National Association of Black Journalists

2016 NABJ Region I Conference

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) will host the 2016 Region I Conference on April 29 and 30 at the School of Global Journalism & Communication on the campus of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.

	4/29/2016 to 4/30/2016
When:	April 29-30, 2016
Where:	Morgan State University School of Global Journalism & Communication 1700 E. Cold Spring Lane Baltimore, MD 21251 United States
Contact:	Johann Calhoun (267) 602-6527

« Go to Upcoming Event List

EVENT OVERVIEW

2016 NABJ Region I Conference

One Year After Freddie Gray: Navigating Social Justice in Journalism

April 29-30, 2016

Morgan State University
School of Global Journalism & Communication
1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251

Johann Calhoun
NABJ Region I Director
calhoun.nabj@gmail.com

Nicki Mayo
Conference Chair

Zuri Berry
Programming Chair

DeWayne Wickham
NABJ and BABJ Founder
Morgan State University School of
Global Journalism Communication Dean

Titled One Year After Freddie Gray: Navigating Social Justice in Journalism, the conference will be a significant gathering of community members and journalists as we look back on journalistic lessons learned over the past year since Gray's untimely death. The conference will consist of a major town hall, workshops, and nationally-known speakers during the one-year anniversary of Gray's disturbing and untimely death.

Gray's death was the flashpoint for protests out of concern over police brutality in predominantly African-American neighborhoods. His death also brought to the forefront issues on government and community relations and a call to increase diversity in the media.

Built and crafted as a learning laboratory, the conference will focus on three crucial areas: community engagement, digital training and media coaching. It will also include a town hall discussion titled #TogetherBaltimore that will focus on the future of the city following last year's unrest, and discuss strategies as to how the media can do a better job in its coverage there and in similar cities across the country.

This year's conference will build upon the skills of journalists, public relations professionals and community leaders who live in the following NABJ Region I states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The conference will allow seasoned journalists, seen on our television screens and read in the various forms of print and new media, to enhance their skills and acquire new ones. .

Networking opportunities include a welcome social on Friday, April 29, and an awards reception immediately following the conference on Saturday, April 30. There will be an attendance challenge where a cash award will be presented at the Saturday reception to the professional and student chapters with the largest number of members registered. The funds will go toward each respective chapter's scholarship fund.

Baltimore is a great conference city with its popular Inner Harbor and African-American historical sites. The city is within reasonable travel distance from major cities along the U.S. East Coast.

If you have questions about the sponsorship benefits and conference program, please contact Region I Director Johann Calhoun at calhoun.nabj@gmail.com or (267) 602-6527.

#NABJBaltimore16

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Friday, April 29 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.	Welcome Reception Location: Nancy by SNAC 131 W North Ave. Baltimore, Md. The cost of the reception is $10 Click HERE to purchase tickets
Saturday, April 30 8:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.	Conference Workshops and Town Hall Location: Morgan State University School of Global Journalism and Communication 1700 East Cold Spring Lane Baltimore, Md.
8:30 a.m.	Continental Breakfast
9:30 a.m.	Registration
10:00 a.m.	Opening & Welcome
10:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.	Workshops
	Covering Baltimore’s Challenges - Sponsored by The Baltimore Sun Group of editors and reporters from The Baltimore Sun will discuss the challenges of covering Baltimore’s endemic social and economic problems, including high crime, poor schools and stunted opportunities. As part of the discussion Sun journalists will also discuss a recent forum on youth violence prevention at Bethel AME Church. The presentation will include an 18-minute video featuring interviews with children and parents discussing ways forward for their West Baltimore Upton/Druid Heights neighborhood. The Sun loaned cameras to four high school students, whose footage is included in this video. The paper wanted to hear their perspectives on the community’s problems - and possible solutions. In December, 2014, The Sun published a three-part series, “Collateral Damage,” about the often unseen, yet devastating consequences of violence on the city’s children, caregivers and families. As a follow-up, The Sun partnered with Promise Heights - a University of Maryland School of Social Work community initiative - to get some of these residents to tell their own stories. Moderator: Andrew Green, Opinion Page Editor, The Baltimore Sun Panel: E.R. Shipp, Associate Professor, Morgan State University; Andrea McDaniels, Reporter, The Sun; Erica Green, Reporter, The Sun; Justin Fenton, Reporter, The Sun; Diana Sugg, Senior Content Editor (Projects), The Sun; Christopher Assaf, Content Editor (Video), The Sun.
Tené Croom George Curry	The Black Press In The 21st Century Panelists will explore how the Black media is no longer in three categories — television, radio, and newspaper — but have splintered as 21st Century tastes of African-Americans have changed. Very Smart Brothas, a daily digital magazine, has hit a stride. The most popular African American website for 2015 according to the research company ComScore, Inc. was Madame Noire, self-described "sophisticated lifestyle publication.” Journal-isms reported that BET.com, MediaTakeOut.com, WorldStarHipHop.com, The Root and Bossip.com were also favorites among African Americans. The Black press continues to provide stories/editorials that are not being found in mainstream media – big/small newspapers and TV/radio stations/networks. Moderator: Tené Croom, President at Tené Croom Communications Panelists: Shari Welton (TV One News) Erika Blount Danois (The Root) Carla Wills (Formerly WEAA-FM) George Curry (veteran journalist).
April Reign	Power of Social Media How journalists of color are using social media to our advantage and how social media is being harnessed to push stories that are often not covered by the mainstream press. Moderator: April Reign (Creator of #OscarsSoWhite) Panelists: Michael Arceneaux (writer for Complex and VH1) Candace Amos (Daily News social media manager) Stacia L. Brown (writer and radio producer) La Janee Cosby (blogger)
Velvet McNeil Brian Henderson	The Modern Designer This panel will discuss the changing roles of designers and provide an introduction to various careers designers can also apply their skills. Attendees will meet designers in the following industries: content advertising, tech, non-profit, performing arts and construction management. Panelists will provide attendees resources to help them develop in the specialized areas that will be presented. Moderators: Velvet McNeil and Brian Henderson Panelists: Terry Plater Marshall Childs Rochelle Cherenfant Regine Gilbert
1:00 p.m. - 1:40 p.m.	Lunch
1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Vic Carter Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake	Baltimore Mayor Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake The mayor will be interviewed on stage by Baltimore's leading anchorman Vic Carter of WJZ-13 CBS, who will give a "master class" on interviewing high-profile politicians. There will also be an opportunity for conference attendees to ask questions.
3:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.	Workshops
NABJ President Sarah Glover	Digital First: Leveraging All Platforms To Do Cutting Edge Journalism As tech tools continue to evolve, the need to incorporate data to reporting hasn’t. This panel delves into social news gathering tips and digital reporting. Want a digital job? It will touch on that too. Instructor: Sarah Glover, Social Media Editor, NBC10 Philadelphia
Khorri Atkinson	Power of Student Media Panel
	GOOGLE Workshop
5:30 p.m. - 5:40 p.m.	Break Before Town Hall
5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Wesley Lowery Kevin Davis Rev. Jamal Bryant Tessa Hill-Aston Farajii Muhammad DeRay McKesson	Town Hall Discussion: #TogetherBaltimore Discussion will focus on the future of Baltimore following last year's unrest, and discuss strategies how the media can do a better job in its coverage there and in similar cities across the country. Moderator: Wesley Lowery, The Washington Post Panelists: Kevin Davis Commissioner of Baltimore Police Department Rev. Jamal Bryant Pastor of Empowerment Temple AME Church Tessa Hill-Aston President Baltimore City NAACP Farajii Muhammad Broadcaster for WEAA 88.9 FM and PRAISE 106.1 FM Baltimore DeRay McKesson: Baltimore mayoral candidate and Black Lives Matter activist
7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.	Post-Conference Awards Reception

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

ONSITE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR

Register Today and Save!

Registration Type	Pre-Registration	Onsite
NABJ Member	$50.00	$60.00
NABJ Student Member	$25.00	$35.00
Non-Member	$65.00	$75.00
Student Non-Member	$35.00	$45.00