On May 6, a panel of digital and traditional journalism industry experts testified at a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and Internet Hearing on "The Future of Journalism" about the challenges and successes facing online news aggregators and newspapers today.
The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) has worked on behalf of newspaper journalists for more than thirty years, yet many of our most talented members are rapidly becoming unemployed or leaving the profession out of necessity.
The intellectual property of journalists must be preserved, and NABJ supports any effort that seeks to afford news agencies a greater capacity to retain and compensate black investigative reporters, editors and other journalists while respecting the growth of digital journalism.
NABJ Board Member Charles Robinson, who attended the hearing, told Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) after the hearing that diversity needs to be a part of the overall discussion and a more diverse panel should be part of future discussions. Robinson also told the Senators that NABJ was available to help draft a diversity component of any future legislation affecting the newspaper industry.
The recently released 2009 ASNE newsroom diversity census is disconcerting for revealing that black journalists are losing their jobs at a greater rate than any other ethnic group, but it is especially disturbing that minority ownership or representation in newspapers was not a topic at Wednesday's discussion.
Of the five panelists, there were no black representatives and only one minority. It is disgraceful that a discussion on Capitol Hill about the future of newspapers can happen without doing more to incorporate the perspectives of America's increasingly diverse population.
NABJ will continue to work with news agencies, publishers, editors and others to promote diversity and affirm that our members are offered cutting edge training to keep them ahead of the curve.
At the same time, we call on our nation's leaders to open their eyes to the communities that surround them and ensure that black media representatives have a seat at the table as new legislation is discussed.
Sincerely,
Barbara Ciara
NABJ President
NABJ.org
May 3, 2009
Charlottean Launches Comprehensive Sports Website that Chronicles African-Americans
ARHENetwork.com, a comprehensive database of current and historical information about African-Americans in sports, launched in April. The first-of-its-kind site, ARHE (pronounced A-I-R) Network provides unbiased and up-to-date information covering more than 35 sports, dating as far back as the late 1700s.
ARHE was conceived by Jason Woullard, a Charlotte businessman whose independent research and marketing company had been working on the site for almost eight years. ARHE was created as a tribute to tennis legend Arthur Ashe’s three-volume series of books, A Hard Road to Glory: A History of the African American Athlete. The word “ARHE” is derived from the first two letters of Ashe’s first name (AR) and the last two letters of his last (HE).
Visitors to the site will be able to track athletes, coaches, sports executives, and even cheerleaders. ARHE will take visitors into the lives of athletes by chronicling their contracts, endorsements, and business ventures as well as allowing them to browse through historical leagues such as the ABA, AFL, and the Negro Leagues.
In addition, the ARHE database contains extensive and rare information in the form of biographical data, statistics, photographs and video rarely accessible to the public. Although the tremendous impact of African-Americans on sports is no mystery, the ARHE Network provides a platform to present archived data in an educational and entertaining manner.
For more information, visit www.arhenetwork.com.
ARHE was conceived by Jason Woullard, a Charlotte businessman whose independent research and marketing company had been working on the site for almost eight years. ARHE was created as a tribute to tennis legend Arthur Ashe’s three-volume series of books, A Hard Road to Glory: A History of the African American Athlete. The word “ARHE” is derived from the first two letters of Ashe’s first name (AR) and the last two letters of his last (HE).
Visitors to the site will be able to track athletes, coaches, sports executives, and even cheerleaders. ARHE will take visitors into the lives of athletes by chronicling their contracts, endorsements, and business ventures as well as allowing them to browse through historical leagues such as the ABA, AFL, and the Negro Leagues.
In addition, the ARHE database contains extensive and rare information in the form of biographical data, statistics, photographs and video rarely accessible to the public. Although the tremendous impact of African-Americans on sports is no mystery, the ARHE Network provides a platform to present archived data in an educational and entertaining manner.
For more information, visit www.arhenetwork.com.
CAABJ Member Seeks National Office
Dedrick Russell, a CAABJ member and education reporter for WBTV, is running for Vice President of Broadcast of the National Association of Black Journalists. If you're a member of the national chapter then you're eligible to vote in the national elections and we're asking that you support Russell. Voting begins online June 8 and concludes at the NABJ Convention in Tampa in August.
Russell has been in the communications field for more than a decade. He started out as a one-man-band reporter in South Carolina. After spending several years in the Palmetto State, he got a job as a photographer in Washington, D.C. He then worked his way up to reporter. In 2003 he left D.C. and became a reporter in Charlotte. While here he won SPJ’s Sigma Delta Chi award for an educational series called the "Troubled Ten." Principals told Russell their plan to boost academic achievement at the ten lowest performing high schools in Charlotte.
Here's Russell's campaign statement:
The media industry is under attack. This is not the time to retreat, but it’s the time to fight back. It's time to find new and innovative ways NABJ and its members can survive in challenging times. As VP of Broadcast I will be an advocate for you. I believe my leadership skills will help the organization reach new heights. My listening skills will let members know they have a voice. And my skills as a team player will ensure everybody on the NABJ team reaches the goal together.
Click here to learn more about Russell and the other candidates seeking office within NABJ.
April 22, 2009
Free Webinar to Offer Tips On How to Recession-Proof Your Business
Small Business Boot Camp is presenting a free webinar Thursday, April 23 at 7 p.m. The title of the session is "7+ Preserving Strategies You Must Do to Recession-Proof Your Business" and it will feature advice from several experts.
The panel of experts who are scheduled to participate are Larry Heiman, business coach, The E-Myth Worldwide; Andrew Morrison, entrepreneurial trainer, seen in the New York Times and on The Oprah Winfrey Show; Michael Ernandes, business development specialist for the Small Business Administration; and Sharron Battle, operational excellence expert and LEAN Six Sigma specialist.
During the webinar you'll not only hear insight from these top business professionals but you'll also receive info on government programs that could help your business. Click here to register.
Small Business Boot Camp is operated by Monique McKenzie, a Charlotte-based journalist who also hosts The McKenzie Business Report on Thursdays at 3 p.m. Visit www.smallbusinessbootcamp.biz for more details.
The panel of experts who are scheduled to participate are Larry Heiman, business coach, The E-Myth Worldwide; Andrew Morrison, entrepreneurial trainer, seen in the New York Times and on The Oprah Winfrey Show; Michael Ernandes, business development specialist for the Small Business Administration; and Sharron Battle, operational excellence expert and LEAN Six Sigma specialist.
During the webinar you'll not only hear insight from these top business professionals but you'll also receive info on government programs that could help your business. Click here to register.
Small Business Boot Camp is operated by Monique McKenzie, a Charlotte-based journalist who also hosts The McKenzie Business Report on Thursdays at 3 p.m. Visit www.smallbusinessbootcamp.biz for more details.
April 19, 2009
Secrets Revealed at Media Workshop
The Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists held its fourth annual "Secrets to Accessing the Media" workshop Saturday at the Afro-American Cultural Center. A great panel of journalists representing several media outlets engaged the audience in a discussion that provided insight into how their newsrooms work.
The panelists gave several tips on what you should and shouldn't do if you're trying to get media coverage. Very informative, and sometimes funny, the panelists covered a wide range of topics such as when and where to submit press releases; who at their stations and publications decide what stories air or get printed; how the Internet has impacted the ways in which they cover news; and whether or not the economic recession has affected the amount of coverage they provide.
After the panel discussion, the journalists then took questions from the audience. Filled with local residents who work in public relations, arts, education, the nonprofit sector, and the business community, they asked great questions to learn more about how they can get their stories told.
After the formal portion of the workshop, the attendees and journalists mingled and networked in the cultural center's art galleries where refreshments were served. The attendees also took home a 12-page guide that contained local media contact info, a sample press release, newsroom flowchart, and other helpful tips.
CAABJ thanks its panelists: April Bethea, reporter for The Charlotte Observer; Glenn Burkins, publisher and editor of QcityMetro.com; Janine Davis, producer and co-host of Power 98 FM’s morning show; Kristen Miranda, WBTV consumer reporter; Carlton Hargro, editor of Creative Loafing; and Richard Thurmond, editor and associate publisher of Charlotte magazine.
CAABJ also thanks its sponsors who helped make this workshop possible: the Afro-American Cultural Center and Three Little Birds Stationery and Gifts.
The panelists gave several tips on what you should and shouldn't do if you're trying to get media coverage. Very informative, and sometimes funny, the panelists covered a wide range of topics such as when and where to submit press releases; who at their stations and publications decide what stories air or get printed; how the Internet has impacted the ways in which they cover news; and whether or not the economic recession has affected the amount of coverage they provide.
After the panel discussion, the journalists then took questions from the audience. Filled with local residents who work in public relations, arts, education, the nonprofit sector, and the business community, they asked great questions to learn more about how they can get their stories told.
After the formal portion of the workshop, the attendees and journalists mingled and networked in the cultural center's art galleries where refreshments were served. The attendees also took home a 12-page guide that contained local media contact info, a sample press release, newsroom flowchart, and other helpful tips.
CAABJ thanks its panelists: April Bethea, reporter for The Charlotte Observer; Glenn Burkins, publisher and editor of QcityMetro.com; Janine Davis, producer and co-host of Power 98 FM’s morning show; Kristen Miranda, WBTV consumer reporter; Carlton Hargro, editor of Creative Loafing; and Richard Thurmond, editor and associate publisher of Charlotte magazine.
CAABJ also thanks its sponsors who helped make this workshop possible: the Afro-American Cultural Center and Three Little Birds Stationery and Gifts.
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