Learn about the education beat

PIOs, School board members and parents.

Covering education can be a trying task for journalists. At the April meeting we've put together a team of experts that could make covering your next education story easier.

Come and invite your friends and colleagues to our next general body meeting, set for 11:30 a.m. Saturday, April 15 in the Dowd board room of the Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. Seventh St.

Our second professional development session will include three guest panelists:
-- Jerri Haigler, Assistant to the President for Community Relations and Public Affairs for Central Piedmont Community College, former Public Information Officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
-- Harvey Gantt, Former Charlotte Mayor and member of the Citizens' Task Force
-- Ann Doss Helms, longtime education reporter for The Charlotte Observer

This is a great opportunity to get story ideas, and figure out ways to expand education coverage. The speakers are taking time out of their busy lives for our benefit. Let's make sure we greet them with a full house.

Melody Freeman
Vice-President of Broadcast,
Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists


Click below for more chapter announcements
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Other Announcements:
-- CAABJ will host a mixer at 7 p.m. May 18 at Fox and Hound in uptown Charlotte. This will be a good chance to network with members, join the chapter and relax after work. Stay tuned for more details.
-- NABJ has extended the early-bird registration deadline for the Indianapolis convention until April 17. Register online at www.nabj.org
-- Is your company still looking for summer interns or have job openings? If so, let April know at e-mailing charlotteaabj@gmail.com or 704-264-6884. I'd like to compile a list for interested college students or recent grads.


Questions? Suggestions? Contact us at charlotteaabj@gmail.com, or www.caabjournalists.blogspot.com

Thanks,

April

Join CAABJ in 2006!!!

Networking opportunities. Professional development seminars. Advocacy for more diverse news coverage. Those are just some of the benefits of joining the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists. I strongly encourage all of you to officially join CAABJ as a full, associate or student member. Click on the link below for a membership application.

Chapter dues will support programs during the year and some administrative expenses. Dues were approved at the December 2005 general body meeting.

Don't forget to sign up for one of our four standing committees:

• Membership: The committee will help recruit potential professional and student members to the organization, and review all membership bids.
• Programs - The committee will help coordinate chapter seminars on journalism topics and newsmaker sessions with Charlotte-area leaders. The committee also will plan special events such as the annual Scholarship/Awards banquet and other social opportunities.
• Media Watch and Professional Development - The committee will monitor local media organizations for fair coverage of the black community. The committee also will be responsible for creating a members-only listserv for job and training announcements, and coordinate possible training opportunities for CAABJ members.
• Fundraising - The committee will brainstorm ways to raise money for the chapter, including scholarship funds for local students interested in pursuing a career in journalism.
  

If you are interested in serving on a committee, email charlotteaabj@gmail.com.

To join, please send the following information and a check for dues (payable to CAABJ) to CAABJ at P.O. Box 31024, Charlotte, N.C. 28231.

Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists2006 Membership Application

Full Name:___________________________________ Address:______________________________________
City: _________________ State: ____ Zip Code: ____________
Home phone: ___________ Work phone: ___________
Mobile: ___________Email: ______________________________

What media organization do you work for?

If applying for a student membership, what school do you attend?

What type of membership are you seeking?
Full Membership ($50): Open to working journalists, i.e., reporters, editors and photographers who work for newspapers, television and radio stations, magazines and wire services and who produce, gather, disseminate and distribute news. In addition, memberships shall be open to free-lance journalists who can prove that they spend more than half their time producing, gathering, disseminating or distributing news.

Associate Membership ($35): Open to journalists employed in public information areas, to journalists employed in an academic field, i.e. college of university professors, high school journalism teachers, or those working journalists who after being employed at a newspaper, television or radio station, magazine or wire service decide to further their education.

Student Membership ($20): Student membership shall be open to anyone who is a full time student at an accredited high school, college or university. Course of study must be in the communications field, preferably print journalism or broadcast journalism.

What CAABJ activities are you interested in? (check all that apply
-- Programs Committee
-- Scholarships and Community Service
-- Media Watch
-- Fundraising

Do you have any special skills, experience or talent that might benefit CAABJ?

Questions? Contact CAABJ Parliamentarian Cleve Wootson at cwootson@charlotteobserver.com.