Boston Globe's Summer Internship Program

Below is a letter we received via email.

Dear Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists,

I'm Paula Bouknight and I oversee The Boston Globe's summer internship program. I wanted to take a few moments to tell you about our program -- one of the top summer internship programs in the nation -- and encourage you to pass this information along to any of your student members.

The Globe started its program more than 50 years ago. Through the years, it has continued to be a challenging and rewarding program for those invited to participate. The 12-week program gives young journalists a chance to work for a major metropolitan paper, covering a variety of stories in our Metro, Business, Living/Arts, Health/Science and Sports sections, as well as shooting photos and video, designing section fronts and creating graphics for print and online, and copy editing. While we provide guidance, direction, and editing to the interns, as well as offer another layer of feedback with a writing coach dedicated to the interns, we expect them to work nearly at the level of a beginning reporter. This means our interns produce great work and finely polish their journalism skills every day.

In 2005, The Wall Street Journal published "America's A-List of Internships," and The Boston Globe was the only newspaper included on it. To make the final list, the Journal said "internship programs had to receive multiple recommendations from employers" and "stand out from competing programs."

So, if any student in your chapter is seeking a summer internship next year, please consider our program.

A fuller description of the program as well as an application can also be downloaded from our website: bostonglobe.com/newsintern.

Sincerely,

Paula Bouknight
The Boston Globe
AME/Hiring & Development

It's Still 'Your Voice. Your Vote.' - Learn All You Can About the Candidates

We're grateful to the more than 25 candidates who spoke at Your Voice. Your Vote. on September 21. And since there are several weeks until the election, we're linking the candidates to their campaign websites so you can learn more about them.

We know you're fired up about who you're choosing to vote for president and probably also excited about the gubernatorial race. Now do yourself--and your future--a favor and learn about your choices for county commissioner, state representative, district court judge, etc., so you'll truly be making informed decisions on November 4.

This is not a list of all state and local candidates, but is a list of the candidates who participated in Your Voice. Your Vote.

State
Pat McCrory – Candidate, N.C. Governor (R)
Bev Purdue – Candidate, N.C. Governor (D)
Kay Hagan – Candidate, U.S. Senate (D)
Beverly Earle – Candidate, N.C. House of Representatives (D)
Dan Clodfelter – Candidate, N.C. State Senate (D)
Vince Coscia – Candidate, N.C. State Senate (R)
Charlie Dannelly – Candidate, N.C. State Senate (D)
James Soder – Candidate, N.C. State Senate (R)
Mary Fant Donnan - Candidate, N.C. Labor Commissioner

Local
David Granberry – Candidate, Register of Deeds (D)
Harold Cogdell– Candidate, Mecklenburg County Commission (D)
Vilma Leake - Candidate, Mecklenburg County Commission (D)
Dan Murrey – Candidate, Mecklenburg County Commission (D)
Dan Ramirez – Candidate, Mecklenburg County Commission (R)
Jennifer Roberts – Candidate, Mecklenburg Co. Commission (D)
Susan Walker – Candidate, Mecklenburg County Commission (R)

Judicial (Non-Partisan)
Suzanne Reynolds – Candidate, N.C. Supreme Court
John Arrowood – Candidate, N.C. Court of Appeals
Linda Stephens – Candidate, N.C. Court of Appeals
Sam Ervin – Candidate, N.C. Court of Appeals
Kimberly Best – Candidate, District Court Judge
Charlotte Brown-Williams – Candidate, District Court Judge
Gary Henderson – Candidate, District Court Judge
Donnie Hoover – Candidate, District Court Judge
John Totten – Candidate, District Court Judge
Todd Owens – Candidate, District Court Judge

'Your Voice. Your Vote.' We Did It!

Thank you to everyone who helped make "Your Voice. Your Vote." a success. When we began planning the event several months ago, we couldn't have foreseen that Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama would decide to hold a rally in Charlotte on the same day. Or that the Rev. Al Sharpton would hold two speaking engagements on our day as well.

But we persevered, and the people who realized the importance of learning more about their local and state candidates came out to our great event. And thank you to the more than 25 candidates that attended and spoke as well. CAABJ looks forward to holding more exciting events and having a more impactful presence in the community.

Below is an article published today in The Charlotte Observer.

Voters get a chance to meet the candidates

By April Bethea
abethea@charlotteobserver.com
Posted: Monday, Sep. 22, 2008

Dozens of candidates for elected office had a chance to tell Mecklenburg County residents why they should be put in office at two forums held in uptown.

The first featured a candidates meet and greet, and panel discussion on politics and the media. Later in the evening, the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg held a candidates forum.

The events capped off a whirlwind day in the Queen City for anyone interested in politics, including a rally with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

In addition, civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton appeared at a northeast Charlotte church to encourage people to register to vote.

The first stop for many candidates on Sunday was the Levine Museum of the New South.

There, organizers of the event “Your Voice. Your Vote” aimed to help make the public more aware about candidates running for local and statewide offices – races they said are often overshadowed by the presidential and other national contests.

Among those speaking at the non-partisan event were candidates for county commissioners, state legislative and judicial seats and democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan.

The event was sponsored by the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists – Charlotte and Generation Engage, a group that aims to boost involvement of young adults in politics.

Sunday evening, the Black Political Caucus held its traditional forum for candidates seeking office. As with the journalist' program, the event drew candidates seeking a variety of offices, including 18 candidates for district judge and the court of appeals.

For more than three hours, about 50 hopefuls introduced themselves to a crowd gathered at Little Rock AME Zion Church uptown, then fielded questions on topics like the economy, the judicial system and the candidates' top goals for office.

Incumbents touted their experience and past accomplishments while in office, while their challengers pledged to bring change and to be more responsive to public needs.

The Black Political Caucus will vote on endorsements next weekend.

"Your Voice. Your Vote." Will Give Public Chance to Meet Local, State, and Judicial Candidates

Do you know anything about the candidates on this fall's ballot other than John McCain and Barack Obama? Come meet face to face with your state, local, and judicial candidates during "Your Voice. Your Vote." September 21, 12-4 p.m. at the Levine Museum of the New South.

During this free, non-partisan event, you will be able to talk directly to candidates, receive voter guides, and register to vote. The Mecklenburg County Board of Elections will have a voting machine on hand for demonstrations as well as a computer for you to check your registration.

Mert's Heart and Soul will provide complimentary refreshments and the museum's exhibit halls will be open. Also, join us as we discuss the relationship between the media and the public during "The Changing Face of Politics" open forum from 3-4 p.m.

Candidates and elected officials confirmed to speak include U.S. Senate candidate Kay Hagan, N.C. Gubernatorial candidates Pat McCrory and Bev Purdue, N.C. State Representatives Beverly Earle and Robert Pittenger, N.C. State Senator Malcolm Graham, Mecklenburg County Commission candidates Harold Cogdell, Hal Jordan, Dan Ramirez, Jennifer Roberts, and more. Panelists will include Charlotte Observer political video columnist Tonya Jameson and CNN and Fox News political contributor Lenny McAllister (The Hip-Hop Republican).

"Your Voice. Your Vote." is being brought to you by the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists in partnership with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and GenerationEngage. Sponsors include the Levine Museum of the New South, Charlotte magazine, the Charlotte Chamber's Black Professionals Network, and Mert's Heart and Soul.

WFAE's The Media's Role in Election 2008

WFAE presents a community dialogue on the role of the media in the current election year. This informal and interactive session is designed to engage the audience in discussion with local media experts and journalists. The event will be held Wednesday, September 17, 6:30-8 p.m., at the Mint Museum of Art (2730 Randolph Road).

Panelists are: Daniel Grano, assistant professor of communication studies at UNC Charlotte; Jim Morrill, political writer at The Charlotte Observer; Jeff Sonier, television journalist and political reporter.

Topics and questions to be discussed include:

• How can the media go beyond 'sound bite' journalism and 'horse race' reporting of the latest poll results to help voters better understand the issues and where the candidates stand?
• Are the local media doing a good job of covering the NC races for governor, U.S. Senate and congressional contests?
• How can voters balance what they see and hear through political coverage, with the messages they encounter through campaign advertising? Do the media overemphasize candidates' race, gender, religion?
• What should be the media's role in encouraging voter turnout?
• Should newspapers still endorse candidates?

Admission is free, but seating is limited. Registration is required. Click here to register.

Gracie Awards Call for Entries

Excerpt from press release

The Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television (AWRT) is inviting entries for the 34th Annual Gracie Awards. The Gracies is the most prestigious industry award that recognizes exemplary programming created for women, by women and about women, as well as outstanding achievement by individuals.

The 34th Annual Gracie Awards will continue the tradition of recognizing programming and individuals of the highest caliber in all facets of radio, television, cable and new media, including news, drama, comedy, commercials, public service, documentary and sports. The entry deadline is January 5, 2009.

To qualify for entry, programs must have aired for the first time between December 1, 2007 and November 30, 2008. National Award winners will be honored at the star-studded Gracie Awards Gala, to be held on June 3, 2009 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Local markets, public and student award winners will be honored at the Awards Luncheon of the Gracie Awards, which will be held on June 4, 2009 at the Tavern on the Green, New York, NY.

To obtain a copy of the Gracies Call for Entries, please visit www.awrt.org or contact AWRT Headquarters at 703-506-3290.