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NEW LIBRARY & A HOMELESS ISSUE TRICKS OF A BACKPACK JOURNALIST A TALK WITH MICHAEL STEELE

Residents, city officials are Journalist Bill Gentile empties Michael Steele, chairman of the
in opposition to library’s his bag about using multiple Republican National Committee,
new location in San Diego’s platforms to tell a story. visits Friday. For breaking
East Village. Page 11 coverage see nabjconvention.org.
Page 9

National
NationalAssociation
Associationofof
Black Journalists
Black Convention º º www.nabjconvention.org
Convention
Journalists www.nabjconvention.orgº ºWednesday, July30,
Friday, July 28,2010
2010

NABJ’s
Sherrod Joins Plenary money
woes
By DEXTER MULLINS & WESLEY LOWERY
nabjconvention.org

This week’s convention is make or break


for the National Association of Black Jour-
nalists’ future, officials say.
NABJ has met its registration and ho-
tel room targets this summer, said Drew
Berry, interim executive director, showing
signs that the organization may have found
JANE DOE/THE MONITOR a path out of the worst of a financial storm
that some officials say started nearly a de-
cade ago.
After closing 2009 with a deficit of
$338,901, NABJ officials are doing a lot of
belt-tightening as the organization moves
forward. NABJ is operating with a $1.04
million budget in 2010.
“We need to be lean and mean in San Di-
ego; have a good convention, but come out
strong for Philadelphia next year,” said
NABJ treasurer Greg Lee. “We’re doing well
but we still have a long way to go.”
Board members, along with whoever
Finances, continued on page 3

ERIC BURSE/nabjconvention.org

CNN anchor Don Lemon and Shirley Sherrod, a former USDA director, participate in an Opening Plenary session Thursday at the Manchester
Grand Hyatt in San Diego. Lemon was one of the moderators for the event. For a complete story, see Page 5.

MARSHALL LATIMORE/nabjconvention.org
2 • THE MONITOR Friday, July 30, 2010 • www.nabjconvention.org

#NABJ2010•CONVENTION King Brings Star Power to


KNOWLEDGE IS
POWER
Fame, Fortune
HIV Testing Initiative and Freelance
Julie Walker is a multi-
platform journalist and
freelancer.
By DEXTER MULLINS She has been a free-
nabjconvention.org lance correspondent for
NABJ and the Black AIDS Institute AP, CNN, NPR, and other
will team up for a year-long partnership media outlets in radio, tele-
focused on raising HIV/AIDS awareness vision and print.
in the black community. She offers what she
The goal of the Test 1 Million HIV/ wanted people to take
AIDS awareness campaign, announced away from the seminar she
Thursday during a news conference, is hosted, “Fame, Fortune,
to get 1 million African-Americans tested and Freelance.”
for HIV/AIDS within tone year.
Actress Regina King, spokeswoman * Freelancing is a great way
for the initiative, said that with NABJ’s to stay in the business.
* Anyone can do it.
* Don’t be afraid to fail.

“I am a mother, and I —Brittney Fennell

want my 14 year-old son LOOKING


to be aware of what’s BACK
going on.
• Several NABJ founders
were only in their 20’s at
the time of their organiza-
help, “We can drastically reduce the tional meeting.
numbers.” A 22-year-old at the time,
“I am a mother, and I want my 14 Allison Davis said she was
year-old son to be aware of what’s going more interested in attend-
on,” King said during a news conference. ing a party that night.
“He’s at the age where sex is knocking at ERIC BURSE/nabjconvention.org
She, instead, set her pri-
the door.” Actress Regina King talks with a convention attendee at the Test One Million Campaign news
orities, stayed at the meet-
Testing will be available at the Black conference Thursday during the NABJ@35 convention.
ing and became NABJ’s
AIDS Institute’s booth in the NABJ job parliamentarian.
fair. Results can be obtained in as little as “A lot of black people find out less a death sentence.” “It’s probably among my
one hour. than a year before they get a full blown King told journalists in the room that life’s most treasured ac-
Phill Wilson, founder and executive AIDS diagnosis,” Wilson said. there is a celebrity in virtually every city complishments.....,” Davis
director of the Black AIDS Institute, said King volunteered to work with the or- who will publicly stand up and support said Thursday. “It shows
this partnership is especially critical to ganization three years ago, and openly the initiative to get tested. that we can get together
the campaign’s success. took an HIV test in public and had her However, she said, journalists don’t and build something that’s
Wilson wants black journalists to use results shared publicly. need to wait for celebrities. sustainable.
this initiative to promote stories in all Her results were negative but she said “(Journalists) should also publicly get
mediums about HIV. it was a scary experience because she tested and broadcast it on the radio, at —Letrell Crittendon
“Nobody can save us from us,” Wilson had not taken a test in a while, but the your station, or write about it,” King
said. “One in five Americans living with message she was sending encouraged said. “You’ll save lives. You will literally
#NABJ2

HIV don’t know their status.” her to do it. save lives.” Clarification
According to Wilson, 2011 will mark “I’ve had a friend who has been liv-
the 35th anniversary of the first diag- ing with HIV for 19 years now,” King NABJ has had two confer-
nosed case of HIV in America. said. “Those stories need to be brought Go to www.nabjconvention.org for more ences in California; one in
He says that it didn’t have to happen, to the forefront more often. I think that coverage of the Black AIDS Institute 1990 and this year’s. An
but it will continue to happen as long as so many young people feel like if they News Conference and more convention item in Thursday’s edi-
people don’t get tested or know their sta- find out they are HIV positive ... it’s like photo coverge. tion was not clear.
tus.

T O D AY ’ S H I G H L I G H T S
7:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. National Golf Tournament 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cyber Café and Membership Lounge
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Professional Development 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m. Authors’ Showcase & Bookstore
Breakfasts 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Workshop Session I
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Breakfast: Accessing Aunthentic 11:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Short Course Session(s) A
Voices for Your Stories 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Workshop Sessions II
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Career Fair & Exhibition 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Newsmaker Plenary w/ Michael Steele
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. Healthy NABJ Pavilion 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. A “Nightastic” Evening with Disney!
Friday, July 30, 2010 • www.nabjconvention.org The Monitor • 3
Finances, from page 1 Ciara said.
Executive Directors and the Presidents In 2007, NABJ began to bounce
is tapped to take the reins as the back, boasting increases in rev-
next executive director, have the enue from convention registration,
arduous task of figuring out how Presidents: membership dues and program-
to get the organization back into ming fees. By the end of 2008,
the black. The executive director NABJ had $69,776 in the bank, ac-
is responsible for making day-to- cording to tax documents.
day financial decisions. The board Ciara said she added new
is responsible for signing off on the streams of revenue so NABJ would
budget and hiring and firing the Condance Pressley Herbert Lowe, Jr. Bryan Monroe Barbara Ciara Kathy Times not have to rely on the annual con-
executive director. 2001-2003 2003-2005 2005-2007 2007-2009 2009-Present vention.
Officials have discussed raising In 2008, NABJ got a major boost
membership fees and beefing up from the UNITY: Journalists of
the board with business-savvy in- Color convention in Chicago.
dividuals who are well-connected “Most of the time, UNITY is a
and can bring in bigger donations. Executive Directors: successful financial year,” Ciara
They say NABJ must continue Tangie Newborn Karen Wynn-Freeman said. “Everyone makes money
finding other streams of revenue June 2001 - March 2006 July 2006 - December 2009 during UNITY years.”
so the organization is not so de- Salary: 2005: $125,252 plus $7,262 in other compensation 2006: $93,242 plus $10,119 in other compensation
pendent on annual conventions – 2006: $30,496 plus $1,276 in other compensation 2007: $167,623 plus $14,739 in other compensation Trouble in Tampa
NABJ’s bread and butter. 2008: $172,808 plus $41,230 in other compensation
According to a review of docu- Source: This information was provided by Internal Revenue Services documents Despite making money at
ments obtained by The Monitor, Cyntra Brown / nabjconvention.org UNITY ’08, leaders knew there was
the organization’s finances have a bleak financial outlook for the
been particularly bad since the in Tampa last year because it failed “I inherited an organization “The issue that often happened 2009 convention in Tampa.
2005 convention in Atlanta, which to meet hotel reservation require- with a $340,000 deficit,” Newborn was that revenue projections were “In 2008, we made money but
left the organization $255,797 in the ments that had been negotiated said. “NABJ’s revenue base heav- not met,” Monroe said, adding that we negotiated an unattainable
red. Things got even worse the fol- years in advance. ily depended on the annual con- NABJ was hit with fines as high as room block for Tampa,” Ciara said.
lowing year when NABJ reported Hoping to avoid a similar fate vention for 65 to 70 percent of its $100,000 for not filling the prede- The contract signed in 2004
a $631,095 deficit, according to tax this year, NABJ renegotiated its ho- operating budget. My goals were termined number of hotel rooms with the Tampa Marriott Water-
documents. tel agreement, slicing the number to reduce that dependency margin during his time as president. Mon- side Hotel and Marina in Tampa
Some of NABJ’s past presidents of rooms from 6,800 to 2,850. and begin to create new revenue roe said he could not remember required NABJ to fill 5,669 rooms.
attribute money problems to a Here was the problem: NABJ’s streams by increasing membership which years during his presidency The organization came up short by
myriad of issues – from overspend- bylaws require the organization recruitment and retention, creating NABJ was charged for failing to fill 2,341 rooms.
ing and unanticipated expenses to book its convention sites five new products and services, and its hotel block. “Nobody knew when the con-
to poor planning and disconnect years in advance, not allowing the developing new educational pro- Lee, currently in his second tract was signed in 2005 that we
among board members and the organization to factor in dips in the grams. term on the board, said blame for would be facing the greatest eco-
executive director. The ailing econ- economy. In the five years Newborn budget problems in 2006 is about nomic challenge since the Great
omy has siphoned away hundreds During an executive board served as executive director, NABJ leadership; not hotel rooms. Depression,” Times said in a mes-
of members and that, too, has af- meeting earlier this week, the grew from about 2,000 to more “The 2006 deficit was a result sage to members in October 2009.
fected the organization. board voted unanimously to post- than 4,000 members. Fundraising of just overspending,” Lee said. “We are not surprised that we did
Lee, who was critical of spend- pone its selection of a host city for goals were set at more than $1 mil- “Indianapolis is a great city and a not meet our contracted room
ing during the 2006 convention in the 2016 convention until it had a lion annually. great town, but expenses shouldn’t block at the convention.”
Indianapolis, has said there’s been clearer picture of its financial situa- “We instituted a plan to build have been as high.” Lee said NABJ also incurred in-
a lack of oversight. tion and it evaluated its process for a better budget by employing the creased cost at the Tampa conven-
“Once their term is up, board planning conventions. ‘under promise, over deliver’ phi- A new direction tion after failing to make budget
members see (financial issues) as Lee said if NABJ can avoid fees losophy. It worked,” Newborn cuts in a timely manner. He said
‘the next boards’ problem,” Lee from this week’s convention and said. Karen Wynn-Freeman was a lack of communication among
said. “In order for NABJ to thrive keep overall costs down, the orga- At the 2005 board meeting, tapped to replace Newborn. board members allowed the win-
once again, no matter what lead- nization should be in good shape Newborn reported a $45,000 bud- Wynn-Freeman earned $93,242 dow to close when it was time to
ership team is in office we have to entering 2011. get surplus. Months later, after plus $10,119 in benefits for her first trim.
build on the previous board’s work “I’m very cautiously optimistic factoring in costs associated with nine months as executive director, “We knew at the convention
if they do good work.” that we will leave San Diego with- the Awards Gala and the 30th an- according to documents obtained that we had problems,” Lee said.
out any bills,” Lee said. niversary program, NABJ reported by The Monitor. “We were doing well sponsorship
Big spending a deficit of 255,797. In 2008, Wynn-Freeman’s sal- wise, but we didn’t know other
A tailspin At the time, Newborn was ary had jumped almost $50,000, things.”
Since 2005, NABJ’s member- receiving $125,252 in salary and including $35,000 more in benefits A decline in membership didn’t
ship has dropped almost 27 per- Following the 2000 convention $7,262 in benefits. On March 6, than her predecessor. help NABJ’s 2009 financial situa-
cent. in Phoenix, NABJ faced a deficit af- 2006, Newborn resigned as execu- Barbara Ciara, then the Vice tion.
President Kathy Times sent an ter poor turnout. Wayne Dawkins, tive director. President for Broadcast, was “We’ve lost over $97,000 in
e-mail in October 2009, saying the NABJ historian and a former board “We made a switch when it elected in 2007 to succeed Monroe membership dues over the last
organization had lost 887 members member, said that hosting a con- became clear a new direction was as the organization’s president at three years,” Lee said. “We had a
since 2008 -- a $78,525 drop in day- vention in the West hurt NABJ needed,” said Bryan Monroe, who the Las Vegas convention. Ciara high of 4,100 (members) in 2005.
to-day operating dollars. because most of its members are in was NABJ president from 2005-07. restructured Wynn-Freeman’s con- We’re sitting at just about 3,000
With about 2,820 members ac- the East Coast. “It was a performance issue. We tract and began looking for ways members now. People are losing
cording to most recent figures, “Between participating in the ended up doing what was the right to bring in money to shore up the their jobs and can no longer afford
NABJ is the largest of the journal- UNITY conference on the West thing to do for the organization at deficit. The Monitor asked for a to attend the conventions, the indi-
ist-of-color associations. But NABJ Coast in 1999 and coming back and the time.” copy of Wynn-Freeman’s contract, viduals can’t afford to come, they
has struggled to get members to at- having (the NABJ) convention in Newborn said she did not leave but requests were denied, citing can no longer afford their member-
tend. About 2,500 people attended Phoenix in 2000, it really put a hurt on bad terms; it was time to move personnel reasons. ship, and as a result we lose mem-
the NABJ convention in 2006. The on the finances,” Dawkins said. on to the next job. “The industry had been project- bers.”
number of attendees dropped the “The year 2000 is when NABJ went Things would get worse after ing in an erratic manner,” Ciara Convention costs and fines
following year to 1,700. NABJ of- through a tailspin.” expenses created at the Indianapo- said. “It’s been difficult for us fi- crippled NABJ’s balance sheets,
ficials expect about 1,600 attendees Shortly after that convention, lis convention when NABJ’s deficit nancially for at least the last seven and Lee reported to the board on
at this week’s convention – 323 then-executive director Toni Sam- ballooned to $631,095. years.” Tuesday that the organization
fewer people than last year’s con- uel abruptly announced she was Monroe attributed much of the Ciara attributed much of closed 2009 with a $338,901 deficit.
vention. leaving the organization to accept financial hardship under his ten- NABJ’s financial hardship to inef- Wynn-Freeman resigned in
That slide in numbers has had a new job. ure to overly optimistic revenue ficient, unprepared leadership. December 2009. She could not be
an adverse affect on the organi- Later that year, Tangie New- projections and unanticipated con- “There was a lack of account- reached for comment.
zation. For example, NABJ was born was brought in to steer the vention costs, including fees for not ability, and just no accounting of On the onset of her presidency,
hammered with $150,000 in fees ship. filling the hotel block. certain things (in the budget).”
Finances, continued on page 5
THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2010
6:30 PM Doors Open | 7:00 PM Screening Begins
MAnCHESTER GRAnD HYATT – ELIzABETH BALLROOM A, B, C
Reception to follow.

TH E BLAC K LIST VOL. THREE


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some of today’s most accomplished and influential African Americans through a series of
intimate-portrait interviews. They share stories about the pride, struggles and triumphs of
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A dynamic discussion with the people involved in bringing this film to life will be held after
the screening, followed by a cocktail reception. Target is proud to partner with The Black List
to bring you this memorable evening.

The Black List Project is an award-winning documentary series featured on HBO, as well
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Be sure to visit THE BLACK LIST lounge in the Douglas Pavilion.


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Not the same old story.


TEM100045-NabjAd_2 1 7/6/10 12:44 PM
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Friday, July 30, 2010 • www.nabjconvention.org The Monitor • 5

Sherrod plans to sue


By NATELEGÉ Whaley was forced by USDA leaders and organizations who defamed her
nabjconvention.org President Barack Obama’s ad- character. She said she hasn’t
ministration. talked with Breitbart and does
Shirley Sherrod, former direc-
She talked about how it has af- not want an apology from him.
tor for the U.S. Department of
fected her life and family. “I don’t want it at this point,
Agriculture, said she plans to file
“I knew it was racism when and he will definitely hear from
a lawsuit against a popular con-
it happened to me, and nobody me,” Sherrod said.
servative Internet blogger, and
had to tell me that,” Sherrod said Sherrod did not give specifics
urged journalists to work on sto-
Thursday. on when she plans to file a law-
ries that matter at the National
An internal investigation by suit, but said she has spoken with
Association of Black Journalists
the National Association for the an attorney. She also said she
convention on Thursday.
Advancement of Colored People needs time to research the new
Sherrod, 62, answered ques-
(NAACP) revealed that her com- position that was offered after the
tions from a panel as hundreds Eric Burse/NABJCONVENTION.ORG
ments were taken out of context controversy. NABJ Convention attendees listen to and participate in an Opening Plenary session
of journalists and dozens of news
and she had used the example Tony Shute, a television pro- Thursday in San Diego with Shirley Sherrod, a former USDA director.
organizations looked on at the
in a speech where she spoke out ducer in Chicago, said the event
35th annual NABJ convention.
against racism. was helpful and should teach a
Sherrod was thrown into the referencing FOX News and that to say that the president of the
The report of video footage lesson to all journalists regard-
national spotlight after a video they were not interested in the United States needs to learn more
was posted by conservative In- less of their ethnic backgrounds.
clip was posted by an Internet truth,” Shute said. “That’s the about our history, as I think we
ternet blogger Andrew Breitbart He also believes the government
blogger who suggested she was reason I got into journalism and all do.”
on BigGovernment.com nearly shouldn’t ignore the history of
racially biased. The blogger later that’s what I always thought For more in depth coverage of
two weeks ago. Sherrod said she racism in the United States.
posted the full video of Sherrod’s journalism was about. Sherrod’s visit, see nabjconven-
plans to file a lawsuit against the “One line that she said today
full comments, which happened “It was very important for her tion.org.
blogger, and possibly other news that struck me the most was in
only after Sherrod’s resignation

A Glimpse at Shirley Sherrod


Before the USDA Director of Rural Development became the center of national attention, she lived her life working to help the less fortunate in agriculture.
July 19th: Conservative blogger
2009: USDA hired Sherrod as its Director July 16, 2010: At the 101st convention, Andrew Breitbart posted a
1985: Sherrod began
of Rural Development in August 2009. NAACP passed a resolution against Tea Party snippet from Sherrod’s NAACP
working with the Federation
She would be the first African-American leadership claiming acts of racism and bigotry. speech on BigGovernment.
of Southern Cooperatives
Land Assistance Fund. While to hold the position. com. Sherrod resigns.
there, she was tasked with July 22nd: President Obama
1997: Sherrod worked with activists to sue the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as black phones Shirley Sherrod and
helping two Georgia farmers,
farmers were heading towards extinction because of discrimination. Victims were although he does not say
Eloise and Roger Spooner,
compensated nearly $1 billion by the USDA. The largest civil rights settlement in history. “I’m sorry,” Sherrod accepts
from filing bankruptcy to keep their farm.
the phone call as an apology.

1960s: At 17, she was one of the first black students to


2010: Sherrod told an
1948: She was born integrate her high school in southwest Georgia. That
audience during an
in 1948 in Baker same year, her father was shot and killed in a dispute 1990: Sherrod worked with the Federation of
NAACP banquet in
County, Ga. She is 62 with a white farmer. She enrolled in Fort Valley State Southern Cooperatives to help pass the
Georgia that she had
years old. University. She received a B.A. in sociology from Albany Minority Farmers Rights Act. It authorized $10
not given a white
State University. and received a Masters degree in million a year to assist black farmers, but only
farmer "the full force
community development at Antioch University in Ohio. $2 to $3 million a year had been handed out.
of what I could do" to help him save his family’s
farm in the 1980s in a speech about race and
discrimination.

Photos courtesy of Rural Development Leadership Network, The Associated Press & Youtube / Graphic by Nabjconvention.org/ Edited by Courtney Bessicks

Finances, from page 3 search for the next executive director. bers but we’re in an industry that is “I look forward to growing with fees to help generate revenue for the
As of last week, the search – led by changing drastically. The relationship the next executive director,” Times organization.
Times said Thursday it was devastat- Linnie Carter & Associates – had cost between the president and the execu- said. “I’m really determined to ensure There also was talk of adding to
ing to learn that NABJ was in “dire NABJ $10,865.88, Linnie Carter said tive director is critical.” the next administration doesn’t in- the NABJ executive board four busi-
straits.” in an interview. NABJ officials say there’s no herit a debt, and we’re getting there.” ness executives who could bring in
“We started our administration off Lee says the organization bud- doubt that the executive director’s job To date, last year’s deficit has been bigger donations.
with bills that needed to be paid,” she geted just over $12,000 for the search. comes with a lot of pressure. It’s blan- paid down from more than $300,000 “These people are used to bring-
said. “It was a tough time for us.” A contract has been extended to a job keted with lofty demands in a highly to around $158,320. ing in large donations in amounts
candidate, but officials would not intense environment, Lee said. NABJ that, let’s face it, you and I can’t bring
Moving forward release any details. A new director politics also makes retention of the Finding solutions in,” NABJ secretary Roland Martin
It’s not clear why Wynn-Freeman could be named Aug. 13. executive director difficult, he said. said during the board meeting.
resigned. Times declined to discuss Much like the outcome of the San “Part of the problem is dealing During an executive board meet- “We have to live within our
Wynn-Freeman’s resignation. Diego convention, the next executive with the politics,” Lee said. “A former ing Tuesday, Berry highlighted some means,” Lee said. “Just because we’re
Former finance committee chair- director will play a large role in deter- president said, ‘we eat our executive of NABJ’s cost-cutting measures. the biggest association doesn’t mean
man Berry has functioned as the in- mining NABJ’s future. directors like our young.’” Eliminating expensive contracts and we have to put on the biggest show.”
terim executive director. “Where is NABJ right now? We’re Times said the ability of the board finding cheaper replacements. was
Once things wrap up in San Di- certainly at a crossroads,” Monroe to work with the new executive direc- among the topics discussed. Berry Editor’s note: The Monitor re-
ego, NABJ will need to complete its said. “We have a rich legacy, strong tor is extremely important to NABJ’s also suggested that an additional $50 viewed tax documents from the last
history and some amazing mem- future stability. be added to the regular membership five years for this story.
6 • The Monitor Friday, July 30, 2010 • www.nabjconvention.org Friday, July 30, 2010 • www.nabjconvention.org The Monitor • 7

Top, far left: A bicyclist


rides past San Diego
Public Library, where
some people considered
the homeless population
an issue. Top, center:
San Diego Public Library
patrons wait for it to
open. Top, left: Brandon
Pimente, 26, signs a
support beam that will
be used in the new San
Diego Public Library
complex. Bottom, far
left: People visit the site
of the ground-breaking
Kenneth Hawkins/nabjconvention.org
ceremony for the new
library. Bottom, left:
Turner Construction
Company, who will
be building the new

Historical Places:
complex, gave hard hats
to ceremony attendees.

Eric Burse/ nabjconvention.org Eric Burse/nabjconvention.org Eric Burse/ nabjconvention.org

THE LIBRARY
Citizens oppose library in homeless hotspot; city officials see no issue
Eric Burse/ nabjconvention.org

Eric Burse/ nabjconvention.org


children
Nearly a half million children
live in foster care in the United States.

Many don’t need to be there.


In communities all across our nation, the commitment is growing
to ensure that every child has a safe, strong and permanent family.
Visit Casey at Booth 309
for resources and to
Federal policy supports these success stories. But the federal learn more.
system for funding child welfare does not. The time is now to
bring funding in line with our national goals.

Casey Family Programs has launched its new series of white papers
analyzing how America can keep its promise of hope for all children.

Read the papers now at www.casey.org


We cannot miss this opportunity to make a difference in the
lives of so many children and families.
Friday, July 30, 2010 • www.nabjconvention.org The Monitor • 9

City breaks ground for new library


Go to www.nabjconvention.org
to see video coverage of San Diego’s
plan for a new homeless shelter While citizens say it’ll draw homeless, city officials see no issue
By ADELE HAMPTON less population has been threat-
nabjconvention.org ened with relocation and uncertainty.
In order to help with the displace-
As city leaders agreed to break ment of the area’s homeless, San Di-
ground on downtown’s San Di- ego introduced the East Village Re-
ego Central Library, residents of development Homeless Advisory
surrounding neighborhoods wor- Committee, a group responsible
ry the $185 million, state-of-the- for assessing the physical impact
art structure will become a safe of the area’s development projects.
haven for the area’s homeless. In April, the committee took the
The new home of the central library first steps to establish a perma-
sits on the corner of J Street and Park nent shelter for the city’s homeless.
Boulevard, in the heart of the East “Homeless people are citizens
Village, which is known to residents just like anyone else, but no one’s al-
as a hot spot for the city’s homeless lowed to sleep in the library, no one’s
despite recent relocation attempts. allowed to set up camp,” Laing said.
Residents and those who oppose “The thing that is going to have
the new library say the city is do- the most impact is the new home-
ing nothing but building a multimil- less facility that the city is planning.”
lion-dollar homeless shelter, with no The proposed project solution
intention of penalizing those who is to renovate the historic World
seek refuge from the city’s streets. Trade Center on Sixth Avenue
“East Village is the largest de- to house drug and alcohol treat-
sign area downtown, and there are ment programs, mental health ser-
a lot of homeless,” San Diego real- vices, job counseling services, and
tor Mark Mills said. “But the area a medical clinic. The center, ap-
around 10th Street, that’s where resi- ARTWORK courtesy of Joe Cordelle
proximately a block away from the
dents do run into problems, and the site of the new library, would pro-
An artist rendering of what the newly proposed Central Library will look like. The building is hallmarked as being eco-friendly and state-of-
library, right next to that, is going up vide a prototype for homeless shel-
the-art. But community members are afraid the building will become a safehaven for the area’s homeless. ters that advocates say is need-
in a not so desirable part of town.”
But city officials are skeptical of ed in surrounding neighborhoods.
the influence East Village’s home- ect, spearheaded by the city, in 2008, less person sleeping on the street.” opment projects in East Village, im- But some feel the city’s plan to re-
less will have on the new library, say- a staggering 76 percent of the city’s This year also shows an approx- plemented by the Centre City Devel- store the structure, built in 1928, goes
ing the building’s security guards homeless population was located in imate 8 percent jump in the city’s opment Corp., a nonprofit company against a community push to scat-
will prove sufficient for the pro- the area, according to the city’s Re- homeless population that is more created by the city to breathe new life ter homeless services throughout the
tection and safety of its patrons. gional Task Force on the Homeless. than the 8,500 individuals, accord- into San Diego neighborhoods once city. Instead, these programs would
“It’s in its own contained area, and This creates the highest concentration ing to a Task Force report. City offi- plagued by crime and deterioration. be staying in the city’s 2nd District,
homeless people aren’t usually a fac- of homeless in emergency shelters cials, however, see the influx in the Since the CCDC’s infiltration of where the library will be located.
tor,” spokeswoman for the mayor’s and homeless programs in San Diego. homeless population as an unrelat- East Village, hundreds of devel- “This city has thrown this at the
office Rachel Laing said. “I honest- “It’s mainly an eyesore. No one ed issue to the library’s construction. opment projects have been com- CCDC and said ‘this is your prob-
ly don’t think [the library] is going to wants to walk out of their condo and “You have some homeless indi- pleted. Future plans include ho- lem,’ ” said Herb Johnson, presi-
have an impact. As long as they’re not see homeless people,” Mills said. viduals, but it’s not a problem,” La- tels, parks and the possibility of dent and CEO of San Diego Res-
causing any problems, there’s no rea- “It’s not their character that people ing said. “It in no way affects the a new stadium for the San Diego cue Mission. “So [the CCDC]
son to kick them out of a public area.” complain about, it’s just that they citizen’s ability to use the library.” Chargers, the city’s NFL franchise. has been setting up shop in the
Although East Village is the tar- don’t want their friends to come The central library’s construction But with the city’s redevelop- 2nd District, and now they don’t
get of a massive redevelopment proj- over and have to step over the home- comes amid a whirlwind of devel- ment crusade, the area’s home- know how to get them out.”

2010 Convention Bags


Similar to 2007’s
NABJ’s bags for the
2010 Convention
had some members
wondering if the bags
By CORINNE LYONS “Everybody liked them,” he said. were left over from the
nabjconvention.org “They worked. You could fit a com- 2007 event. Interim
puter in them.“ Executive Director Drew
NABJ members who attended the The budget for purchasing bags is Berry said, however, he
2007 Convention and Career Fair in based on NABJ sponsorship fees, ac- ordered the same kind.
Las Vegas, might notice the similar- cording to Berry.
ity between the 2007 bags and this Although the bags are a similar de-
year’s bags.
sign, Berry said the bags weren’t left
Interim Executive Director Drew
Berry said the bags aren’t just simi- over from Las Vegas and bags from
lar, they’re the same. Berry said 2007 will not be redistributed.
some members liked the bags so “We were tight on ordering (this
much that he ordered the same de- year),” Berry said. “There will be no
sign for this year. bags left.” Tameka Flowers/nabjconvention.org
Can you name
the company?

This year, Across America


We partnered with the 2010 Census to increase awareness and participation.

We pledged $120,000 to furnish 20 teen recreation “RAC Rooms” for Boys and Girls Clubs.

We raised $249,500 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America.

We will extend our hunger-relief efforts by developing a “Soup-to-Nuts” food collection campaign at
our 3,000 stores.

We awarded $60,000 in scholarships to our customers, their children and children of our coworkers.

We gave $200,000 in grants to 35 Junior Achievement affiliates for financial literacy programs.

We provided $25,000 in support of the Earthquake Relief Effort in Haiti.

We supported 10 military bases with $175,000 in merchandise donations to their Family and Morale,
Welfare and Recreation facilities.

And now in San Diego…


We are pleased to provide computers, furnishings and TVs in support of the NABJ convention.
Friday, July 30, 2010 • www.nabjconvention.org The Monitor • 11

Backpack Journalist Empties His Bag


By DEXTER MULLINS be able to write,” said Eileen Rivers, ily grab the video a reporter needs. era are dual microphone input and a
nabjconvention.org the Web content editor for USA To- Some of the most compelling headphone jack,” McCombs noted.
day’s editorial page. “You have videos weren’t caught on pro- Both Rivers and Gentile
Bill Gentile carries an entire news- to be able to experiment and fessional equipment. For agree that without decent au-
room in his backpack. He has a vid- come up with ideas to make example, Rivers point- dio, video amounts to nothing.
eo camera, laptop, microphone, edit- things compelling may- ed to the Rodney King As expensive as working as a back-
ing tools and anything else he would be visually and online. video or, more recently, pack journalists can be, McCombs
need to produce quality journalism. You should be think- footage of the Bay Area said if done right, the initial cost
But while the equipment is vital ing: ‘How do I make Regional Transit shoot- will be outweighed by the financial
to his success, Gentile, a well known this print piece visual- ing in San Francisco. gain. She said to always plan to up-
backpack journalist from Wash- ly compelling and make When the time grade the equipment down the road.
ington, D.C. whose work has been the reader want to come comes to invest in new “It’s really budget dependent,” Mc-
nominated for multiple awards, to the Web site and see equipment, the Poyn- Combs said of being a backpack jour-
said it’s more important to know what we have to offer?’” ter Institute’s Regina Mc- nalist. “If you just have $3,000, you
how to use what’s in the backpack. Given the state of the econ- Combs suggests that one pri- don’t want to spend all of your mon-
“The successful practitioner of omy, spending several thousand oritizes what’s actually needed. ey on a camera. The biggest thing is to
what we refer to as backpack jour- dollars on new equipment may not be “I really recommend as good a vid- figure out your budget and go from
nalism is proficient in all of the skills the best way to try to enhance a career. eo camera as you can possibly get,” there. You want to have something
[of journalism],” said Gentile, who Rivers, who also produces a bi-week- McCombs said. “News is really de- that records video, and if that’s your
also teaches journalism at Ameri-
can University in D.C. “It’s one per-
ly Web broadcast called “Common
Ground” and uses social media daily to
Nowadays, it’s not manding. You’re not always going to
have nice light and pretty pictures.”
iPhone or Android phone, that’s fine.”
With the right skill set, Gentile said
son doing everything -- shooting, writ-
ing the piece, capturing the story,
promote the opinion section, said work-
ing with equipment already in one’s
enough to just be A quality camera allows an ac-
curate adjustment to the loss of
becoming a successful backpack jour-
nalist is possible. But he, too, said the
narrating the piece and editing the piece.” arsenal is a great way to get started. able to write those elements, McCombs said. most essential skill is the ability to write.
Being a journalist in today’s high- “There’s this perception that you It’s important to know the limita- “Whether its photojournalism
tech, fast-paced world means be- need some incredibly high-tech de- tions of the equipment and to purchase or video journalism, backpack or
ing able to use multiple platforms vice to get good journalism. And hon- nized, well thought out and compel- based on planned usage. If a reporter broadcast, the primary skill is writ-
to tell a story. As more journalists estly, it’s nice to have that. But it’s not ling, you could post that on a blog.” occasionally shoots video and photos, ing,” Gentile said. “You have to
find themselves in converged news- always necessary,” Rivers said. “You The basic skills of shooting good then McCombs suggests a basic point- know how to write a story, a pro-
rooms, backpack journalists have be- could go out right now with a cam- video doesn’t change based on the and-shoot camera or a Flip camcorder. posal, a script ... writing is the clear-
come the new standard in reporting. era phone in a pinch and get really device one uses, Rivers said. A cell- “If you’re starting out, the two big- est most immediate reflection of
“Nowadays, it’s not enough to just good video. As long as it’s well orga- phone or a Flip camcorder can eas- gest things you want in your cam- how well our brain is functioning.”

We deliver more
than just packages.

It’s not just


about cars.
It’s also about helping people
enrich the quality of life in
their communities. That’s why
we’re proud to support a
wide range of organizations,
schools and nonprofits that are
opening doors and creating
opportunities. Together, we can
We understand. Something this good deserves all our support. make a difference.

As a sponsor of the National Association of Black Journalists www.toyota.com/community


Convention, FedEx is proud to deliver a show of support for
the work of the NABJ.
Derica W. Rice
Executive Vice President,
Global Services and
Chief Financial Officer,
Eli Lilly and Company
Started at Eli Lilly and Company in 1990
Salutatorian of his high school class,
first in his family to attend college
Holds degrees from Kettering University
and Indiana University

MG56699-1 309 PRINTED IN USA ©2010, Lilly USA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A stronger sense of purpose.


My mom was the smartest person I have ever known. She Once, in a VA hospital, I was approached by a Vietnam
raised the seven of us on her own after my dad died when veteran. He told me how his life was transformed by our
I was only 11. We never had much money, but I realize medicines. And that’s when it clicked for me — the REAL
now that because of things she taught us, we were rich. impact of what we do here and the dramatic effect we
I carry her wisdom with me throughout my daily work. have on peoples’ lives. After that meeting, I had an even
stronger sense of purpose. Lilly’s done so much for my
I also watched my mom struggle with diabetes. Thanks
family and for many others. And I hope the work I am
in part to Lilly, I shared 25 years with her that otherwise
doing today will help my three children overcome some
would not have been possible. And now I have the
of the challenges they might face tomorrow.
opportunity to do the same for other people.

For more information about Lilly’s partnerships and resources for better patient outcomes, visit lillyforbetterhealth.com.

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