The Student Experience
National Association of Black Journalists Conference
Detroit
01-05 August 2018
Student Reflections
In their own words students share how NABJ18 has impacted them
The Student Team
Representing : Multimedia Journalism, Multiplatform Production, and Strategic Communication
About NABJ
"The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is an organization of African-American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C., by 44 journalists, the NABJ's stated purpose is to provide quality programs and services to and advocate on behalf of black journalists.
The organization has worked for diversity and to increase the number of minorities in newsrooms across the country. NABJ annually holds the nation's largest journalism convention and career fair each summer with plenary sessions and workshops for career and professional development." (NABJ).
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Morgan State University School of Global Journalism & Founding Dean DeWayne Wickham is also an NABJ Founder and past president. This year, he led a delegation of over 20 faculty, staff, students, and SGCJ alumni to participate in the convention.
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The current students were charged with producing stories daily as a way of learning about the NABJ and to also to brush on on their journalism and communication skills in a real world environment by producing content for this website.
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During this experience students focused on various aspects of their degree level skills outcomes.
Also, this experience echoed the The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) competencies: "demonstrate an understanding of the history and role of professionals and institutions in shaping communications; and "demonstrate an understanding of the diversity of peoples and cultures and of the significance and impact of mass communications in a global society."
Student Media
Student Stories from NABJ
Intersection of racism and sexism in sports panel
By Ty'rique Sims
On day two of the National Association of Black Journalist Convention in Detroit, a panel was held about the intersection of racism and sexism in sports.
The issues of sexism and racism have dominated conversations on all levels throughout our country recently and a panel of noted sports journalists tackled the intersection of racism and sexism in sports at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Detroit.
Panelists delved deeper into the topic with two women in the industry, including Jemele Hill of ESPN's The Undefeated and NBA TV's Meghan McPeak.
They were joined by Turner Sports' David Aldridge, Marc Spears and Jessie Washington of The Undefeated and Carron Phillips of the New York Daily News.
Hill, a former co-host of ESPN's SportsCenter, discussed her many challenges within the past year when it came to being attacked on social media about issues of race for her posts outside of work, one of which resulted in a suspension at ESPN.
"I shouldn't have to tell a young journalist who asks me about dealing with criticisms on social media, it just shouldn't happen,"said Hill.
Women in the journalism industry have experienced a great deal of sexism but it's not on the forefront which leads to the question why there hasn't been a #MeToo movement in the journalism industry.
"I think the #MeToo movement in journalism is coming," Phillips said. "We need to realize what black women and women in general go through in this industry. These women are not just good at their job; they're great at their job, so we have to recognize what it took for them to get there."
As more and more women start to enter previously male-dominated fields, the more mistreatment of these women occurs, the panelists said, adding it's time for the men in power to see these women as people qualified to do their jobs instead of being objectified.
"I look at racism and sexism kind of like barbeque, for way too long we've been trying to eat it with a fork and spoon, you have to get messy and address it before we clean it up," Phillips said.
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Slay That Internship
Asia Morgan
WEAA Live Interview NABJ Day 2
Daniel Gibson and Kellie Johnson
The Podcaster
Awan Wye
Jemele Hill Interview
Isaiah George
Cryptocurrency
Tayjah Brown
Remembering Les Payne
Awan Wye
WEAA Live Interview NABJ Day 3
Daniel Gibson and Kellie Johnson
Career Fair
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Asia Morgan
Career Fair
Isaiah George
Career Fair
Tayjah Brown
WEAA Live Interview NABJ Day 1
Daniel Gibson and Kellie Johnson
She's Got Game
Tayjah Brown
The Perfect Podcast
Asia Morgan
Coney Island
Isaiah George
NABJ Reflections
Awan Wye
NABJ 2018: Clips and Conversations- with Bad Boy of R&B Bobby Brown
Stephanie Douglas
Some of the ugliest moments tattooed in the memory of the man the late Whitney Houston claimed to be the“King of R&B” will soon be played out on television for the world to see in a two-part miniseries scheduled to air on BET in September.
“With this movie, I wanted it be where there’s no more questions,” said singer-songwriter Bobby Brown.
In an interview session at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Detroit, Brown and actor Woody McClain, who portrayed Brown in BET’s New Edition Story, talked about the Jesse Collins Entertainment-produced series, its meaning for Brown and the challenges of playing the role of a living legend.
Also cast in the miniseries are: Mekhi Phifer, Lil Rel Howery, Lance Gross, Laz Alonso, Sandi McCree, T.K. Carter, Alyssa Goss and Gabrielle Dennis as Whitney Houston.
Brown said the story shows the rollercoaster of his abuse, drug use, personal growth and the path to sobriety that helped the R&B icon to become a “better man” to his kids, and his wife.
“Going back and seeing everything that I’ve been through, it’s been therapeutic, made me become the man I am. I don't mind my kids seeing the good, the bad and the ugly.
Brown said that during some of the tougher and more tearful scenes he wasn’t mentally or emotionally prepared to be on set.
“Sometimes I just couldn't be on set because of the different scenes we were shooting. Scenes like with my daughter Bobbi Christina in the hospital and my mother, I would stay home. I would just sit at the house and take phone calls with my wife Alicia or my brother and see how everything is going. ”
McClain described what it was like stepping into the icon’s shoes.
“I’m not a really vulnerable person, I haven't cried since I was 14. But doing this project I was losing it; I cried so much” McClain said. “But doing certain scenes helped me become more vulnerable with my personal life.”
McClain said he was helped in portrayal of Brown because the star shared with him details about how he felt during his performances on stage and McClain was able to channel that emotion into the performance.
McClain said that Brown told him, “’When I’m on stage, that's my happy place. Every bad press, the negativity doesn’t matter, because everyone is there for me. When I'm on stage, every scream, fuels me to go over there to give them what they want, it feeds me energy.’”
NABJ2018: From the Classroom to the Newsroom
Stephanie Douglas
It's not luck that lands new graduates in the newsroom; it is skill, early career experience and the building of solid relationships. At the recently concluded National Association of Black Journalists convention in Detroit, experienced journalists spent a day training aspirants about what talents they should bring to the newsroom.
“You have to know how to make your boss’ life easier,” said panelist Nakia Cooper. The digital executive producer and content manager for KIAH-TV the CW 39 in Houston said it was important to get to know your manager.
She said that like most people, your boss doesn't want to be at the office all night telling you what needs to be done. “They hired you for a reason. This is the time to show them what you can offer.” Cooper said.
Celie Johnson, a recent graduate of Texas Southern University, told students to “keep an open mind.” She said she learned to adapt to her new position at Encompass Digital Media in Atlanta, GA as an ingest operator, transcoding media, editing and compiling post-production work for projects. It was something she had not considered doing before she was hired, Johnson said, but she now enjoys and has found confidence in developing a new skill.
Stephon Dingle, a Baltimore native who is now an anchor for WLKY-TV Morning News in Louisville, Kentucky, told the audience to be competitive, “You don't compete where you don't compare.”
He said he was fired from his first three jobs because he was not ready for the competition.
The turning point, Dingle said, was when he learned that reading news every day helps you master your craft. Your audience will appreciate your storytelling and it will put you ahead of your competitors.
“If you are on air,” Dingle said, “you have the power to make somebody’s day.”
SGJC EVENTS @NABJ
The Les Payne Tribute: August 2, 2018
Remembering Les Payne
A personal reflection by SCOM student Kellie Johnson
Aug. 4, 2018
DETROIT- Throughout this week’s busy agenda for the 2018 NABJ Convention, several journalists, media professionals, executives and celebrities within the black community have appeared on panels, spoke and gave advice to students, and of course, attended several networking and invitation only receptions. Although the main purpose of the convention was to network, collaborate and connect, NABJ and the SGJC took the time out to pay tribute to Les Payne, Founder and President of NABJ, heroic Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, father, husband and social justice pioneer.
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As the SGJC students maneuvered through the anxious crowd of soon-to-be attendees, it was our job to make sure all of the sound, cameras and media were in check before the doors officially opened. Lifelong colleague and friend Dean DeWayne Wickham had the honor of being the host for the night. Needless to say, there was lots of love in the room.
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Following several presenters, the family reflected on the legacy of Payne. “Les Payne was a superhero. He was the very first one I ever knew,” said Jamal Payne, son of Les Payne. Jamal’s mother and wife of the late Payne, Violet Payne, expressed how amazed she was at the amount of young people that were at the convention this year. This path was paved thanks to her husband for realizing the great need for black journalists.
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Although the tribute left me with several great quotes to mention, in lieu of our current racial climate, I will close with this powerful quote: “You want to challenge the assumptions they (white people) make about brown people.” - Les Payne
Social Justice Journalism: An Unlikely Partnership Among Three Universities. August 2, 2018
Daniel Gibson
August 4, 2018
Three universities have been working together on a grant to conduct research on social justice journalism in America.
These three completely diverse institutions include students from Morgan State University, Brigham Young University and West Virginia University. During one project the students and assigned faculty met for months onsite between Baltimore, MD at Morgan State University and Morgantown, WV at West Virginia University, as well as remote via Skype to work on this collaboration for a few months.
However, the attention of this session wasn’t solely on the topic of the research but more on the unlikely partnership between these three institutions which based on their structure and diverse backgrounds is highly uncommon amongst the media industry.
It was the importance of being able to cross communicate with people outside of your demographic in the same industry as you is what led the discussion.
Panel member and Morgan State Professor Denise Cabrera said,“It is important for students to go out and learn to network with people from diverse backgrounds, simply to just see the perspective from the other side.”
The takeaway for me was it was good to see Morgan State taking charge in breaking down that barrier and continuing to be a leader amongst HBCUs when it comes to seeing the world from a global perspective.
Covering Climate Change: Thursday August 2, 2018
Professor Ron Taylor leads a discussion about climate change powered by The United Nations. "The climate change story is expanding. International, national, and local policymakers can no longer ignore the impacts of extreme weather and climate-related effects on our health, environment, economy, and more. This session will help you better understand and cover this emerging issue, especially from the perspective of underserved communities."
