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Updated: Monday, February 12, 2007 Published: Monday, April 11, 2005

NABJ Founders John White, Paul Delaney, NABJ unofficial historian Wayne Dawkins, and NABJ founder Sam Ford NABJ Founder Sam Ford, NABJ Executive Director Tangie Newborn NABJ Founders Sam Ford and Paul Delaney Kelley Coates-Carter of AARP speaks with NABJ Founder John White after panel Darryl Fears of the Washington Post talks about Race Relations as a Beat NABJ President Herbert Lowe and CNN's Joe Johns Audience enjoys Joe Johns' keynote address NABJ Board members enjoy John's keynote address Association of Black Media Workers/Baltimore Chapter President Charles Robinson thanks the AP's Denise Cabrera, one of the conference's co-chairs Region III Director Elliott Lewis, CNN's Joe Johns, and Robinson NBC's Kevin Corke and WJLA's Jamie Foster give tips during "Television Story Telling" Corke gives critique to WJAC-TV reporter Denise Douglas after panel Corke watching Douglas' tape Cover of Conference Program Book RELATED LINKS NABJ Presidential Candidates Debate

The conference provided valuable career development to journalists, students and media-related professionals, while also addressing topical issues that matter to media in the region. It was held April 8-9 at the Maritime Institute Conference Center, 692 Maritime Blvd., Linthicum Heights, Md., about 10 minutes south of Baltimore.

The Region III conference featured a host of workshops, a discussion with NABJ's founding members, a screening of the movie Crash," and a NABJ candidates forum. Featured speakers include Roland Martin, editor of the Chicago Defender, and Joe Johns, a CNN Washington correspondent.

This whole conference energized me, said WJAC-TV reporter Denise Douglas, a Maryland native now working in State College, Pa.

Workshop topics included Ethical Issues in News and Public Relations, Welcome to the Real Newsroom, Race Relations as a Beat and Are Newspapers Dead?

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

Workshops

9 a.m.-10:15 a.m.

Founders' Forum: Voices of NABJ's First Members
Nearly 30 years ago in Washington, DC, 44 men and women created NABJ. That bold, brave act created the largest association of journalists of color in the world. Hear from some local founders and learn why they created NABJ, and what they see for the future.

10:30-11:45 a.m.

Fault Lines: A Tool for Covering the Whole Community An NABJ Media Institute program sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation
Much of today's media coverage breaks the country into black and white, North and South, male and female. Doing so fails to capture the complexity of American life. Come learn how to make your product more complete, using the five fault lines of race, class, gender, generation and geography.

Are You Wire Worthy?
Explore what it means to work for a global news network. Participants will discuss job and career opportunities, the changing face of the wire, and the differences between working for individual newspaper and broadcast outlets and working for a wire service. Panelists include Denise Cabrera, Wiley Hall and Kasey Jones of the Associated Press.

Noon 1:30 p.m.

LUNCH
Keynote Speaker: Roland Martin, Editor, Chicago Defender

1:45- 3 p.m.

Ethical Issues in News and Public Relations
Video news releases airing as news reports. Commentators under contract to push the Bush administration agenda. Where is the line between journalism and public relations? Are VNRs "fake news reports" as critics contend, or merely electronic press releases? A panel of news and public relations professionals will examine these and other ethical issues facing our industry today.

Are Newspapers Dead? Exploring Opportunities Online
The immediacy of news online has changed day-to-day reporting and opened new career paths for journalists. Participants in this workshop will address the ways traditional media are using the web, what consumers have come to expect from news Web sites, and the competitive issues online news has raised.

Branching Into Books: Becoming an Author While Keeping Your Day Job
Think there's a book in you? Find out how other journalists have taken their writing to new heights by becoming authors. Hear from a local literary agent and journalists-turned-authors who'll tell you how to get started. From writing a book proposal to landing a publishing contract, this workshop will cover it all.

3:154:30 p.m.

What PR People Really Think of Reporters
Journalists and public relations people often have a love-hate relationship. Hear some common pet peeves of PR folks when dealing with the media, why those in public relations respect some reporters more than others, and how journalists can raise their level of professionalism in the eyes of the institutions they cover.

3:15 4:30 p.m.

Finding Humor in Political Coverage
Sometimes the issues of race and politics are too serious. This has spawned a new generation of writers, humorists, and cartoonists who poke fun and sometimes get in trouble for the points they make. Hear from them on how they got started and what they look for when it comes to material. Panelists include comedian and political commentator Koli Tengali of WCBM Radio.

Internships 101: Welcome to the Real Newsroom

NABJ Region III Director and freelance TV reporter Elliott Lewis leads a session for students on how to make the most of a news internship. Attendees will receive a copy of Elliott's TV news internship guide intended for those who are either in the process of seeking an internship or who are about to embark on a television news internship. Learn valuable tips on how to impress your supervisors and avoid common intern mistakes.

7 p.m. Movie Screening, Muvico, Arundel Mills Mall

Crash Lions Gate Films', Crash, takes a provocative, unflinching look at the complexities of racial tolerance in contemporary America.

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

Workshops
9:00 10:15 a.m.

Power Producing: Crafting a Career Behind the Camera
Sponsored by WBAL-TV/Hearst-Argyle Television
Room 300
While many broadcast journalism students enter the profession with a desire to be on-camera, many news directors complain they cant find enough experienced producers to serve in this pivotal role in the newsroom. This seminar will expose attendees to career paths behind the camera, specifically producing. Participants will address the preparation required to enter the producer ranks, the qualities and skills necessary for upward mobility, and the role of producers in shaping news content.

Play Ball! The Return of Baseball to the Nation's Capital
Room 302
Major League Baseball is coming back to Washington DC, and its return isn't just a sports story. This panel discussion examines the implications in terms of economic development, marketing and politics, in addition to what it means to sports fans in both Washington and Baltimore.

Talk of the Town
Oprah and Tavis Smiley make it look so easy. So why cant I be a talk show host? Being able to carry on a conversation that's engaging isn't all its made out to be. Its the guest, the callers and the subject matter. Hear from some experts on what makes it work.

10:30 11:45 AM

Race Relations as a Beat
An NABJ Media Institute program sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation

Covering race relations in America poses a number of challenges both inside and outside the newsroom. Hear first-hand accounts of the obstacles journalists face when writing about a delicate, controversial and complex subject. Veteran reporters who've made race relations their beat share their secrets for rising to the challenge.

Moving Into Management

Tired of the daily grind? Ever think management might be for you? Come learn from those at the top about what it takes to move up the corporate ladder. What are the skills necessary to make the transition from the newsroom to the boardroom? What should journalists know about advertising, sales and marketing, and keeping an eye on the bottom line? Participants include Drew Berry, general manager of WMAR-TV; Namon Jones, account executive at WTKR-TV, and Bryan Monroe, assistant vice president/news at Knight Ridder.

Noon 1:30 p.m.

LUNCH

Keynote Speaker: Joe Johns, Washington Correspondent, CNN

1:45-3 p.m.

NABJ Candidates Forum

Its NABJ election season! Candidates for positions on the NABJ Board of Directors, from president on down, will be available to layout their platforms and answer members questions about their vision for the future of NABJ.

3:154:30 p.m.

Resume Rescue: Landing Your First Job

This informal session offers students and entry-level journalists a chance to have their resumes reviewed by seasoned professionals and talk one-on-one about how to put their best foot forward in the job search process. Learn what you need to do to stand out from the crowd and make sure your resume doesn't end up in the trash bin.

Foreign Reporting: The Ups and Downs of Reporting Abroad

The life of a foreign correspondent may sound exotic. But the reality can be quite different. Hear from those who have practiced journalism abroad as they share their experiences, including what its like to report from a war zone. Panelists include Theola Labbe of The Washington Post, who has reported from Iraq, and photographer Sarah Glover of The Philadelphia Inquirer who recently traveled to Africa on an NABJ fellowship. John Yearwood of the Miami Herald will moderate.

Television Story Telling

What are the ingredients to producing strong, compelling, memorable stories on television? What are local news directors and network executives looking for when searching for new talent? How do you chart a career path to a top 10 market station or to the networks? Come watch examples of strong story-telling techniques and hear from a network news correspondent and a large market news director.