NABJ Spring Final R2
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
INDEX FEATURES 7 The Washington Post gets into the radio business. 10 Coretta Scott King Two NABJ members reflect on the life of an icon. Starting Small Young12 journalists figure out the path to success. 14 Burnout & New Beginnings Veteran journalists navigate life after the newsroom. 16 Dispatches from Africa Bob Butler and Tanyanika Samuels discuss their journeys as part of NABJ’s Ethel Payne program. 20 A Gallant Knight Athelia Knight trains a new generation of journalists. COVER STORY 8 Godfather of photojournalism NABJ Hall of Famer and legend Gordon Parks is remembered by those who knew and loved him. DEPARTMENTS Board News . 6 Catching up with … Caesar Andrews . 22 Bookmarks . 24 Chapter focus … Milbert O. Brown Jr. of Hampton Roads . 26 thethe ChicagoChicago TribuneTribune cap-cap- Opinion . 27 turestures CorettaCoretta ScottScott KingKing Comings and Goings . 30 with Dorothy Height (on left)left) presidentpresident ofof NationalNational Council of Negro Women. King met with other Black leadersleaders atat thethe BlackBlack Cover Photo Leadership Forum in 1980 Milbert O. Brown/Chicago Tribune locatedlocated inin Gary,Gary, Indiana.Indiana. 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 nation. To discuss news items, photos and letters or advertising, call 301.445.7100 ext. 110 or 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 [email protected]. 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 $14.00. Reprints not permitted without written approval from NABJ. Postmaster: Send address changes to NABJ, 8701-A Adelphi Road, Adelphi, MD 20783-1716. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS • WWW.NABJ.ORG 3 from the NABJ president BRYAN MONROE Spring 2006 • Vol. 23, No. 1 Inventing the next Gordon Parks Official Publication of the As we take time in this issue to celebrate National Association of Black the life or from within your local NABJ chapter, meeting Journalists and works of legendary photojournalist Gordon once a month over coffee or pizza to share tips and Parks, I think about the label that follows him the examples of good writing. NABJ Board of Directors most. • Befriend a good writing instructor at a nearby Renaissance Man. college or university and convince them to go over Gordon Parks was indeed a world-class journal- your work monthly, in exchange for sharing your PRESIDENT ist, having documented poverty, civil rights and skills in another form of journalism. Or, just offer Bryan Monroe the struggles of blacks in the 20th century. to pay them a modest stipend for their time. Knight Ridder But Gordon Parks was not afraid to reach far Or what if you wanted to learn more about outside his comfort zone and look for many ways video, radio or broadcasting in general? VICE PRESIDENT/BROADCAST to challenge his creativity, telling the stories of his • Borrow a simple digital camcorder and try Barbara Ciara world. your hand at shooting some video. Pick a specific WTKR-TV (Norfolk) Yes, Parks was the first African American pho- project to take on — a family history, a child’s tographer for Life magazine in 1948, and was an baseball game, a chapter awards banquet — give VICE PRESIDENT/PRINT important international filmmaker — directing yourself ample time, and dive in. Ernie Suggs the original"Shaft" and the “The Learning Tree.” • Invest in a copy of a simple desktop program The Atlanta Journal-Constitution But he also was a prolific writer of fiction, an to learn how to edit video. VideoStudio for the PC accomplished composer and respected painter. or iMovie for the Mac are either cheap or free and SECRETARY As a journalist, Parks saw the easy to learn and master in just a Sarah J. Glover importance of other forms, other few sessions. The Philadelphia Inquirer mediums, to master, while still • Give yourself a real deadline remaining true to himself and his — an actual chapter event date, a TREASURER own personal vision. party scheduled where you will John Yearwood show your finished project, a The Miami Herald For many NABJ members and family reunion — and work journalists across the country, toward having your project ready PARLIAMENTARIAN recent changes in the media indus- to show. Melanie Burney try, consolidation of newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer groups such as the sale of my own Finally, maybe you are ready to Knight Ridder to McClatchy, and step out and start your own REGION I DIRECTOR overall uncertainty leaves many of media business. Errol Cockfield us wondering: Will I have a future? Many NABJ members have Newsday But sometimes, the best way to found success outside the tradi- predict your own future is to, like tional confines of the newsroom, REGION II DIRECTOR Parks did, invent it yourself. J. Elliott Lewis choosing instead to launch their Take a page from Gordon Parks. Gordon Parks/American Gothic, 1942 Freelance own video production compa- Try something new. Get outside nies, or new Web sites or slick "American Gothic," your comfort zone while staying magazines. REGION III DIRECTOR considered to be Parks's true to your journalistic instincts. Tammy Carter signature image, was • In Washington D.C., veteran become more of a “three-dimen- The Orlando Sentinel taken in Washington, D.C., NABJ member Sheila Brooks left sional journalist” — competent in in 1942, during the the structured world of TV news print, online and broadcast. photographer's fellowship behind 15 years ago when she REGION IV DIRECTOR And take personal ownership for with the Farm Security Leisa Richardson started SRB Productions, now a your own training, career and Administration, a The Indianapolis Star million-dollar production house future. If you don’t, who will? government agency set up with corporate, entertainment Perhaps now is the time to learn by President Roosevelt to and government contracts. REGION V DIRECTOR aid farmers in despair. more about online journalism and Russell LaCour • Outside Philadelphia, former the Web: The Tulsa World NABJ student representative • Volunteer for a shift or two Caleb Wilkerson augments his working with your newsroom’s internet team. day job as a producer at NFL Films with a side REGION VI DIRECTOR • Come in early or stay late to learn Flash or V.W. Vaughan business designing and creating Web sites. Photoshop from someone in the art department. The Arizona Daily Star • And in San Francisco, former Bay Area chap- • Sign up for a class at your local community ter president John Hilton runs CityFlight maga- college or adult education center on how to build zine, a popular, black-oriented monthly news- ASSOCIATE REPRESENTATIVE Web pages or create podcasts. Angela McClendon Johnson magazine covering community issues, health, Or maybe you want to improve your writing San Antonio Convention & Visitors entertainment, faith and business. and editing skills. Don’t wait to be tapped on the Bureau At our upcoming 31st Annual NABJ shoulder for the next trip to Poynter or API. Create Convention and Career Fair, Aug. 16-20 in your own training program: Indianapolis, we will kick off the week with an STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE • Find the best writer in your newsroom — or Mashaun D. Simon opening plenary focusing on entrepreneurism, email one of the many strong writers in NABJ — Georgia Perimeter College with invited speakers including Earl “Butch” and get them to critique your work on a regular Graves of Black Enterprise, Robert Johnson, for- basis. merly of BET and model-turned producer Tyra • Create a writers’ group among your colleagues Banks. 4 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS • WWW.NABJ.ORG from the managing editor ERNIE SUGGS Real journalists don’t cry? Spring 2006 • Vol. 23, No. 1 On the morning of Jan. 31,I received a call that she received dozens of letters and messages from my colleague Mae Gentry at about 7 a.m. afterwards. “I was deeply moved watching the Official Publication of the “Mrs. King has died,”Mae said. faces of the King family members who held their National Association of Black Journalists “Okay. See you in a few minutes,”I said. heads high as her casket arrived in front of the I put down the phone. Sat on the edge of the Capitol. They appeared proud of the enormity of bed and cried. the moment, almost smiling at its significance, P UBLISHER It was the kind of crying that a man does when while fighting back their tears of mourning. I Bryan Monroe he feels he is too proud to cry. have long admired the 'sheroes' of the civil rights KNIGHT RIDDER Intense. Passionate. Quick. movement with Mrs. King being a giant among I jumped in the shower then I went to work. them. Covering her funeral was indeed a high M ANAGING E DITOR I kind of felt ashamed. Journalists aren't sup- point of my career.” Ernie Suggs posed to cry, even in their own darkened bed- Then, my shame vanished. I owe it to Coretta THE ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION rooms. Scott King to shed a few tears for her great life. In my nine years at The Atlanta Journal- In this issue of the NABJ Journal, we pay trib- P ICTURE E DITOR Constitution, I got a chance to get to know Mrs. ute to her life through the words of Vic Carter of King very well. WJZ-TV in Baltimore and John Fisher of The Sarah J. Glover But my coverage wasn't always pretty.