about Buford (page 23). As groups in challenging a campus Meanwhile, I have to ask this editor of the Hampton Script, she satirical publication that put out question: What about the count- helped lead a revolt after the an issue with a lot of hate- less black journalism students Hampton University administra- charged comments about blacks. still unable to practice their tion confiscated the school Working with NABJ leaders, craft without interference? newspaper because her staff RUABJ denounced the issue, NABJ steadfastly supports insisted on maintaining its helped plan a campus protest ensuring that every black independence concerning news rally and called for reducing the journalism student gets not only content. publication’s funding. To the best education, but also NABJ quickly joined many Osagie’s dismay, the administra- access to quality campus media. journalism organizations and tion ended up opting for a While we do our part on the student advocates to support “campus climate survey” on the national level, I urge every NABJ Buford and her staff in Virginia. larger issue of unrest, tension member to spend time at a local Our open letter condemned the and outbreaks of deviant campus, especially if it’s a seizure, warned against reper- behavior targeted at groups at historically black college or cussions against the students Rutgers. university, instructing or and ultimately helped to protect Osagie said the experience mentoring those who seek to their right to practice their taught her plenty about working come behind us. craft. with others—particularly other No doubt, there are other While the Hampton story black student groups—to organ- Bufords and Osagies out there reverberated across NABJ and ize and motivate people into ready to hold campus officials the country, an equally impor- taking action. accountable. We must all help to tant but lesser known journalis- “It is not an easy thing to do,” show them the way. tic battle was waging at Rutgers she wrote to me in an e-mail. University in New Jersey. That’s “There were so many personali- where Osagie stepped in. ties, so many objectives, and so Herbert Lowe is a courts reporter Her family is from Nigeria, but many varying approaches to at Newsday in Queens, N.Y.

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 5 from the executive director Delivering Value to Our Members

By Tangie Newborn um membership that will give them such added value as ABJ members, you have advance notice on job openings, spoken! further discounts on convention N and Media Institute program In a recent online membership registrations, special lines at con- They will also allow you to save survey, you asked for additional ventions to speed registration, time and money. benefits. Your national board of VIP invitations to special mem- Throughout the year, we hope to directors and staff have heard you ber events and more. Watch the add new and improved member and we are working to make it Web site for more information as benefits. We encourage you to take happen. these options become available. advantage of these new features. Here is a sampling: MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY CD – Remember, visit www.nabj.org AUTO-RENEWAL – A secure and We want to help you stay in touch often for new details. convenient way to continue your with your friends and easily net- valuable membership benefits and work with your colleagues. This year, members will get our mem- Tangie Newborn heads the NABJ services automatically. Take the national office in Adelphi, Md. hassle out of remembering to bership directory on a CD, much return the paper renewal notice. like those offered by universities Your membership will be renewed and Greek-letter organizations. NABJ STAFF each year once you provide NABJ We are updating our member- Executive Director with your credit card information. ship records now. Watch for your Tangie Newborn Continue to enjoy member dis- update form and return it right counts on convention registration away. Don’t get left out. Membership and fees and Media Institute pro- PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Development Director grams. Stay abreast of the latest YEAR-ROUND – The NABJ Media Germaine Ashton news affecting black journalists Institute continues to offer inten- sive and highly sought after pro- via the NABJ Web site,The NABJ Communications Manager fessional development sessions. Journal and NABJ E-News, our Rita Bowers electronic newsletter. NABJobs These sessions provide cutting- edge techniques to help journal- Online, our Web-based job service, Marketing Manager ists and students compete in and our membership directory Carolyn Wheeler continue to be at your fingertips at newsrooms today and tomorrow. Look out for information on the www.nabj.org—so long as your Professional Development several Institute programs now membership remains current. Manager in the works. MULTI-YEAR MEMBERSHIP – Full Duanne Crawley members can take advantage of MEMBER SERVICES DEPART- dues savings by renewing their MENT – Our staff in Adelphi, Md., Student Services Associate membership in two- or five-year is ready to assist you with your Warren Paul intervals. Renew now for two membership needs. No more try- years and pay only $150 (a savings ing to figure out who to call when Office Services Associate of $10) or for five years and pay you have a question. Veronique Dodson $350 (a savings of $50). Whether it’s to join NABJ, MEMBERSHIP ENHANCEMENTS – renew your membership or reg- Executive Assistant/ Soon to come dues options will ister for a program, contact the Development Associate add value to your membership. staff at [email protected] Warner Williams These options include lifetime or call us at (301) 445-7100 membership. In addition, for those ext. 101. Program Development who want extra perks we will have Without a doubt, these new Associate that, too. Full members will have perks will add value to your Kristie Jones the chance to upgrade to a premi- membership.

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 7 from the editor NABJ Members: This Is Your Publication

By Gregory Lee Jr. plish—in capturing the president’s vision as well as my own —is putting together a team that has the few weeks ago, I received a same drive, commitment and vol- call from our new NABJ unteering spirit that has helped to large. We will take an aggressive APresident Herbert Lowe. put NABJ in the position it was in approach to our journalism. That When I saw his name on the caller during its first 28 years. is, after all, our calling. ID, I thought he was calling for an We have successfully involved We will make this an all-around update on activities of the Student the copy editing and visual task outstanding publication that is a Education Enrichment Develop- forces in the production process of writer-friendly, well designed and ment program (S.E.E.D.), then to this magazine, so we will be show- edited. talk about our upcoming season in casing the skills of OUR people in I can assure you that this will fantasy basketball. OUR publication. We are going to happen within a year. What makes However, the president had a follow the president’s vision of me so certain? request. NABJ365, where all members of Many of you know that as a for- “How would you feel if you were our association will participate in mer board member I possess a the editor of The Journal?” he the process. very hard working, detailed-ori- asked. The next step is to develop a ented attitude that makes things Well, at first I was a bit sur- reporting staff of quality journal- click. Most of you know that I not prised. However, the more I ists who can help spread NABJ’s only have passion for and commit- thought about it, the more I felt message and set the tone for the ment to this organization, but also comfortable being able to serve industry as a whole. We implore an understanding of the big pic- NABJ, yet again. you to volunteer and share your ture. My No. 1 goal is to make this pub- skills with the organization. So, I eagerly invite you to join lication one of the top journals in Whether you are a beginning, mid- this new and exciting team. the nation. When I depart this career or veteran reporter, we Together, let’s make the NABJ position, I want to say that this encourage you to join this exciting Journal a publication we can ALL editorial team made an impact new team. be proud to call OUR own. with this periodical. Finally, we will produce a publi- To make that goal a reality, we cation that addresses the issues, have to take on this project long- and short-term. We want to Gregory Lee Jr. is deputy high through a process. tackle issues facing this organiza- school sports editor at The The first thing I want to accom- tion, the industry and the world at Washington Post.

NABJ JOURNAL STAFF

Publisher: Herbert Lowe Contributing Writers: April Bethea, Contributing Photographers: Editor: Gregory Lee Jr. Tiffany Black, Errin Haines, Cortney Michelle Johnson, Warren Paul, Hill, Angela McClendon, Norm Jo-Ann Pirson, Chris Todd, and Managing Editor: Chianti Cleggett Parish, C. Kalimah Redd, Keith Reed, Carolyn Wheeler Associate Editors: Tiffany Alexander Mashaun Simon, Ernie Suggs, Ernie and Marvin Lake Sotomayor, Pearl Stewart and Caleb Production Manager: Wilkerson Carolyn Wheeler Photo Editor: Katina Revels Copy Editors: Gene Farris, Diane Copy Desk Chief: Emeri O’Brien Please e-mail letters to the editor to Hawkins, Chanta Jackson, Fran [email protected]. They will be posted Graphics: Brian Henderson Jeffries, Russell LaCour, Jon Perkins online at www.nabj.org. and Lamar Wilson

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 9 PHOTO BY MICHELLE JOHNSON Lowe on the

MOVENABJ’s president focused on bringing organization to its potential n 2001, Herbert Lowe ran unsuccessfully for NABJ president. It came at a time after he had served as an Iexecutive board member for six years, but on the heels of NABJ reaching a financial crisis. Two years later, after encouragement from many of his supporters, Lowe ran once again for the association’s top elected post. This time, on Aug. 8, 2003, the Newsday courts reporter became the 15th person in NABJ’s history to ascend to the role of president. During an interview with Journal staff writer Errin Haines, Lowe outlined his plans for the organization.

JOURNAL: What can local chapters do to feel more connected to the national organization?

PHOTO BY NABJ STAFF LOWE: Our chapters are going to have to become Lowe, center, with NABJ member Derek McGinty, left, of stronger locally. For NABJ to really get our name out, WUSA-TV in Washington, and U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) we have to do things that engage the community. I am meet with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Capitol Hill. too tired of us trying to prove how big time we are. Our At top, the president talks to participants at a NABJ Media Institute program at Bloomberg News in Princeton, N.J. rank and file (members) has something to say, and I

NABJ PRESIDENTS 1975-1977 Chuck Stone 1977-1979 Vernon Jarrett 1979-1981 Bob Reid 1981-1983 Les Payne 10 1991-1993 Sidmel Estes-Sumpter 1993-1995 Dorothy Butler Gilliam 1995-1997 Arthur Fennell want to make sure they get the should play a role in the coverage. I 15 minutes members want to know chance to say it. want to figure out how we shine a if NABJ is going to respond. light on black journalists and the To write an e-mail demanding a JOURNAL: What do you need good things and the great journal- response takes about 30 seconds. from members to help you do your ism that they’re doing. If we can do To put out a response that is rea- job? that and compare that to every- soned, productive, insightful and body that’s doing it, we should be meaningful takes some time. LOWE: To do their job as journal- able to demonstrate that too few of My mantra is that within 48 ists every single day, as well as us are getting the opportunity to hours of something happening, we they can, so I can demonstrate do it. We can’t jump on every story, should have a response or let the what NABJ is advocating for. They but we know the ones that are membership know why we’re not need to continue to tell me their coming. We have to make it hap- responding. We have to somehow struggles. When they advance, pen now. We have to get the num- acknowledge we know that some- they need to let us thing is happening. know so we can And some things use those opportu- just happen on a nities to continue local level and are to inspire others. going to have to be We need for those dealt with by who gain influence local chapters. to use that influ- They are our eyes ence to help other and ears locally. black journalists. I need them to JOURNAL: take advantage of You’ve said that the services we NABJ needs to get offer and provide away from its input on those dependency on services. I need conventions for you to continue to the bulk of its rev- pay your dues, enue. What other please! And don’t opportunities are talk bad about we pursuing to fill NABJ. People our coffers? aren’t going to PHOTO BY CAROLYN WHEELER want to attend Lowe gets some advice from predecessor Condace Pressley in Dallas. LOWE: Media your church if you Institute program- talk badly about it. Talk about how bers and keep those numbers cur- ming is an avenue, and we are also much NABJ has done for you and rent so when we talk to the exploring new levels of member- how much you have done for industry and newsroom leaders ship. The board approved in Octo- NABJ. we have facts to back up our case. ber to create three levels of full membership: basic, enhanced JOURNAL: How will NABJ make JOURNAL: Under your adminis- and lifetime. sure black journalists are involved tration, how is NABJ working to We’re not trying to do a layaway in the next big story? be proactive, expeditious and program here but we have a lot of responsive when issues such as people who can afford to pay and LOWE: When we were in college, the Rush Limbaugh situation, the would be willing to pay more than we aspired to journalism often to Detroit convention crisis or the $80 if we just asked them. cover the big stories. That’s the Naples Daily News hip-hop column We’re going to be looking to get way to get influence, to become an flap arise? more money for programming and editor — to demonstrate that you our general operating costs out of can handle the big story, that you LOWE: There are things happen- our members. When we talk to know what to do when the big ing almost every day. We can’t major foundations, they’re going story happens. For every big story respond to everything, or else to ask how much we are giving up that happens, I want to know that’s all we would do. We are ourselves. When we demonstrate which black journalists are work- going to be judicious about what that The Journal is coming out on ing on that story. They don’t have we respond to. It’s not an easy time, that becomes a revenue pro- to have to be the lead reporter, but thing. News will break, and within ducer. There’s also Web site ban-

1983-1985 Merv Aubespin 1985-1987 Al Fitzpatrick 1987-1989 DeWayne Wickham 1989-1991 Thomas Morgan III 1997-1999 Vanessa Williams 1999-2001 William W. Sutton Jr. 2001-2003 Condace L. Pressley 2003-2005 Herbert Lowe 11 ner advertising. Not everything you do is going to bring in hun- dreds of thousands of dollars. For the 30th anniversary, we’ve been discussing ideas for premium sponsorship opportunities.

JOURNAL: What changes in our convention programming approach can we expect under your administration?

LOWE: We shouldn’t have any programming that encourages people to leave the business. I want us to be known first and foremost as a journalism organization. The criteria for workshops should be: What is it that’s going to allow a person to be a better journalist on

Monday when people PHOTO BY JO-ANN PIRSON get back to work and Lowe enjoys the moment with his wife, Mira, a Newsday news editor, during his inaugural address in does this help people Dallas. He credits her and other supporters for his making a second run at the NABJ presidency. advance and gain influence in the industry? Over the next two years, we leave to our successors. accomplish? aren’t having typical conventions Five years from now, I want it to LOWE: Well, winning is certainly with UNITY in 2004 and NABJ’s be said that during this adminis- better than losing. But I was able 30th anniversary the following tration we relieved ourselves of the to keep my passion and keep my year. So a lot of programming has perception that we are a one-week- fire and wait my turn…I under- to happen during the course of the a-year association and became a stand that I’m representing thou- year. To help, I’d like to offer Media year-round association. That we sands of black journalists and it Institute programming once a once again began fighting for black seems like so many of them are month. We’re not positioned to do journalists and shining a light on suddenly calling me…I’m still that right now because we don’t black journalists. That we cele- learning. One of the things I have the funding, but I want the brated our legacy and made it learned that became quite clear Media Institute to be as well clear that we are the bellwether after the Detroit (convention city known as the Maynard Institute organization for journalists of debate) is that city officials recog- or Poynter. color at UNITY. I want to be able nize the importance of NABJ and to say that NABJ 30 years later is a what the convention means for the JOURNAL: Are you wary of too stronger, more powerful entity in potential of that city… many pursuits under your admin- the industry and that we can look Somebody once told me that istration? back on those 30 years with pride NABJ has steadfastly refused to and be passionate about our next live up to its potential. I want to LOWE: I’m very wary. There are 30 years. prove them wrong. We’re not some things that we want to do going to be able to do everything, that we’re already excited about JOURNAL: What is it like to be but we’re going to try to make that I’m wondering if we should president? What do you hope to a difference.

12 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004

Executive editor Ronnie Agnew, left, and managing editor Don Hudson have reinvigorated the newsroom at The Clarion-Ledger.

hen Ronnie Agnew became the first African American to head Wthe newsroom at The Clarion- Ledger in Jackson, Miss. in Fall 2002, he Taking on began his search for a person who could help him make changes. Agnew found his help last March from another African American, Don Hudson. the South Agnew, who is executive editor of the newspaper, and Hudson, the managing editor, are among the rare duos of black AGNEW, HUDSON A PART journalists holding the top two newsroom jobs at a major daily newspaper. In Ohio, James N. Crutchfield and Debra Adams OF CHANGING THE FACE Simmons, both African Americans, are publisher and editor, respectively, at the Akron Beacon-Journal. OF MISSISSIPPI JOURNALISM Agnew has placed other African Ameri- cans in high profile jobs at The Clarion- By Norm Parish | Photography by Chris Todd Ledger, which was known as a segrega- tionist newspaper during the 1960s. The newsroom changes included naming

14 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 African Americans Grace Sim- of people who wanted to know Louisiana University in Monroe in mons-Fisher as metropolitan edi- what is going on. It is my goal to 1983. Hudson, who had worked was tor and Eric Stringfellow as metro- keep these people.” sports reporter at The Clarion- politan columnist. Overall, the Agnew, who was born in poverty Ledger from 1983-86, has worked in newsroom is about 35 percent in Mississippi’s Lee County and various sports editing jobs at the black, one of the largest percent- graduated from the University of News-Star in Monroe, the former ages of African Americans in a Mississippi in 1984, says he has a Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock, mainstream daily newspaper, deep affection for Jackson. He The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Agnew says. worked at the Commonwealth in and Orlando Sentinel, where he also Agnew and Hudson have been Greenwood as a reporter before served as metropolitan editor. He involved in other changes that they moving to The Sun Herald in Biloxi also worked as managing editor of hope will not only affect the news- and later to the Cincinnati Enquir- the Jackson (Tenn.) Sun and later room, but also the entire state of er, where he was promoted to had the same post at the Lansing Mississippi. assistant city editor. He became State (Mich.) Journal before rejoin- “I think it says a lot about not managing editor of the Hattiesburg ing The Clarion-Ledger. only where the industry has come, American and worked in manage- “I came here because of Ronnie,” but where Mississippi has come. I ment at Thompson newspapers. Hudson says. “We knew from day think nationally it is a victory Agnew joined The Clarion-Ledger one that we were on the same page. because it shows that newsrooms as managing editor in February . . . We could read one another. That are ready for this,”Agnew says. 2001, succeeding Shawn McIntosh, has been refreshing. It usually “I think the thing that we have to who resigned to take a job in Geor- takes a year to get to know the do is show people that we are about gia with The Atlanta Journal-Con- boss. But here that connection has the business of journalism. Yes, we stitution. occurred right away.” are African-American men but we Says Agnew, “I’m never short on also are very, very, good journal- ideas and [Hudson] is never short ists. I think that probably over- I think the thing that we on a way to execute them. If we shadows and outweighs anything have to do “is show people have anything in common, we else.” believe we ought to have fun.” In October, Agnew and Hudson that we are about the Even though he and Agnew are were involved in the newspaper’s business of journalism. both black, Hudson says, “people series titled, “The Changing Face Yes, we are African- have been more receptive than I of Jackson,” which was published expected them to be. . . . There on four consecutive Sundays. The American men but we were probably some folks who series explored such issues as poli- also are very, very, good were probably saying, ‘Oh my tics, race and economic develop- goodness.’ But we didn’t notice it.” ment in Jackson and three other journalists. I think that But Hudson, who holds regular cities with African-American probably overshadows meetings about what works in the majority populations. The stories and outweighs newspaper, jokes, “we have some also examined how demographics good drag downs and knockouts” have changed in Jackson; it went anything else. over news stories among the news- from about 56 percent black in paper’s editors. 1990 to about 71 percent in 2000. Agnew says, “I am proud of my The city’s overall population newsroom for how they have declined during that same period Ronnie Agnew embraced both of us.” from 196,637 people to 184,256. Clarion ”Ledger Editor Some news staffers say they like In other changes, Agnew also the two editors because both men wants to give the newspaper a “I had worked for the publisher are “very approachable” and “have facelift. “We are taking a very oper- [Bill Hunsberger] previously at a an open-door policy,” qualities that ational look and a very strategic Gannett newspaper in Hatties- were missing from some past news look at everything that we do,” he burg, Miss.,” recalls Agnew, 41. “So, room managers. says. “We are just trying to find a I told him I thought the time was “Reporters didn’t have much say way for improvements, like maybe right for me to lead this paper. And and were basically told what to say a punchier presentation on section I just feel blessed that he agreed.” and you did it,” recalls Pamela fronts. All of those basic things Berry, an African-American Hudson, 42, also was reared in that help you lure readers. And reporter who has worked at the the South. Born in Shreveport, La., during a time of war, I think we newspaper since 1994. he graduated from Northeast were getting a whole new audience Now, Berry says, “it is not a paper

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 15 BLACK JOURNALISTS IN KEY NEWSPAPER EDITING ROLES

TOP EDITORS

• Donald Adderton, editor, The Delta Democrat Times, Greenville, Miss.

• Ronnie Agnew, executive editor, The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Miss.

• Caesar Andrews, editor, Gannett News Service

• Ken Bunting, executive editor, Seattle Post- Intelligencer

• Karla Garrett Harshaw, editor, Springfield (Ohio) News Sun; senior editor, Cox Community Newspapers

• M. David Goodwin, editor, Middletown (Ohio) Journal Agnew meeting with staff at The Clarion Ledger. “Wouldn’t it be great for two African-American men to le

• Bennie Ivory, executive editor and vice president, that manages down. We are still reporter who has worked at the The Courier-Journal, working long days and doing sto- newspaper since 1979. Louisville ries we might not want to do . . . But “[Ronnie] talks not just about the it is great to have editors who want stories, but about your family,” • Lee Ivory, executive to know what I think or how some- says Kanengiser, 52, who has five editor and publisher, USA thing can be approached. And I can children. “We have had other man- TODAY Sports Weekly do it without losing my job . . . Ron- agers in the newsroom, but many nie knows the art of conversation of them never asked about how • Sherrie Marshall, and can really talk with people. He your family was doing. [Agnew and executive editor, The Macon is one of those bosses who stops Hudson] are always asking how my (Ga.) Telegraph and talks to you. He is very nice. kids are doing. . . .To me, it is kind of You want to work hard for him. He refreshing . . . It makes me believe • Gregory Moore, editor, listens very well.” that journalism is not their only The Denver Post Hudson, she says, has helped concern. They seem to care about boost the careers of other talented you as a person.” • Debra Adams journalists. “Don has even helped Agnew says he believes many Simmons, editor and vice other reporters get to bigger news- Mississippi residents support their president, Akron Beacon papers in other markets. He does- leadership as well, especially Journal n’t try to block you.” because of The Clarion-Ledger’s The two editors also seem to care past reputation. The newspaper’s about reporters’ personal lives, circulation has increased to says Andy Kanengiser, a white 100,000 daily (from 97,000) and

16 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 BLACK JOURNALISTS IN KEY NEWSPAPER EDITING ROLES

MANAGING EDITORS

• Dean Baquet, Los Angeles Times

• Jeanette Barrett-Stokes, Features, Gannett News Service

• Don Hudson, The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Miss.

• Tonnya Kennedy, The State, Columbia, S.C.

• James Mallory, Initiatives and Operations, The Atlanta Journal- Constitution

• Everett (E.J.) Mitchell, The Detroit News ead Mississippi’s only statewide newspaper to…journalistic excellence?” he asks. “That is our goal.” • Jill Nevels-Haun, The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, W. Va. 100,000 (from 110,000) on Sundays Ledger’s newsroom is run by two during his tenure as editor, accord- African Americans. Hudson and • Mike McQueen, ing to Agnew. Agnew say The Clarion-Ledger has Macon (Ga.) Telegraph He says white Mississippians are a rocky relationship with Lott even as proud as blacks that two African though the newspaper has • Africa Price, Americans lead the newsroom. endorsed him. The Jackson (Tenn.) Sun, “There may be an occasional Hudson also says he is some- Jackson phone call from people that the times surprised that race is still choice of a photograph was made such a high profile issue in Missis- • Otis Sanford, ‘because you are African Ameri- sippi today. “I have been trying to The Commercial Appeal, can,’ ” Agnew says. “But that has learn the South again,” he says. Memphis happened to me everywhere I have “People are just flat out open . . . worked.” There are some bitter people when • Calvin Stovall, At the same time, Hudson says it comes to race.” The News Journal, U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, a Mississippi Hudson says during recent com- Wilmington, Del. Republican, alluded negatively to munity meetings tied to its series, The Clarion-Ledger’s parent com- “The Changing Face of Jackson,” • Catherine Straight, pany’s [Gannett] hiring practices, some whites said they “didn’t feel St. Paul Pioneer Press which Lott called questionable. included anymore” in the city, which Hudson says he isn’t sure whether now has various black officials in the • Hollis Towns, Lott was specifically trying to crit- public and the private sectors. The The Kalamazoo Gazette icize Gannett because The Clarion- city’s current mayor, Harvey John-

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 17 Agnew takes a moment to talk with staffers. He says he is proud of the newsroom for how it has embraced both him and Hudson. son, is also African American. government. ... Mississippi has just been devas- Hudson adds, some whites call “Just eight years ago, Harvey tated, especially in the Mississippi Johnson “smart and articulate.” Johnson became the first African- Delta that is largely black.” “And that is the one that got me,” American mayor of this city. Hudson says. “That word ‘articu- There is a lot of newness to this Agnew hopes his paper’s report- late’ has always got to come up . . .” thing in terms of African Ameri- ing on such challenges will help “Like it or not, race is still very cans being in power so many make improvements and bring much an issue here in some ways,” places in this market. That is why Agnew says. “But [Mississippi] is race is a big deal here. After race, the newspaper a little recognition. not unlike any place I have already economics would be the biggest In 1983, The Clarion-Ledger won a lived. Think about what has hap- topic we would have to tackle. Pulitzer Prize for its education pened to Jackson during the last Mississippi is still a very rural and reform coverage in the public 10 years. Just look at the major poor state. And African Ameri- shift in race in Jackson, just one cans are not represented the way service division. He wants the place in Mississippi. they should be in education, in newspaper to again achieve simi- “This is a city that used to be terms of institutions of higher lar success. largely white [and] now is largely learning. We don’t have many of “Wouldn’t it be great for two black. I think people of color are our folks going on to school for trying to understand what this higher education. Therefore, the African-American men to lead change means. For the first time economic situation is very, very Mississippi’s only statewide news- in this city’s history, you have important. Places like St. Louis paper to that [level] of journalistic African-American people in and other places can perhaps excellence?” he asks. “That is our charge of just about every form of withstand the loss of industry, but goal.”

18 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 Don’t miss the largest journalism convention ever held in America.

UNITY 2004 Aug. 4-8 Washington, D.C.

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National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 19 The Mis-Education of

HNewspaper BConfiscationC at HamptonU University Sparkss Debate on the Training of Future Journalists

By Ernie Suggs

20 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 rom his office in downtown SPECIAL REPORT a letter to the task force. “The work Memphis, the incident at that you have completed and the Hampton University that A LOOK INSIDE report you have produced can only resulted in the confiscation Hampton’s Leader help to strengthen the great legacy of the school’s student PAGE 23 and tradition that are Hampton Uni- Fpaper disturbed Otis Sanford. versity’s.” Student Press Issues on The managing editor of The Com- Campus Earl Caldwell, a visiting professor mercial Appeal has spent countless PAGE 25 at Hampton and chairman of the task hours on the bucolic Hampton cam- HBCU Alums Speak Out force, suggests that this is the start of pus mentoring and recruiting stu- PAGE 28 something big. dents. One of those students was “The Hampton Task Force will Talia Buford, the embattled Hamp- Administrative Obstacles impact other HBCUs,” Caldwell says. PAGE 29 ton Script editor, who interned at The “We are trying to start a national pro- Commercial Appeal two summers Commentary gram and lift all. It was horrible thing ago. PAGES 30-32 to happen at Hampton, but it is “To me there are two different pulling us together.” things. My perception of black col- This “horrible thing” by school lead- lege journalism students is much dif- By the time the confiscated paper ers may turn out to be the turning ferent than my reaction to what hap- came out, the staff had agreed to run point in the struggles that HBCU jour- pened in Hampton,” Sanford said. Haysbert’s letter on the cover in nalism programs face. But, many “This incident, I was very disturbed exchange for Hampton forming a agree that improvement of these pro- about it. If it speaks to anything, it task force. All of this was happening grams will need more resources and might speak to perhaps the lack of while Hampton was in the midst of commitment from media companies sophistication and understanding trying to improve journalism educa- as well as better support from school among the administration about the tion at the university. officials. role of the media.” So instead of past situations in Ironically, one of the biggest signs This incident is not the first to which schools took action against towards this improvement was the occur at historically black colleges student papers in the form of reduc- creation of the Scripps Howard and universities, but it is part of a ing funding or in some cases, ceasing School of Journalism at Hampton in longstanding problem between uni- the publication, Hampton school offi- 2002. The Scripps Howard Founda- versity leaders and student newspa- cials and students editors wanted the tion donated more than $2 million to pers. task force to set guidelines for the build a state-of-the-art facility to help How Hampton University, a histor- practice of journalism on the cam- better prepare students for the next ically black college in the Hampton pus. level. Roads area of Virginia, became the After a few meeting sessions, However, the school had a rocky center of a journalistic firestorm is a Hampton school officials accepted start as Charlotte Grimes, who was study of contrasts and confusion. the proposal submitted by the facul- hired to start this new program, During the school’s annual home- ty-student task force. The recom- resigned after having philosophical coming week, the university’s admin- mendations were: issues with school officials on the istration confiscated the Oct. 22 edi- • No administrator, faculty member, style of journalism to be taught at the tion of the student-run newspaper, student or university-affiliated organ- school. The Hampton Script, because Buford ization will confiscate or halt distribu- After the October newspaper was and her staff refused to run a letter tion of the Hampton Script. seized, the American Society of from the acting university president, • Student journalists on the newspa- Newspaper Editors, pulled its finan- JoAnn Haysbert, on the front page, per staff have the right to a free press. cial support from the school for a high as Haysbert had ordered. • Oversight and guidance from fac- school journalism program it spon- The staff published a news story ulty advisors with journalistic knowl- sored. about the health violations at the uni- edge are necessary. “Make no mistake, the reputation versity’s cafeteria on the front page. and credibility of journalism educa- However, the letter to the student • An advisory board should be tion at historically black colleges and body from school officials about the established and given power to universities are at stake,” NABJ Pres- situation was placed inside the news- resolve disagreements between edi- ident Herbert Lowe stated in an open paper. tors and advisors. letter to Haysbert. “NABJ’s No. 1 goal “I’ve always valued truth. I don’t “I have learned a great deal from is to diversify newsrooms. That quest back down to authority. I’ve always this experience in regard of the free- is undeniably hurt when newsroom had that in me,” Buford says. dom of the press,” Haysbert wrote in recruiters can for any reason ques-

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 21 tion whether true journalism is the workforce and as someone look- taught at the institutions that pro- ACCREDITED ing to hire young reporters. duce so many black journalism gradu- He says that from his experience as ates.” Only seven of 105 HBCUs are accredited by the Accrediting Council for Education in a recruiter, black college students Caldwell believes that many are miss- Journalism and Mass Communications: were no different from white college ing the bigger picture that lies with the students in terms of talent. So he struggles of HBCU programs. • Florida A&M • Grambling State doubts that the Hampton incident “We are not talking about censor- • Hampton University will taint how HBCU students are ship,” says Caldwell, a former colum- • Howard University perceived. nist at the New York Daily News. • Jackson State • Southern University of Baton Rouge “In terms of preparation, I was “[The industry] could not wait to take most impressed by people who had to Hampton down. There is something • Norfolk State University make a lot out of a little,” Dixon says. radically wrong with the entire insti- Note: Alcorn State, North Carolina A&T, Savannah State and Winston State are seeking accredidation. “I remember meeting some students tution of the news media in America. at Norfolk State. I saw them work “It is easy to criticize. But at Hamp- late into the night. Everybody doing ton, the quick fix is to take away the for the job market at the same rate as everything. Just hustling. That is money. They don't want to deal with white schools. what I remember.” solutions, but instead use their posi- Wilson found that despite the lack tions to kick black schools in the butt.” of resources, compared to their white Sanford of The Commercial Appeal The primary problems the indus- counterparts, black colleges pro- said his paper has been successfully try has yet to deal with are journal- duced one-third of the black journal- recruiting at HBCUs for years and ism schools are wrought by adminis- ism graduates in 1997-98 of the 451 plans to continue the paper’s efforts to trative oversight and the papers and schools compiled in this study. Only nab black students -- despite what hap- the journalism programs they run 28 of those 451 schools were HBCUs. pened at Hampton. have been woefully under-supported “Our graduates are everywhere, and “We have had students from and underfunded, critics say. in positions to hire people,” says Phillip Hampton, Southern University, Ten- Caldwell believes one way to jump- Dixon, chairman of the Howard Univer- nessee State and for the most part, start the programs is provide greater sity journalism department. they have all done extremely well. expertise on HBCU campuses. “And there has been enough Percentage-wise, they have done as “We need black journalists in the achievement at black colleges that good or better than any other intern,” area of a college newspaper to volun- what happened at Hampton can’t Sanford says. “I would hope that teer,” Caldwell says. “The [student] undo all of that achievement.” black colleges would not get a black journalists need more than bucks, Dixon doesn’t need to see the stats. eye because of this." they need your [black journalists] He lives them. At Howard, he is Franz Martin, manager of employ- presence and involvement. It does responsible for training and putting a ee relations at the Daily News in New not take a lot of money. There is good number of young black journal- York, said that although her paper equipment at Alcorn State, but no ists into the market. has not had a lot of HBCU-trained one to teach. We need to give the stu- In conversations with parents and interns, it has not been for lack of dents more support.” potential students, he says, he often effort on the paper’s part or a bias. Today, not one of the 105 black col- has to convince them that Howard is “It doesn’t matter with us where leges had daily papers and only worth it, as opposed to a bigger, more they go to school. We have a criteria Howard University, Florida A&M prestigious white school. that goes out to everyone,” Martin and Southern University publish “I tell them when you go to those said. “Everybody has to follow the more than once a week. other places, you are going to see that same criteria, which is basically to Most publish monthly, although they have a lot of things we don’t have some experience and to be a jun- more are making a strong presence have. We can’t compete in terms of ior or senior.” on the Web. physical things,” Dixon says. "But we Also, only seven of the 105 schools can get their minds right and their Buford says she doesn’t think the boast journalism programs that are hearts right. We will treat each of reputation of Hampton or HBCUs accredited. them like we expect them to do it well. should suffer over the incident. But according to a survey, conduct- We are going to give you every oppor- “This is definitely a black mark on ed in 1999 by Jeffery Maurice Wilson tunity because we believe in you." the administration, but for the stu- of the Henry W. Grady College of Jour- Dixon, who came to Howard two dents I think that it’s great,” Buford nalism & Mass Communication at the years ago after working at The says. “This is proof that we are learn- University of Georgia, many journal- Philadelphia Inquirer as managing ing something. It’s proof that we are ism programs at HBCUs have been editor, has been on both sides: As trying to apply the things that we are able to prepare their black graduates someone now preparing students for learning.”

22 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 THE EDITOR ‘Committed to Freedom of the Press’ Buford Relies on Principles, Finesse Under Pressure

By C. Kalimah Redd

It was 6:45 a.m. on Oct. 22 when 20-year-old. Her name became a university. That’s what she Talia Buford walked into the regular on the NABJ, Maynard, believed her readers deserved,” Hampton University student Poynter and other Web sites. Goodman says. “I just think in newspaper office and waited. Listservs and chat rooms also her situation that’s a really hard For the past two days Buford, circulated the story. thing to do.” the editor of the Hampton Script, During the first two days of dis- Life since the incident has had been locked in cussions between Buford and the changed for Buford. People now a battle with the school, Hampton Script copy edi- recognize her when she walks administration tor Erin Walsh said she and the through campus. The newspaper over the paper’s staff were worried that Buford has also gained a new dedicated decision to pub- would be kicked out of school. following of readers. lish a memo about “Hampton University is not big In a way, Buford says the inci- recent cafeteria on the press knowing negative dent invigorated the student health code viola- things are going on in the school body. tions on page and she had contacted the press “We didn’t understand how Talia Buford three, rather than the night she found out they were much power we have and we did- the front-page as going to take the paper,” Walsh n’t exercise it enough,” she says. the acting president had request- said. “We thought they were “By the Hampton Script standing ed. going to disipline her for that. We up for what they believe in and After a marathon of calls and were all frightned for Talia, but not letting the school push us meetings, Buford learned that we were all behind her 100 per- around, that inspired a lot of stu- the school planned to confiscate cent.” dents.” the paper. After a series of negotiations, For certain the experience has “I really just needed to be there Buford and her staff agreed to made the bond between her and when they took the papers,” reprint the paper with the memo her staff much stronger. Buford says. “I wanted to see on the front page, along with a “We are such a family,” said them hauling it away with every- large disclaimer, in exchange for Walsh, 20, a junior. “We had each thing that we had done, down the the formation of a task force to other to lean on. That’s how we drain.” discuss the paper’s future. were able to get through this.” Buford and her staff witnessed Mark Goodman is the execu- So far, Buford has received one the beginning of an event that tive director of the Student Press internship offer and hopes more would attract national media Law Center, a non-profit advoca- will trickle in. The experience attention, rally first amendment cy group for student newspa- has inspired her to continue to advocates, and prompt discus- pers, which Buford had kept in grow in the field and make the sions about the quality of a jour- touch with throughout the inci- Hampton Script the best student nalism education at historically dent. Goodman says Buford newspaper it can be. black colleges. relied on her principles to finesse “Now Hampton has a chance to The event also launched a better situation for the pro- step up and really do something Buford, a junior from Flint, gram in an intensely pressure- substantial,” she says. “We have Mich., into the spotlight as a sym- filled situation. been doing big things, and now it bol of free speech. Within days of “Her belief was that [the is the time for us to blow up and the incident, dozens of news paper’s] commitment was to fair- say we are committed to journal- agencies and college papers, ness and independence, and not ism, we are committed to free- including NBC and the Richmond appearing to be a propaganda dom of the press, and we are Times-Dispatch, contacted the tool for the administration of the committed to free speech.”

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 23 MEDIA PRESENCE Over half of HBCUs have a campus newspaper that reaches the student body regularly. Also many have radio and/or television broadcasts.

School Newspaper Name Staff size Publication schedule Independence Radio/TV Alabama A&M University The Maroon 20 Bi-weekly no Radio Alabama State University The Hornet Tribune N/A Weekly no Radio Alcorn State University The Campus Chronicle N/A Bi-Weekly no Radio/TV Allen University The Sting N/A N/A no None Barber-Scotia College Scotia Express N/A N/A no N/A Benedict College Tiger Newspaper N/A N/A N/A N/A Bennett College The Bennett Banner 10 Bi-weekly No TV Bethune-Cookman College Voice of the Wildcats N/A Monthly no Radio Bluefield State College The Bluefieldian 10 Bi-weekly no N/A Bowie State University The Spectrum N/A N/A no Radio Central State University Gold Torch N/A Four times per year Yes Radio Cheyney University The Chayney Record N/A N/A N/A Radio/TV Claflin College The Panther N/A N/A no Radio/TV Clark Atlanta University The Panther N/A Weekly no Radio/TV Coppin State College Coppin Courier None Defunct no Radio Delaware State University The Hornet N/A Weekly N/A Radio/TV Dillard University The Courtbouillon N/A Bi-weekly no N/A Edward Waters College The Tiger Claw N/A N/A no TV Elizabeth City State University The Compass N/A 3-4 times per semester no Radio Fayetteville State University The Broncos N/A 4-6 times per year N/A Radio Fisk University The Fisk Forum N/A Bi-Weekly no Radio Florida A&M University The Famuan 25-35 3 times per week no Radio/TV Florida Memorial College The Lion’s Tale 10 Monthly no N/A Fort Valley State University The Peachite 6 Monthly no Radio/TV Grambling State University The Gramblinite 10-15 Weekly yes Radio/TV Hampton University The Hampton Script 15 Bi-weekly no Radio/TV Howard University The Hilltop 60-100 2 times per week no Radio/TV Interdenomination at Theological Center The Lantern N/A Quarterly no None Jackson State University The Flash N/A Weekly no TV Jarvis Christian College The Expression N/A N/A no None Johnson C. Smith University JCSU Student News N/A N/A N/A Radio Kentucky State Thorobred News N/A N/A no None Knoxville College Aurora N/A 5 times per year no N/A Lane College Inqurier N/A Quarterly no None Langston University The Langston Gazette N/A Weekly no Radio LeMoyne-Owen College The Messenger N/A Weekly no None Lincoln University of Missouri Clarion N/A 6-7 times per semester no Radio/TV Lincoln University of Pennsylvania Lincolnian N/A N/A no Radio Livingstone The Stone N/A N/A no None Meharry Medical College FOVEA N/A N/A no None Miles College Columns N/A Quarterly no N/A Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devil Gazette N/A Twice per semester yes Radio Morehouse College Maroon Tiger 16 Weekly N/A N/A Morgan State University The Spokesman N/A Bi-weekly yes Radio Morris Brown College Wolverine Observer N/A Defunct no None Morris College The Heritage N/A N/A no None Norfolk State University Spartan Echo N/A Weekly N/A Radio/TV North Carolina A&T State University A&T Register 21 Weekly No Radio/TV North Carolina Central University Campus Echo 27 Bi-weekly Yes Radio/TVl Oakwood College Spreading Oak N/A Bi-weekly Yes Radio Paine College N/A N/A N/A no None Paul Quinn College Quinn Quail 10 Monthly no Radio Philander Smith College The Panther N/A N/A no None Prairie View A&M University The Panther N/A N/A no Radio/TV Rust College The Rustorian 20 Monthly no Radio/TV Saint Augustine's College The Pen N/A N/A no Radio/TV Saint Paul's College The Paper N/A N/A no None Savannah State Tiger Boar 10 1-2 times per semester no TV Selma University The Chronicle N/A Quarterly no None Shaw University Shaw Journal N/A N/A N/A N/A South Carolina State N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Southern University of Baton Rouge Southern Digest 33 Twice per week no TV Southern University of New Orleans SUNO Observer 20 Bi-Monthly no None

24 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 STUDENT MEDIA The Price of True Independence

who also resent journalism’s his- “Go independent,” says Kaggwa, Newsroom Staffs torically unfair portrayals of who founded the District Chroni- Often at Mercy African Americans. When tensions cles, a weekly, student-run, inde- flare between the sides, the end pendent newspaper, in 2001. of Administration result is often that student journal- “You set the rules because you ists suffer. are essentially starting it and pay- By Keith T. Reed “African Americans have gotten ing for it. Those kids will get a bet- a raw deal from the press,” says ter education that is based on the Just how free is the press at his- Bruce dePyssler, an assistant pro- First Amendment principles and torically black colleges? fessor at North Carolina Central free market principles.” It is perhaps the most important University in Durham and adviser Among black college newspa- question raised after last year’s for the school paper, the Campus pers, Kaggwa’s is largely thought to controversial confiscation of copies Echo. be the only independent. Its offices “There’s a sense of we don’t want are on Howard’s campus and most of Hampton University’s student our own press to be doing the same of the reporters and editors are newspaper. thing to us, but to me the real burn- students. But the paper gets no The Hampton incident alludes to ing issue is one of resources. You funding from Howard. Instead, it a problem facing some black col- have to have resources to do a supports itself by selling ad space, lege papers. While nearly all stu- decent paper, and it’s not cheap.” with a student sales team trained dent newspapers depend on fund- There’s one simple answer to by professionals from the Washing- ing from their campuses, many both the funding and autonomy ton Times every year. black student papers have a frac- problems that black campus news- District Chronicles covers Wash- tious relationship with administra- papers face, says Lawrence Kagg- ington communities outside of tors who either don’t understand wa, a journalism professor at Howard’s campus, distinguishing their role as training grounds or Howard University in Washington. itself from the university-funded

MEDIA PRESENCE

Over half of HBCUs have a campus newspaper that reaches the student body regularly. Also many have radio and/or television broadcasts. School Newspaper Name Staff size Publication schedule Independence Radio/TV Southwestern Christian College The Steer N/A N/A No None Spelman College Spelman Spotlight N/A Weekly No N/A Stillman College Tiger’s Paw N/A Monthly no None Talladega College The Paper N/A Bi-weekly no TV Tennessee State The Meter N/A N/A N/A N/A Texas College The Steer N/A N/A no None Texas Southern The Herald N/A N/A N/A Radio Tougaloo College The Harambee N/A N/A N/A None Tuskegee The Campus Digest N/A N/A N/A Radio University of Arkanas at Pine Bluff The Arkansawyer 5-6 Monthly N/A Radio/TV University of the District of Columbia The Free Voice 26 Bi-Weekly no TV University of Maryland at Eastern Shore The Hawks N/A N/A N/A None University of Virgin Islands Uvision N/A Monthly N/A None Virginia State University The Virginia Statesman N/A Weekly N/A None Virginia Union VUU Informer N/A Bi-Monthly N/A N/A Voorhees College The Voorhes Vista N/A Monthly no N/A West Virginia State College Yellow Jacket 10-15 Weekly no Radio Wilberforce University University Mirror N/A Twice per semester no TV Wiley College Wildcat Prowler N/A N/A no None Winston Salem State The News Argus N/A Monthly Yes Radio Xavier University of Louisiana Xavier Herald N/A N/A no None

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 25 In her attempts to revive the paper, she wrote a proposal that I can’t see“ the ASNE There’s a sense“ of we don’t would move control of the paper meeting their goals of from Coppin’s student life division to want our own press to be newsroom parity the school’s English department. The purpose was not to give admin- doing the same thing to us, using the training istrators final say over content, but but to me the real burning facilities we have at to ensure that students wrote sto- issue is one of resources. ries as part of their classwork, and black colleges, which that the paper would always be ade- You have to have resources are, at best weeklies. quately funded. to do a decent paper, and “When you’re dealing with a cam- it’s not cheap. pus that has been historically underfunded, to me [an independent Lawrence Kaggwa ” paper] is a dream, but it’s not a real- Howard University Bruce dePyssler ity yet,” she says. North Carolina” Central University Still, some black schools are funding campus papers while leaving Hilltop, the official student paper. It editorial decisions up to the stu- stylebook that set editorial stan- was launched with $10,000 in dona- dents. dards—an imperative after the tions, which Kaggwa solicited from North Carolina Central’s Campus paper published semi-nude photos Howard J-school alumni, and drew Echo gets 85 percent of its funding of underaged girls from a concert another $10,000 in ad revenues in its from student fees, but dePyssler several years ago. first 12 months. says administrators never try to “Every newspaper has standards Sales are projected to hit $100,000 interfere with the paper’s content. and style. I doubt that the [Boston] in 2003, allowing the paper to pay all “I let them know that the more Globe would print photos like that,” its student staffers—and, Kaggwa they get involved, the more they Hackett says. says, better emulate the real-life sit- increase their own liability,” he said. Back at Howard, Kaggwa says he uations that journalists of any race “Legally, if they show that they’re realizes that limited campus face after college. trying to influence the content, then resources affect many student But District Chronicles’ success they can be held liable for the con- newspapers’ fortunes. also points to how elusive the content. By saying it’s the student publi- But he said that is even more rea- cept of independent publishing is for cation the university can wash their son for students to attempt to ven- most students at historically black hands of it.” ture out on their own. colleges. Southern University in Baton Unfortunately, he says, an even Most black colleges don’t have stu- Rouge, La., created a department of larger problem has been missed. dent populations large enough to student media three years ago to “I can’t see the ASNE meeting make their papers attractive to manage the campus newspaper, the their goals of newsroom parity using advertisers, and many also struggle Southern Digest, which gets between the training facilities we have at to find cash for endowments and 85 percent and 90 percent of its black colleges, which are, at best capital improvements, leaving their budget from student fees. weeklies,” Kaggwa says while refer- papers distant and under-funded Derick Hackett, Southern’s direc- ring to the American Society of priorities. tor of student media, conceding that Newspaper Editors. “Of course, [being independent] the funding link means the paper is “You can’t seriously expect black would be the ideal situation,” says not totally autonomous, but insisted students to graduate from a univer- Kathleen Hellen, a journalism pro- the university’s administrators keep sity that can barely put out a paper fessor at historically black Coppin their hands off the bi-weekly Digest’s to then go and do well at a large daily. State College in Baltimore. Coppin’s content. Many students at white colleges end student newspaper has published The student media department up starting their own publications. only sporadically in the last three also helped raise the Digest’s quality, More of us on black campuses years, she says. he said, by the paper creating a new should be trying the same.”

Tiffany Black, Marcus Braziel, Joy Buchanan, Chris Jones, Gregory Lee Jr. and Miesha Lowery contributed to the research compiled for this special report. Brian Henderson created the graphics.

26 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 MY HBCU DILEMMA You Have to Fight, Even if You Don’t Win PROGRAM BREAKDOWN By Keith T. Reed Are our nations 105 HBCUs committed to preparing the black t was December 1999, and Dr. I asked him to resign; he asked me journalist of the future? Robert Cataliotti was tossing to relieve my 6-foot-plus, rail thin Ime out of his office. behind from his space. The paper A white New Yorker who dedi- would come out twice more 46.6% 6.7% have Mass have cated his professional life to before I graduated. It died shortly Communication Journalism teaching black literature at his- thereafter. programs programs torically black Coppin State Col- I called Cataliotti recently and lege in Baltimore, Cataliotti was asked him to recall our confronta- 2.9% 10.5% also faculty adviser for the stu- tion and what he thought about have both have other dent newspaper, The Courier. I the state of black college newspa- programs programs was editor-in- pers today. As long as we had Commentary chief. been silent about our disagree- 33.3% The Courier ment, we found much common have no was (it hasn’t ground in that call. Journalism programs published since I graduated in “You know how controlling 1999) a fitting, but sad example of HBCU administrators could be,” what many black college student he said, referencing his insistence newspapers were and still are: on seeing the paper beforehand. Today’s black journalists play an integral poorly-funded, largely neglected “For me as the advisor to say I part in making the nation’s newspaper and and mostly ignored by students didn’t see the paper would not broadcast outlets work. These men and and administration alike. have been good,” he said. woman are often products of HBCUs and are a reflection of the schools’ commitment Cataliotti wanted me out of his He said he had no personal con- to training black journalists. Here is a sight after our mutual frustration cern about the editorial content, sample of those who are in the industry over the endless obstacles pre- but risking the paper publishing that are HBCU graduates: venting us from putting out a without a thorough proofreading good paper boiled over into an would have been an embarrass- • Charles Blow, graphics director, New York argument. ment before - you guessed it - the Times, Grambling State Far from an independent paper, same administrators who cared a committee of administrators enough to give The Courier a shal- • Ed Bradley, CBS News, Cheyney handpicked our editor. Publishing low budget and to get our comput- • Donna Britt, metro columnist, The monthly was a greater concern ers fixed. Washington Post, Hampton than was producing stories that Cataliotti had an understand- resembled good journalism. On a able point for an English profes- • Warren Brown, automobile columnist, The budget of less than $10,000, no sor with a good reputation to pro- Washington Post, Xavier student writers were paid. tect. • Leon Carter, sports editor, New York Daily Recruiting editing or sales staffs But I can’t help but think that a News, Norfolk State was a laughable prospect. few more dollars and more con- The final indignity came when I cern for the development of black • Pam Oliver, Fox Sports, Florida A&M had to catch a bus in the rain student journalists would have across Baltimore and beg our saved us both heartache. • Jackie Reid, BET News, Clark Atlanta rival Morgan State University I’d like to think that my experi- • Stephen A. Smith, sports columnist, The Spokesman’s staff for the use of ences happened in a vacuum, the Philadelphia Inquirer and ESPN basketball their computers to put out Cop- product of being at a small school analyst, Winston-Salem State pin’s paper because our machines with precious few resources to were broken. Disgusted, I broke spare. • Will Sutton, deputy managing editor, The Cataliotti’s cardinal rule, sending But I’m willing to bet that there News & Observer, Hampton the paper to the printer before he is another black student editor, at SOURCE: NABJ research could do a final proof. this very moment, leaving an A heated confrontation ensued. adviser’s office dejected.

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 27 THE ALUMNI Grads Say Censorship Not Just Limited to Hampton

By C. Kalimah Redd Vantrease says TSU’s The Meter ent about maintaining high stan- never lost funding, but experience dards when alumni and parents The Hampton University admin- some scares. In one situation, the were not around. istration’s confiscation of the stu- paper published a story that was “They’d just try to make them- dent newspaper last fall sparked a critical of the president’s perform- selves look good,” says Brown, who flurry of responses among journal- ance. “We got blasted,” he says. “But graduated in 2000. ists across the country, especially they had to understand we were just The highlight footage producer at doing our jobs.” from those who graduated from his- ESPN says he worries that the torically black colleges and univer- Florida A&M University alum Michael Lee says he experienced Hampton incident will heighten an sities. already existing perception that Reactions ranged from disap- similar situations working at The education at a black college is sec- pointment to shock. But many black Famuan. Lee, who covers the NBA’s journalists who are HBCU gradu- Atlanta Hawks for the AJC, says the ond rate. ates say they weren’t surprised school frequently threatened to pull However some alumni believe about the school’s actions, having that attending an HBCU journalism experienced similar pressures program was more beneficial than while working at their own student- going to a majority-attended school. run newspaper. As long as your bread is Tyriney Sims, a sports reporter David Gibson, night editor of The buttered“ by the and producer at Bay News 9 in Atlanta Journal-Constitution and a Tampa, calls her four years at Jack- 1976 graduate of university, this is bound son State University in Mississippi, Hampton Universi- to happen because most the best years of her life. Attending ty, says, “It was just college at a white university during a power struggle people don’t understand the First Amendment the summer was not the same. “I that was wrong and didn’t think the professors cared stupid.” and what it really means. about the black students,” she says. “I was kind of stunned,” says Gibson says HBCUs serve a dis- tinct purpose in the lives of Rashida Rawls Rashida Rawls, who graduated from Michael” Lee students. Spelman College in May and works Florida A&M alum “I think it’s more than about as a copy/design editor at the Macon preparing them academically,” he Telegraph in Georgia. says. “It’s about preparing them cul- Many HBCU graduates cite the turally, socially and as an individual lack of independence of newspapers the paper’s funding over stories and in a generally nurturing and chal- on black college campuses as a often reduced its budget. lenging environment.” “As long as your bread is buttered major issue. Dependent on the Many journalists say they don’t school financially, journalists says by the university, this is bound to happen because most people don’t believe censorship is an issue exclu- they constantly butted heads with sive to black colleges. university officials over the content understand the First Amendment Gibson, like other journalists, of the paper. and what it really means,” Lee says. “You are operating under such Some journalists say the problem commends the efforts of the stu- restriction that if you write a bad goes beyond understanding free- dents to resist Hampton’s mandate. story, if you write something con- dom of the press, pointing to a cul- They say the university’s journalism troversial, you have the feeling that ture where the voice of students is program, if nothing else, has done there goes your funding,” says generally not respected. its job in teaching the aspiring Mitchell Vantrease, a news reporter Kimothy Brown says while reporters to stand up for them- at the Daily News-Sun in Sun City, attending Howard University in selves. Ariz., and a 2000 graduate of Ten- Washington, the administration fre- “I’m proud of the students for nessee State University in quently avoided getting student holding their ground. I would’ve input on decisions and was indiffer- Nashville. done the same thing,” Lee says.

28 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 THE ADMINISTRATION School Officials Disconnected By Errin Haines and purchase technology and have a tendency to overempha- equipment necessary for the size academia as a desirable trait The events at The Hampton training of journalists for the when looking for faculty, as ter- Script last fall—in which the future. minal degrees lend to the paper’s homecoming issue was Now, the building has been HBCUs much-needed image of held because of an administra- built, scholarships have been credibility. The result is an tive conflict over an editorial issued and professionals are in imbalance between those able to decision by the newspaper's place. teach by theory and those able to staff—is evidence that money But even with the Hampton- teach by practice, he says. and resources mean nothing Scripps union in place, some say, When acting Hampton presi- when a school’s governing body there is still a disconnect dent Dr. JoAnn Haysbert acts in its own best interest, and between leadership and student learned that the Hampton Script not that of journalism, student journalists. staff did not follow through with journalists say. And problem isn’t only at administration wishes, she then “It was kind of like I was run- Hampton. decided to confiscate the news- ning into a brick wall,” says Talia At many HBCUs, academic papers in an attempt to control Buford, the Script editor who experts say, issues like this can the student press on campus. watched her newspapers being be largely traced to two factors “She said that she couldn’t hauled away. that also affect mainstream control what was on Channel 10 “That coupled with the fact institutions. or the Daily Press but that she First, journalism faculty are they were taking our newspa- would use the Hampton venue to frequently recruited based on pers. Who takes newspapers? get the information out,” Buford their academic, not professional, They were literally confiscating recalls. background. It’s a common our voice. Our freedom of “Black schools operate under a occurrence at many academic speech. Our free press.” lot of political duress,” Owens institutions, but a mistake when However, Earl Caldwell, a visit- says. “Black people, period—and applied to journalism, a practical ing professor at Hampton Uni- in leadership positions—don’t field in an academic environ- versity, understood the adminis- ment, says Reginald Owens, an trust the press. This filters down tration’s stand against associate professor of journal- into the schools, and what ends publishing the newspaper ism at Louisiana Tech University up happening is that we clam up. because they exercised their in Ruston. That hurts student journalism rights as well. Owens—whose own back- because it creates a set of people “I never defend anyone for con- ground includes experience in who don't understand how to use fiscating papers,” Caldwell says. newspapers, public relations the press to get what they need.” “What has to be recognized is and as an educator at both black But Caldwell believes there is a the publisher wanted to exercise and mainstream institutions— solution to helping resolve these publisher’s rights. I don’t care authored a 1998 study analyzing tensions. what paper is it. The university the state of the black student “There is no question a lot of is the publisher whether you like press after recognizing its signif- administrators who don’t have a it or not.” icant contribution to the ranks of concept or idea of free press and In 2000, the Scripps Howard professional journalism. are uncomfortable,” Caldwell Foundation announced it would Second, among other factors says. make a financial contribution to examined in a 45-question sur- “We should have seminars for Hampton’s journalism program. vey that was the basis for the them. We can’t change things Later, a $10 million commitment project was governance, advice that are on campus. Black people was made to build the Scripps and control. need to be involved in building Howard School of Journalism Of the 100 HBCU surveys the alternative.” and Communications, establish received over a six-month peri- endowed scholarships and a od, 61 had student advisors. chair, provide visiting profes- C. Kalimah Redd contributed to Owens also noted that HBCUs sionals and program support, this report.

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 29 ON CAMPUS HBCU Student Journalists Are Feeling the Heat By Pearl Stewart

Times are tough for student In a compromise, the letter newspapers at historically black appeared on the front page, and colleges and universities. the school set up a task force to Between financial crises and create new policies for the news- While students complain about administrative interference, paper. But the brief period of unsanitary conditions, over- HBCU student journalists are impasse was a turning point, not crowded dorms, late financial aid catching hell. only for Hampton but also for checks and a host of other prob- The highly publicized confisca- other HBCUs where student lems, the campus newspapers tion of papers at Hampton Uni- newspapers have been controlled contain only “the good news,” versity may have been the most by administrators because the students fear egregious example of heavy- for years. Buford and her staff reprisals. In some cases, the stu- handed censorship at an HBCU feared during the entire ordeal dents never even learn how to do in recent years, but it was by no that they would be “out by 5”— in-depth reporting. Hampton’s means the only serious incident. meaning they would be told to president-on-leave, William Har- In November, pack up and leave by 5 p.m. vey, reportedly said last year that COMMENTARY Fred Gainous, “That’s an old saying here at he didn’t want “muckraking” the belea- Hampton because it has hap- journalism taught on his campus. guered president of Florida A&M pened in the past,” Buford says. Implicit in that message: Muck- University (FAMU), demanded “Whenever we started to write rake, and you’ll be “out by 5.” that journalists leave a lunch something that might be That message has also been meeting where he was discussing controversial, we would stop and sent to journalists at Morgan the school’s financial crisis. ask, ‘Will this get me out by 5?’ State University in Baltimore In the same month, the state So we practiced self-censorship a and St. Augustine’s College in withheld Gainous’ paycheck and lot.” Raleigh, where student papers the checks of 18 other FAMU The October stand against the have been confiscated in recent administrators until they submit- administration represented a years, and at Tennessee State in ted overdue fiscal statements. major step for Hampton stu- Nashville, where a newspaper So, the president’s comments on dents. Like the FAMU reporter adviser was told to keep “nega- the situation were newsworthy. who stayed in the meeting, the tive” articles out of the paper— A student reporter who attend- Hampton students overcame all at a time when the lack of ed the meeting refused to budge their fear of reprisal and stuck to diversity remains a huge problem and wrote a front-page story their principles. in America’s newsrooms. If jour- about the meeting for the school But these disputes are hard on nalism students at HBCUs are paper. Gainous was not pleased. students who are trying to attend forbidden to ruffle feathers, they It was a brave action for the stu- classes, maintain their GPAs and aren’t likely to become profes- dent, who was a few weeks away work for school papers with lim- sional journalists. And if they do, from her December graduation. ited finances. The student news- they may end up with the garden- Talia Buford, Hampton’s stal- paper at Clark Atlanta Universi- ing beat because they won’t know wart newspaper editor, defied ty, which has the largest how to write hard news. the acting president’s order to journalism program among Similar attacks on the student print a letter on the front page. HBCUs, recently stopped pub- press have occurred at predomi- Acting president JoAnn Hays- lishing because of a lack of funds. nantly white institutions, but bert, who explained in the letter It is one of dozens of black insti- with noticeably different results. her handling of health code viola- tutions whose financial struggles In 2001 administrators at Gov- tions in the school’s cafeteria, have resulted in the demise of ernors State University in Illi- retaliated by ordering 6,500 student media. nois halted publication of an papers destroyed and demanding At many HBCUs that are fortu- issue of the student newspaper, that her letter, which was on nate enough to have regularly The Innovator, because they dis- page three, be placed on the front published newspapers, the arti- agreed with an article that criti- page of a second press run. cles read like press releases. cized the university. The stu-

30 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 PHOTO BY WARREN PAUL Programs such as the NABJ Short Course conducted last year at Hampton University give students, especially those who attend historically black colleges and universities, the professional training they may not receive on their respective campuses. dents immediately filed a law- was so unapologetic in the face of asked members not to talk to the suit. According to the Student public outrage that the American media during the discussions, Press Law Center (SPLC), a Society of Newspaper Editors, thereby removing the students’ three-judge panel of the U.S. citing her lack of “contrition or most powerful weapon, public Court of Appeals forthe Sev- understanding,” pulled funding opinion. enth Circuit handed down a from Hampton for a training pro- Gradually, however, HBCU decision in April that offered gram. students are standing up for strong support for college press The students at Governors press freedom on their campus- freedom. State and Harvard Business es. At Tennessee State, for exam- And a year ago, the dean of the School took their cases to court ple, the administration backed Harvard Business School and and to the media. They didn’t down after stories appeared in other administrators gave a ver- form a task force to talk it over. the local newspaper. bal warning to the editor of the Mark Goodman, director of At FAMU, a scorching editorial Harbus for publishing a cartoon, the SPLC, recommends that stu- criticized the president for which they said violated a com- dents at private colleges, which attempting to kick the reporter munity standards code. are not covered by the First out of the meeting. And at Hamp- The outcry was so strong that Amendment as public institu- ton, although there isn’t likely to the dean, Kim B. Clark, issued a tions are, “make the conflict as be an apology, there will be public apology, reaffirming the public as they possibly can change. But more struggles lie administration’s commitment to because negative publicity is the ahead. “freedom of speech and in the best persuader.” Alumni, faculty and NABJ independence of the Harbus.” By At Hampton, once the task members must not allow stu- contrast, Hampton’s Haysbert force was formed, its leaders dents to fight their battles alone.

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 31 BLACK ON WHITE Importance of Diversity Should Begin in School By April Bethea

Nearly two and a half years ago, I experienced what I still call a ‘ bit of a culture shock. Just the Still, I can no longer count on week before I had attended my my hands the number of first NABJ convention and had times I have heard wrapped up an internship at The veys from UGA have also shown News & Observer in Raleigh. classmates grumble that the that black journalism students I remember being excited reason they cannot land an have a greater chance of graduat- heading back to campus because internship was because they I had just spent the last 12 weeks ing from HBCUs versus non- working alongside others who were given to minorities. HBCU campuses. not only shared my drive and Although finding ways to coun- intensity for the news, but in ’ teract these trends is not all that many simple, there are some steps that can be taken. COMMENTARY instances Journalism and mass commu- also looked The establishment of NABJ nication is the second most popu- chapters on campuses and the like me. lar major at UNC. However, I fostering of relationships with But as I settled into my news- have been the only minority in area journalists can help to bring writing course and watched my nearly half of the courses that I fellow classmates walk in, some- have taken in the school. attention to the importance that thing dawned on me: I was the Being able to say that you have diversity plays in the industry only black student in the room. a degree from UNC, Northwest- and provide a comfort zone for In an instant, I felt cheated. ern University or any other top minority students. One of the things that attracted journalism schools can carry Efforts also should be taken to me to the University of North some weight among recruiters boost the presence of blacks on Carolina (UNC) was the number and peers who are aware of the campus media staffs. Far too of resources for minority stu- caliber of these programs. often students turn away from dents. However, I don’t think I Still, I can no longer count on these outlets because of past con- ever really took the time to con- my hands the number of times I flicts between student newspa- sider the complexities of being a have heard classmates grumble pers and campus minority black student in one of the that the reason they cannot land groups or fears of being caught in nation’s top journalism pro- an internship was because they grams. a “cliquish” newsroom. This not were given to minorities. Or the only robs students of hands-on The number of black students conversations from friends who majoring in journalism and mass experience, but also provides a say the only reason that black disservice to both the newspaper communication has grown students at UNC and other cam- steadily on campuses during and readers because of the lack puses get access to recruiters is of diversity among those produc- recent years. because we attend a “white But non-historically black col- ing the news. school.” These and other efforts can go lege and universities or Hispanic Some might argue that situa- a long way in making sure that serving institutions awarded tions such as these will help to students graduate feeling more only 6.6 percent of the degrees give black students on majority granted to black undergraduates campuses an early glimpse of confident in their roles as jour- in the 2000-01 academic year, what they might face when they nalists and not perceive them- according to the 2002 Annual enter the real world. selves as just a brown face in the Survey of Journalism & Mass However, these issues might crowd. Communication Enrollments also deter students from enter- Again, it will not be an easy or from the University of Georgia ing the field altogether. The sur- quick task. But these are steps (UGA). worth taking nonetheless.

32 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 chapter spotlight Out West, SDABJ Becoming a ‘Sparkling Jewel’

By Jerry McCormick

Can do. That seems to be the mantra of the San Diego Association of Black Journalists (SDABJ). Now entering its fourth year as an organization, the group has pulled together and accom- plished what some said could not be done. SDABJ in its first year—with little money in its bank account— Photo courtesy of SDABJ Members of the San Diego Association of Black Journalists, shown here during a chapter function, hosted a produced a recruitment video benefit during the Super Bowl XXXVII festivities in January 2003. and held a student workshop and community access seminar. Both nic food and music, boasted a says. “When I returned to my events were a hit. As a result of celebrity guest list that included native San Diego four years ago its hard work and achievement, ESPN’s Stuart Scott, television and learned the city had no chap- SDABJ was named Chapter of personality Ananda Lewis and ter, I was determined to be a part the Year for Region X in 2001 and actress Monica Calhoun. It named this past summer as attracted nearly 400 people to of changing that. Our challenge NABJ’s Chapter of the Year. Market Creek Plaza, an area that is to create an environment that “San Diego is emblematic of is undergoing an urban renais- offers journalists professional how well chapters can succeed if sance. and personal contacts, learning they put their energy and talents “The membership of SDABJ is opportunities and old-fashioned toward success-oriented strate- a small body, but a strong one fellowship so that they are gies rather than simply being a willing to put in the extra time knocking on SDABJ’s door, eager social outlet,” says Lynne Varner, and effort to make things hap- former Region X director. “The pen,” says chapter president to become new contributing untold secret about San Diego is Denise T. Ward. “Our mission members.” that unlike most other chapters, statement is ‘Bridging the Gap And increasing membership is they started with very little Between African Americans and one of Ward’s objectives. money or membership. There the Media’ and this group makes “One of my primary goals as were no grants from NABJ or sure we do that and more.” president was to recapture what influx of membership from The “more” in 2003 included this organization was when a another chapter. Everything hosting a media access seminar they have, they earned.” titled “How to Get Your Story group of determined journalists The group, which started with Told,” and awarding five $1,000 and public relations profession- less than 10 members in 2000, scholarships to rising young als started it more than three has expanded to nearly 40 mem- journalists in San Diego. years ago. Initial membership bers. For founding member Kelly numbers were promising, but Last year the chapter hosted Williams, SDABJ is steady that number has since faded,” its first major function, San becoming a sparkling jewel in Ward says. “I’m determined to Diego Flavor. The event, held in a NABJ’s crown. lower-income section of San “Throughout my 20-year reclaim those members who have Diego, served as a kick-off event career in journalism, academia fallen to the wayside and add new for Super Bowl XXXVII. The and now public relations, NABJ members to make this group party, which featured multi-eth- has been there for me,” Williams even stronger.”

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 33 INSIDE NABJ student’s corner Communication Key to Our Success By Caleb Wilkerson

NABJ’s student members are ‘ the future leaders of this great To enhance organization and I am pleased and communication I am honored to represent their voices. working with regional Since August I have been working to meet the demands and student representatives needs of student members by put- and student chapter ting forth ideas and suggestions to presidents to design a provide better communication, on the NABJ Sports Task Force more convention programming, quarterly newsletter. and Efe Osagie from Rutgers Uni- stronger student chapters and versity for becoming the new stu- more accountability. ’ dent representative for the NABJ To enhance communication I am Media Monitoring Committee. ance and support as needed. working with regional student It is my hope that every NABJ representatives and student chap- Also, the regional representatives are to get quarterly reports committee or task force will have ter presidents to design a quarter- an active student member. Again, ly newsletter that will feature arti- from their student chapter presi- we are NABJ’s future leaders. No cles written by student members dents, which I will present at the which address issues faced by board of directors meetings. This better time than now to starting aspiring journalists of color. The will help with chapter accountabil- learning the ropes. newsletter is being laid out and ity and also to let the NABJ Well, there are many more excit- designed by Region VI Student national office keep track of stu- ing things that the regional stu- Representative Brian Henderson dent chapter activities. dent representatives and myself Look out continually for vast of Ohio University and we are are working on to make NABJ bet- looking to have it out to students improvements to the student services section on the NABJ Web site, ter for professional, associate and by the spring. students members. I pledge to The newsletter will also have www.nabj.org. Check back often keep students abreast of anything reports from myself and the 10 for updated student chapter infor- regional student representatives mation, a wider selection of new via e-mail and phone calls. concerning the student member- internships and scholarships – But before I go, I encourage you ship’s future direction, and helpful along with the all-important dead- to be active within the organiza- tips for student chapters. Any lines – and helpful ideas for semi- tion and to volunteer in your NABJ member may contribute to nars and fund raising ideas for stu- region alongside your local profes- the publication. dent chapters. sional and student chapter, your In addition, there will be a sec- Furthermore, the regional stu- regional student representative dent representatives have been tion that will showcase individuals and your NABJ regional director. given their own e-mail group and chapters within the organiza- located at Yahoo! Groups, so they tion. Plus, on the Web site there Until the next time, be blessed can connect directly to the stu- will be detailed information on and stay positive. dent members within their area. I how to start a chapter and an updated chapter handbook that have assigned the regional repre- Caleb Wilkerson is a graduate sentatives the task of updating will give chapters the necessary student studying media student chapter information in tools to be a solid NABJ chapter. their areas, to help start new stu- In other news, I want to congrat- management and journalism at dent chapters, to submit propos- ulate Michael Blake from North- Louisiana State University in als for upcoming conventions to western University for being Baton Rouge. Contact him at otherwise give direction, guid- named the student representative [email protected].

34 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 INSIDE NABJ associate’s corner New Outlook for Associate Members

By Angela McClendon ‘ I have seen how teamwork am honored to have this opportunity to help shape NABJ’s within NABJ and its local Ivision, goals andmission. As chapters can make a your associate member represen- difference and expect that tative for 2003-05, you can expect me to be an effective liaison associates will continue to between NABJ’s associate mem- help support our local Look soon for a new page on the bers and its board of directors. chapters. NABJ Web site created specifical- By the end of my term, I hope to ly for associates. (Send me your have established a new outlook for ideas on what you would like to see associate members concerning ’ on this page.) I also want us to their significance in the associa- have our own listserve so that and gain influence in the industry, tion. associates can communicate while ensuring NABJ is relevant, At my first board meeting in delivers on promised services and directly on issues, tactics and best October, my objective was to increases its overall membership. practices. So make sure the establish a new and strong My primary goals include: national office has your correct e- alliance between fellow board mail address. members and myself, as I 1. Creating a cohesive relation- I am confident that working recapped the vital role of associ- ship among associate, full and stu- together we will achieve success in ates to NABJ. I reminded board dent members. each of these endeavors. I have members that associates com- 2. Working with the board and seen how teamwork within NABJ prise nearly 20 percent of NABJ’s national staff to ensure that our and its local chapters can make a total membership. regional and national program- difference and expect that associ- This number represents various ming offer training and develop- ates will continue to help support media-related fields such as part- ment for associate members. our local chapters. time and freelance journalists, 3. Recruiting at least one jour- In tune with NABJ’s mission, let journalism educators and public nalism educator from each histori- us all use our communications relations professionals. cally black college and university During the meeting, I also made skills, background and resource- as a NABJ member, while, of fulness to accomplish these goals it clear that I intend to fulfill Presi- course, working to do the same at and continue being an asset to the dent Herbert Lowe’s vision to mainstream schools. ensure the future of associate 4. Drawing attention to academ- organization. members within NABJ. I left the ic job openings, including those for I look forward to serving NABJ meeting assured that there is a deans and department chairs - in this capacity and welcome any collective understanding among and then pressing administrators thoughts, opinions and comments. board members of the essential doing the hiring to have at least Remember, we’re all in this, role of associates and the value we one black applicant among the together! add to the association. finalists for each position. Throughout this term as your While further working to add Angela McClendon is a associate representative, I will new associate members, I also communications specialist with the keep urging every associate mem- intend to help the national office ber to work toward achieving the better maintain our database, and San Antonio Convention & Visitors president’s mandates: helping foster communication between Bureau. Contact her at black journalists survive, advance associates and the board. [email protected].

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 35 FEATURE Sports Writer Gets Into Pro Game of Journalism

By Cortney L. Hill for sports writing while at rained twice while I was there.” Brockton High School in But the Morning News would herlon Christie combined Brockton, Mass. When he found expose Christie to covering his love of sports with himself winning writing contests, different events, such as rodeos, Swriting after failing to make he figured he was on to for the first time. the cut for his high school basket- something. “It gave me other things to do ball team. While attending Brockton High, besides cover basketball and “I loved basketball so much, I he participated in a University of football. But it was different, and had dreams of one day playing for Massachussetts/Boston high I had a good time doing it,” he the NBA,” says Christie. “But school journalism program where says. when I didn’t make the team in he spent a week working with In a perfect world, he says he high school, I decided I could professional reporters, editors, would be his own media conglom- write about the photographers and designers. erate. kids who did.” After graduating from high “I’d be covering an NBA team Christie, 24, is school in 1997, the Kingston, for a major newspaper, doing one of nine sports Jamaica, native enrolled in television and radio stints, and reporters at the Northeastern. writing for the Internet,” he says. Schenectady Daily Majoring in journalism, “I want to touch all media Gazette. Christie placed his desire to play outlets.” “I was really basketball on the back burner But until then, Christie will shocked when and decided to pursue writing. continue pursuing sports writing, Sherlon Christie they hired me on,” “I wrote for the campus with hopes of graduating from says Christie. He newspaper [the Northeastern covering high school sports to had applied to several newspa- News] for two years, then I began college or professional sports. pers, but The Daily Gazette was working at The Boston Globe “I’m looking for an opportunity the only newspaper that called through their co-op program, to advance in a newspaper where him for an interview. which turned into a part-time job I can break through that glass “Part of the interviewing for me.” ceiling,” Christie says. “I want to process was that I had to write a While at the Globe, Christie one day be like [Globe writer] Bob profile about this guy. He knew I covered high school basketball, Ryan and say, ‘Yeah, I’ve covered was going to call him, and I football, baseball and softball. 20 NBA Finals in my lifetime.’ ” wanted to ask the right questions. “I eventually had to quit the Christie has advice to other Once I turned it in, I realized I campus newspaper because it young reporters wanting to break had misspelled a word and was beginning to be too much,” in to the biz. “Don’t come into it thought I had blown my chances,” Christie recalls. “But being at the because of the money,” he says. Christie says. Globe was quite an experience for “And be realistic. Don’t live above But a couple of days later, a me. I met some really great your means. Know how to week before Christie’s June people, and I learned so much.” manage your money.” graduation from Northeastern He also interned at the Dallas Christie also says not to look at University in Boston, Butch Morning News as part of the work as just a job. “You have to Walker, the sports editor for the Sports Journalism Institute, enjoy what you do,” he adds. 60,000 circulation Daily Gazette, which annually offers a crash “Because no matter how much called him and made him an offer. course in sports journalism at you make, in the end, how you feel “This is my first professional The Associated Press Sports about what you do is what really job since I graduated college, but Editors convention. matters.” I wouldn’t say I’m a rookie,” “The paper was as big as the Christie says. “I’ve had intern- Globe,” he says. “But it was quite ships, done co-ops and worked a culture shock for me. I had Courtney Hill is the health and part-time as a reporter.” never been down south before. It human services reporter for the Christie discovered his knack was hazy and hot, and it maybe Salisbury Post in N.C.

36 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 CAREERS talkin’ tech There’s More to Google Than Meets the Eye By Michelle Johnson

ow many times a day do you search function on a site I’m perus- hit google.com? And what ing isn’t very good, I go to Google Hdo you do once you get and enter my keywords followed by there? Type in a couple of key- “site:” and the name of the site I’d words and hit the search button, like to search. So entering “2001 including by date, language or file right? Well, if that’s the extent of annual report site:prudential.com” type (handy if you want to search your interaction with Google, (without the parentheses) search- just pdf files for instance.) Just you’re missing a lot. es prudential.com for all pages con- below Advanced Search is “Prefer- While it may not be apparent taining the phrase “2001 annual ences.” Here you can change from the sparse-looking home- report.” Google to any one of a long list of page, there’s more to Google than (Tip: no space between the colon languages from Afrikaans to Zulu. meets the eye. But let’s start with and the address of the site.) Speaking of languages, just the obvious. Use “allinurl” and Google will under Preferences is the “Lan- There are five tabs on the Google find Web sites with a specific word guage Tools” link where you can homepage. The first one is labeled in the address. So, for instance, if I quickly translate a phrase or an “Web,” which allows you to search wanted to find a bunch of Web sites entire Web page from a long list of billions of Web pages. You may with the word “boston” in the web languages into English. know that you can enclose a term address I’d enter allinurl:boston. Now, back to the tabs. in quotes (Example: “superior For a more complete list of The second one, “Images,” court”) and Google will search for Google’s advanced operators see searches for photos and graphics. that exact phrase. www.google.com/help/ The next tab, “Groups,” will But did you know that you can operators.html search discussion forums (aka type in someone’s name and an Adding a “-” to your search query Newsgroups) where people yak area code or ZIP code and Google forces Google to ignore pages that about every topic imaginable. It’s a will spit back a phone number and include that word. Example: good way to check the buzz about a address if it’s a listed number? boston–fenway will overlook pages company or issue. (Example: Bill Jones 617) that contain both boston and fen- Next up, is “Directory” which It works in the reverse, too. Type way. A “+” does the opposite, presents you with a neatly catego- in a phone number and get back a requiring a word or phrase to be rized list organized by topic. If name and address. (Tip: leave out included. you’re not sure where to start a the hyphens.) The name and num- You’ve probably noticed that search the directory can help you ber will be linked to a Yahoo! Map when you misspell a word Google drill down from a more general and Mapquest, too. Or, just type in will ask “Did you mean?” and offer topic to specifics. a street address along with the city an alternate spelling. In a pinch, Even though the last tab, “News,” and state and Google will offer to you can use this feature as a quick has been around for awhile, it’s a call up a map. spell checker. Even better: look at “beta” or test version of Google’s If you’re searching for informa- the top of any search results page news search. The best thing about tion about multiple places, using for a line that says “Searched the this feature is freshness. Breaking “OR” can be a time saver. Example: web for…” Next to it the keywords stories from around the world can appear here within minutes. crime Chicago OR Boston will you searched for may show up as For more tips on tweaking your search for both cities. (Note that underlined links. Click on one and Google searches, check out OR is capitalized.) it’ll take you to the definition of the “Google Hacks: 100 Industrial- Google also recognizes some- word at dictionary.com. Strength Tips and Tools.” thing called “advanced operators.” See that “Advanced Search” link One that I use frequently is the just to the right of the search box? “site” operator, which searches Under there you’ll find all kinds of Michelle Johnson lectures on online within a single Web site. If the ways to slice and dice a search, research.

National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 37 CAREERS higher learning Training Never Stops on the Road to Success

By Tiffany Black

ournalism, unlike some other expensive, there exist training professions, does not require programs that offer stipends. The Jhours of training to be certi- Newspaper Association of Ameri- learned and maybe get handouts they fied. But in order to master your ca offers about 30 minority fel- might have received. craft and stay ahead of industry lowships in the spring and fall for Talk to whomever is in charge of trends continuous training is nec- journalists to attend seminars newsroom development about having essary. sponsored by The American brown-bag sessions. It was through the NABJ List- Press Institute, Poynter, May- serv that I learned of a training They are offered all the time for the nard Institute and other academ- summer interns but are ignored as an workshop that sparked my inter- ic and media organizations. option for training full-time employ- est. In my concentration, online Some media companies allot journalism, it is essential to be up money each year for employees to ees. Brown-bag sessions are cheap to speed with the latest techno- train, or they might offer tuition and an easy way to utilize the talent logical developments. So when I reimbursement for those who within your newsroom. read about a free training oppor- decide to go back to school and “It’s called continuous learning,” tunity, I applied immediately. take a few advanced courses. says Bobbie Bowman, diversity direc- I applied three times (rejected Inquire with human resources to tor for the American Society of News- twice) for the Western Knight see what funds might be avail- paper Editors. Center for Specialized Journal- able. “Our business is rapidly changing, ism Multimedia Reporting and There are also opportunities for and people who want to succeed and Convergence Workshop and job training at your place of eventually my persistence paid do well need to keep up with those employment. off. Attending this workshop was changes.” “I have been to all the training by no means a “vacation” from my Bowman explains why it is impor- job. It was four of the most classes the AJC offered,” says tant to seek additional training. intense days. But by the end of the Ryon Horne, agate clerk for The “It’s the same reason teachers con- experience, I’d learned a lot, built Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s tinue to take classes, that doctors sports department. “The chal- a great Web site with my team continue to attend seminars on new lenge for me was learning the dif- and made new friends and con- procedures,” she says. tacts within the industry. WKC ferent department styles and ideas as far as what is news and “The world continues to change, fellowships cover lodging, meals, and you have to change with it. The instruction and a partial travel heads and design. Believe it or pace of change is accelerating subsidy. not, they are all different. The Well there are a lot of similar headline and the design classes because of the Internet and the coun- programs out there for journal- were good.” try’s demographics. It’s a whole new ists, if you do some research. Horne emphasizes that hands- world out there.” There are also training opportu- on experience counts for a whole Whether you are on your first jour- nities in your own newsrooms if lot. nalism job or have been in the indus- you just use a little creativity. When you can’t go to seminars, try for 15-plus years, learning your It’s understood that you will you can rely on co-workers. craft should never stop because we all learn a lot about the job through Identify co-workers who pos- need to grow and improve. hands-on experience, but there sess a skill or job that interests are other skills and aspects of you. If someone you work with journalism you may never learn gets the chance to attend training Tiffany Black is NABJ’s internship without additional training. outside of the newsroom, follow- coordinator and an online news editor Despite the stigma of being up with them to see what they at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

38 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

American Press Institute www.americanpressinstitute.org

Freedom Forum www.freedomforum.org

Investigative Reporters & Editors www.ire.org

Knight Center for Specialized Journalism www.knightcenter.umd.edu

Western Knight Center for Specialized Journalism www.wkconline.org

National Press Foundation www.nationalpress.org

Poynter Institute for Media Studies www.poynter.org

American Copy Editors Society www.copydesk.org

National Press Photographers Association www.nppa.org

Society of Professional Journalists www.spj.org

JournalismTraining.org A searchable database of journalism training opportunities across the country. www.journalismtraining.org

For more fellowships go to www.nabj.org/fellowships.html or www.journalismjobs.com/ Fellowship_Listings.cfm PHOTO BY JO-ANN PIRSON The enthusiastic performance of the NABJ Coast to Coast Choir helped to take the Gospel Brunch to a new level.

By Mashaun Simon

NABJ The NABJ Coast to Coast choir inspired the calls and shouts of “Amen,” Choir “Hallelujah” and “Praise Him” during the annual Gospel Brunch at the 2003 convention in Dallas. Delivers The choir, made up of 50-plus NABJ members from all over the United States, debuted during the Aug. 10 Soul- brunch, opening for gospel superstar Donnie McClurkin. For NABJ member Michelle Starr, of Stirring M Strategies, Inc., the best moment was seeing everyone in the Landmark Debut Ballroom on their feet, dancing and

40 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004 praising the Lord with the choir. “This 50-member choir was so electrifying,” she says. “Donnie McClurkin said that our music inspired him—and even he went longer than planned.” The choir was the outcome of months of Starr’s hard work and organization. She got the idea after she and longtime NABJ member LaMont Jones listened to gospel stars Take 6 at the 2002 Gospel Brunch in Milwaukee. Starr presented the suggestion a few months later to then-NABJ Vice President- Broadcast and Convention Chair Mike Woolfolk and the convention planning team. “Everyone thought it was a fan- tastic idea,” Woolfolk says. “We wanted to take the Gospel Brunch to a new level, and including our own members was perfect.” He adds that the debut proved to be a powerful way to close the convention’s Michelle Starr annual gathering. The choir took the stage, one member at a time,” reminiscent of a national roll call,” says Starr. When the choir started its set with the PHOTO BY JO-ANN PIRSON Byron Cage single, The choir, directed by Charles E. Mitchell, opened for gospel star Donnie McClurkin, top. Charles E. Mitchell “The Presence of the Lord is Here,” president. that sentiment was obvious even It has been asked to headline dur- without the choir’s declaration. ■ ■ ■ In all, the choir, which was ing NABJ’s segment of the joint rehearsed and directed by ecumenical brunch celebration at reknowned gospel clinician UNITY 2004 in Washington, D.C., For more about the Charles E. Mitchell, performed this summer. choir, including a roster five of the nine songs they pre- “There’s absolutely no way there pared that week for the brunch. of its members, The songs performed included can be a gospel brunch ever again visit www.nabj.org/ “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and without the choir being a part of it,” coasttocoast.html. “I’ve Got a Right to Praise Him.” Lowe says. The choir was among the biggest thing to hit NABJ since Mashaun Simon covers arts and ■ ■ ■ the arrival of the annual scholar- entertainment for the Atlanta ship basketball tournament in Daily World. 1995, says Herbert Lowe, NABJ’s National Association of Black Journalists • www.nabj.org 41 Need to know the latest news affecting black journalists?

Looking for a NABJ chapter near you?

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Look no further than... www.nabj.org NABJ’s home on the Web Log on HERE’S WHAT YOU’LL SEE... today! PRESIDENT’S CORNER DIVERSITY Messages from the NABJ president Links and resources for information on diversity initiatives in America’s newsrooms ABOUT NABJ Background information about the association FELLOWSHIPS and its mission statement and goals Educational opportunities around the country

AWARDS STUDENT SERVICES Salute to Excellence and Special Honors winners Scholarship and internship information as well as as well as contest information other services for student members

NEWSROOM REGIONS/CHAPTERS NABJ news releases, statements and media alerts Chapter listings and contact information

MEDIA RESOURCES BOARD OF DIRECTORS Links to general media and organizations Board member contact information and bios

MEDIA INSTITUTE STAFF Training and professional development programs NABJ staff listing with contact information

MEMBERS ONLY As a NABJ member, there’s a whole section devoted exclusively for you. You can search for jobs, research archived NABJ documents, look up fellow members in the membership directory and much more! NABJ LISTSERV Interested in participating in a discussion group with your fellow members? Sign up for the NABJForum, a members- only e-mail and bulletin board discussion group designed to focus on topics of interest to black journalists. Contact [email protected] to sign up.

We welcome story or photo submissions from our members. To discuss news items and features, call the national office at (301) 445- 7100; send a fax to (301) 445-7101 or an e-mail to [email protected]. For NABJ Office Use National Association of Black Journalists Membership # MEMBERSHIP INVITATION Type Category Fee Prior Exp. Date DOE Lockbx Dep A COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY Code JOURNAL The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an organization of 3,000 journalists, students and media-related professionals that advocates for diversity in newsrooms and in news content. We are committed to providing quality programs and services for Black journalists worldwide. As a NABJ member, you’ll receive these valuable resources and benefits: ■ Year-Round Personal and Professional ■ Participation in Salute to Excellence Awards Program Development Opportunities ■ Scholarship and Internship Opportunities ■ Access to NABJobs Online ■ Student Services Support ■ Access to the NABJ Annual Career Fair ■ Members-only Web Access ■ Leadership and Mentoring Opportunities ■ Online Membership Directory ■ Regional and National Networking Opportunities ■ Free subscription to NABJ E-News ■ Industry Information and Action Alerts ■ Free subscription to NABJ Journal, quarterly magazine ■ Discounts on Convention Registrations and ■ NABJ Annual Report Regional Conferences

Purpose of Application ❏ New Membership ❏ Renewal 11 MEMBERSHIP PROFILE (please print clearly) W FIRST NAME MIDDLE INITIAL MAIDEN NAME LAST NAME DATE OF BIRTH (MM/DD) O R K TITLE COMPANY/SCHOOL / S C COMPANY/SCHOOL ADDRESS CITY/STATE/ZIP CODE H O O WORK NUMBER WORK FAX NUMBER WORK E-MAIL ADDRESS L

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(over) MEMBERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS 55 a) What is your gender? b) What is your age group? c) Which best describes you? ❏ Female ❏ 18-24 ❏ 25-34 ❏ Executive ❏ Management ❏ Male ❏ 35-44 ❏ 45-54 ❏ Staff ❏ Student ❏ 55-64 ❏ 65 and over

d) Which of the following fields do you work in primarily? e) How many years have you worked in ❏ Newspaper ❏ Magazine ❏ Newsletter ❏ Television the industry? ❏ Radio ❏ Online Media ❏ Public Relations ❏ 0-2 ❏ 3-5 ❏ 6-10 ❏ Educator ❏ Student ❏ 11-20 ❏ 21+years

PROGRAM INTERESTS VOLUNTEER INTERESTS 66 Mark all that apply. 77 Mark all that apply. ❏ Speakers Bureau ❏ Annual Convention ❏ Mentor Program ❏ Fundraising ❏ Student Development Program ❏ NABJ Journal ❏ Internship Program ❏ Task Forces/Committees ❏ Scholarship Program ❏ Other______❏ Other______88 MEMBERSHIP TYPE & DUES Full Member - Working journalists, including reporters, Membership Dues $______editors, photographers, newsroom managers, etc. who produce, gather and disseminate news for Plus my tax-deductible DONATION to support: newspapers, television and radio stations, magazines, wire services, etc. and full-time freelance journalists. ■ 30th Anniversary Fund $______❏ One Year ($80) ❏ Two Years ($150) ❏ Five years ($350) ■ National Scholarship $______■ Internship Fund $______Associate Member, $50 - Part-time freelance journalists, journalism teachers and other media-related professionals. ■ Student Development Program Fund $______■ Support a Student to Attend Student Member, $25 - Full-time students at an accredited NABJ Convention $______college or university. Course of study must be in the communication field, preferably journalism. TOTAL $______

Dues are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes; however, dues may be considered ordinary and necessary business deductions. PAYMENT METHOD 99 ❏ I would like to participate in the Auto-Renewal Program. I authorize NABJ to charge my credit card annually to automatically renew my membership. ❏ VISA ❏ MASTERCARD ❏ AMERICAN EXPRESS ❏ CHECK ❏ MONEY ORDER

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SIGNATURE OF CARDHOLDER 10 SUBMIT APPLICATION 10 VIA FAX VIA MAIL VIA CREDIT VIA WEB A fast, easy and secure NABJ: (301) 445-7101. NABJ CARD/CHECK way to apply. Go to Credit Card payments only. c/o SunTrust Bank Secured Web site for credit www.nabj.org and click on P.O. Box 79613 card payment and/or the Join NABJ. Baltimore, MD 21279-0613 convenience of personal Credit Card payments only. check by mail. Please allow two weeks for processing. guest column UNITY 2004: It’s Your Convention

By Ernie Sotomayor

ill you be at UNITY 2004 We’ll examine media ownership, in Washington, D.C.? journalism education, the assault WWhat’s in it for you? Will on press freedoms and diversity, strong case for development of you be at your convention? That’s executive management in print training programs and no cuts in right. Your convention. and broadcasting, and there will spending for diversity issues. At You gathered two years ago in be association-specific program- Milwaukee, in Phoenix to cele- ming designed specifically by each that meeting NAHJ’s Parity Pro- brate your 25th anniversary in UNITY partner. ject was endorsed. 2000 and last year in Dallas. This We’ve restructured the planning • In March, we made a joint fil- year, NABJ will be in Washington, process, formed teams from vol- ing to protest the Federal Commu- Aug. 4-8. This will be your conven- unteers and professional staff, and tion. If it’s to be a success, it’ll take are working to make this gather- nications Commission’s refusal to your participation. ing a financial success for all the hold more than a single public UNITY has initiated a strategic UNITY partners. The Poynter hearing prior to approving new Institute, American Press Insti- planning process to chart its path media ownership rules. for the next five years, to identify tute, Columbia University and • In May, when conservative new sources of revenue, and most many other training centers are importantly, how to leverage the on board; we’re preparing, for the commentators and others collective strength of the 8,000 first time, a high-level executive attempted a full assault on diversi- training partnership with the members of the alliance partners – ty in the wake of the Jayson Blair NABJ, Asian American Journal- American Society of Newspaper affair, the UNITY partners stood ists Association, National Associa- Editors and we are working on the tion of Hispanic Journalists and same for broadcasters with the behind NABJ’s position, and cau- Radio and Television News Direc- Native American Journalists tioned the industry against relent- tors Association. Association. Our intent is to focus At your Dallas convention, many ing on its responsibility to its mission, become more proac- of you heard your new president increase diversity and to instead tive, more activist and tackle and my Newsday colleague, Her- issues more forcefully than ever. accelerate efforts. bert Lowe, speak about the need And for that to happen, it will take In the decade that our organiza- to examine the Washington press the strongest possible showing by corps and diversity. A project by a tions have struggled to change the nation’s journalists of color. task force of UNITY partners was journalism, we’ve found that suc- UNITY 2004’s agenda will have already underway to do the most cess has come from our organiza- programming, speakers, work- comprehensive census and survey tions being strong advocates for shops and other activities that are ever, to see which companies are change. It’s time to become the meant to make journalism more diverse, reveal names, offer solu- diverse, accurate, representative tions and commit our expertise, agents for change, and UNITY and, more honest. In an election associations’ expertise and mem- 2004 can be a big part of that. year, in Washington, we fully bers to make journalism better. See you at our convention. expect President Bush and his But the coalition, if it’s to be effec- Democratic challenger will not tive, must be more than just a con- Ernie Sotomayor is Long Island shun the biggest journalism convention every five years. Consider: Editor for Newsday.com in vention ever. We’ve invited United • In Jan. 2003, UNITY and its Melville, N.Y. For more information Nations Secretary-General Kofi partners attended a summit by the Annan and hope he’ll participate. ASNE in Nashville, and making a about UNITY: Journalists of Color, visit www.unityjournalists.org. 46 NABJ Journal • Winter 2004