NABJ Reinvention Town Hall Teleconference

Some of the worst and most draining emotions seem to overcome us whenever we go through a job transition. The truth of the matter is that layoffs, buyouts, or downsizing can happen to anyone at anytime with today’s economic situation. Job transitions are part of the current state of our industry.

Please join the next NABJ Reinvention Town Hall that will focus on, "Getting Your Head Together: Dealing with the Emotional Side Of Job Loss."

Wednesday, March 18
1-2 p.m.
Click here to register.


Panelists include:

Jackie Jones
After 30 years of experience in writing, editing, teaching, management and consulting, Jackie Jones is now a life coach, working with people who want to enhance or change their careers. Before launching Jones Coaching, she was a senior lecturer at Penn State University, where she taught news reporting, copy editing and ethics. Prior to joining Penn State, she was an assignment editor at The Washington Post.

Lynnette Khalfani-Cox
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, The Money Coach®, is a personal finance expert, television personality and the author of several money-management books including the New York Times bestseller Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom, and The Money Coach's Guide to Your First Million. She is a former reporter for the Wall Street Journal and CNBC.

Sidmel Estes-Sumpter
Sidmel Estes-Sumpter, is president of Breakthrough Inc., a dynamic executive media management consulting firm. She was executive producer of Atlanta's top-rated morning program, Good Day Atlanta, and Fox 5 News.

Wil LaVeist
A talented author, editor, columnist and Internet consultant, Wil LaVeist has more than fifteen years of award-winning print and online journalism and media startup experience with companies such as The Arizona Republic and Tribune Interactive Inc. He has managed media teams and developed innovative online and print products.

Media Mixes During Enjoyable Evening

The Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists (CAABJ) held their annual Media Mixer on February 23 to mark the start of CIAA Week in Charlotte. The eventful evening was held at Tutto Mondo and attracted dozens of journalists and professionals from public relations, marketing, and other communications fields.

It was a great time to mingle and network and while there was a little shop talk, most left their work--and worries--behind. CAABJ hosts a few social mixers throughout the year, but its events calendar is also filled with workshops and community events.

Tiffany Hilson and Ayofemi Kirby

Jessica Munday, Brandon Burney, and Rahman Kahn

Ramona Holloway and Sondra Hines

Mary Curtis and Trey Harmon

Adria Collis and Nicole Carter

CNN to Host Town Hall at JCSU

Below is an excerpt of what The Charlotte Observer reporter Tonya Jameson wrote on her "That's Wassup!" blog yesterday.

Johnson C. Smith University will be featured in CNN's upcoming series "Black In America 2," which examines African American life.

Anchor Don Lemon will moderate a town hall forum during the CIAA tournament next Thursday. The event is open only to current students and faculty.

Part of the town hall meeting will be featured in CNN's follow-up to last year's series "Black In America." Segments of the series aired on the network, but most of it was on the web site.

CNN staff also will tour the campus and interview students. Lemon plans to talk to students about journalism.

Click here for Jameson's full column.

National Media Awards Call for Entries

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) announces its 2009 Salute to Excellence Awards Call for Entries. Print, broadcast and online media entries submitted by journalists from throughout the United States will compete for the only national media awards program exclusively devoted to coverage of African and African American themes. The contest is open to all journalists and entries will be judged on content, creativity, innovation and relevance to the black community. Deadline for Award Entries is Feb. 23.

NABJ's awards are distributed to large and small-market circulation newspapers and magazines, online media, broadcast networks and market television and radio stations. Only work performed from January to December 2008 is eligible for nomination.

2008 winners included documentary work from CNN on the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.; reports from The Philadelphia Inquirer on suburban policing; a WRGB-TV Albany profile on New York Gov. David Paterson; commentary by Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts, Jr.; an NBC Nightly News profile on educator Ron Clark; and the Detroit Free Press' profile of legendary singer Aretha Franklin.

Nominees are announced in June. Winners will be announced at the Salute to Excellence Awards Gala scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8 in Tampa, Florida. The awards gala is held during NABJ's Annual Convention and Career Fair, planned Aug. 5-9 at the Tampa Convention Center.

The entry fee is $75 per submission for members and $100 for non-members. Checks, money orders or credit card payments must accompany each entry. Log onto www.nabj.org to download a Call for Entries packet. For questions regarding the NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards competition or gala, contact Ryan Williams, NABJ director of programs and professional development, at (301) 445-7100, ext. 113 or rwilliams@nabj.org.

CAABJ Member Writes Obamas Cover Story

Pick up the February/March issue of Heart & Soul magazine to read CAABJ member Mary C. Curtis's cover story on President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama. It's a "love story" for the love-themed issue. Click here for details.