Tristan Jones

MONITOR STAFF WRITER

More than 100 people, includingkeynote speaker Roland Martin, gath-ered at the NABJ Region Vconfer-ence that focused on transformingcareers in a changing industry.In addition to his speech, Martinparticipated in a town hall discussionon the presidential race with TSUpolitical science professor FranklinJones, University of Houston politicalscience professor Christine LeVeaux-Haley, Houston Defender publisherSonny Messiah-Jiles, state Sen.Rodney Ellis, and the New Majoritynewspaper publisher/editor PaulBennett.Overall, the National Associationof Black Journalists’conference, heldat Texas Southern University’s TavisSmiley School of Communication,gave participants a hearty dose of newmedia.“We’re going to make sure that journalists, communications profes-sionals and students that want to gointo journalism, in particular the com-munications field, have an idea of what it’s like to be a multimedia jour-nalist in this changing media climate,”said Cindy George, NABJ Region Vdirector. “We know that the way stu-dents were taught in the past, the wayprofessionals are working now, is notgoing to give them the type of careerthat is going to last them another 10 or20 years.”NABJ has taken it upon itself toarm students with the necessary toolsto compete in a changing, more com-petitive industry.Experts say the changing industrywill force communications studentsand media professionals alike to eitheradapt to the changes or simply be leftbehind.“I think the simple fact of reality isthat nowadays it’s not as easy to get a job in the television or media profes-sion as it was four, five, even 10 yearsago,” said Freddie Willis, a a sportscopy editor with the HoustonChronicle. “Nowadays it’s a matter of getting out there and working at whatyou do and getting better at what youdo.”New medium now requiresreporters to have the total package,including video and blogs, to stay cur-rent in the changing business.“Reporters must now diversifytheir skills. Not only are they expect-ed to go out and report, but they willhave to take their own photographsand video and get them posted onlineASAP. We are now in a minute-by-minute competitive market,” said PeteMcConnell, deputy metro editor/sub-urbs at the Chronicle.TSU students also realize theimportance of having the conferenceon their campus.“I think this is a great opportunityfor journalism students,” NakiaCooper, a senior broadcast journalismajor at TSU, said. “They get a crascourse and real life experience to seewhat it’s going to be like in the jobmarket.”Times are definitely changing journalism experts say. Whether theyare changing for better or worse willbe dictated by the future and how newmedia professionals adapt to thechanging market. The whole purposeof the NABJ conference is to betteprepare students and professionals foa new journalism industry that istougher and more competitive.“You’ve got to get aboard thistrain,” said George, also a Chroniclereporter. “We don’t want this train toleave the station without black jour-nalists on it.”ck journalists on it.”

he monitor

H O U S T O N

Saturday, April 12, 2008

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS REGION V CONFERENCETRANSFORMING CAREERS IN A CHANGING INDUSTRY

INSIDE

NABJ Region V looks at emerging media

CONFERENCEGETS RAVEREVIEWS

Tristan Jones

MONITOR STAFF WRITER

CNN contributor and nationally syndicatedcolumnist Roland Martin is committed toteaching students and fellow media profession-als the ins and outs of journalism.He said he’s adapted well to the changingindustry, as his work and various projectsdemonstrate. His biography embodies what itmeans to be the total package as a journalist.“I’m a contributor on CNN (and) commen-tator on TVOne cable network. I write a blogand a column for Essence magazine. My col-umn is nationally syndicated – also the radioshow in Chicago; do public speaking; and I’vewritten two books.”Martin was the keynote speaker at theluncheon April 12 at the NABJ Region VConference at Texas Southern University. Hediscussed the changing journalism industry andwhat students and media professionals need todo to thrive in the business.“In talking to students as well as profes-sionals, I want to get them to understand thatthey are operating in a new world,” Martinsaid. “They must be able, as journalists, toadapt to the changing conditions of our indus-try and … access and exploit new opportunitiesto allow them to thrive in this industry.”The point of new media journalism is toallow journalists to appeal to a broader demo-graphic, which also introduces them to a wideaudience, he said.Other professionals concurred.“When you’re doing all of these things imultimedia, you’re branding yourself,” saiGloria Neal, CEO of Aliglo Media PartnersLLC. “If you’re a journalist, you should nevestop branding yourself. You are your own com-pany.”Freddie Willis, a Houston Chronicle sportscopy editor, said: “I think in five to 10 yearsonline journalism is going to take over.”On the subject of diversity, Martin said hedoes not believe media companies’contentiothat they cannot find qualified black talent aTSU and other predominantly black institu-tions.“I’ve always rejected that,” Martin said. “Isome folks know how to look and know whereto look, you can always find them. I’ve alwaysseen that as a cop-out.”

Dallas Weekly’s Cheryl Smith and Langston University’s Dr. Karen Clark lead students in bootcamp practicum.

Martin inspires conference participants

THE MULTIMEDIAREVOLUTION

NABJ arms its mem-bers with an arsenal ofnew media skills.

See Page

. 2

BARACK OBAMA’S BIDFOR THE PRESIDENCY

Barack Obama is fight-ing to become America’s first black president.However, is Americaready for Obama?

See Page

. 3

“”

We know that the way students were taughtin the past, the way professionals are work-ing now, is not going to give them the typeof career that is going to last them another10 or 20 years.–

Cindy George

NABJ Region V Director

HBCU’S LEADINGTHE PACK

Historically BlackColleges andUniversities are pro-ducing some of thenation’s top leaders

See Page

. 4

Roland Martin, CNN contributor and nationalsyndicated columnist.

2The MonitorSaturday, April 12, 2008

THE STAFF

Jerrell Allen

MONITOR STAFF WRITER

recent presidential primary for Sen.Barack Obama has reacquainted theUnited States with one its past specters— uncomfortable racial tension.As a result, African-American journalistsfind the new landscape of the professionalmedia a little more difficult to navigate. Theyhave to deal with a new “revolution” as well asthe constant struggle to keep up with the higher-than-usual standards placed on them by main-stream media outlets.In a society nourished by TVtalk showhosts such as FOX’s Bill O’Reilly and CNN’sLou Dobbs and Glenn Beck – all of whompreach that race doesn’t matter – minority jour-nalists face challenges simply by mentioning theimportance of race in politics or journalism.Compounding this problem is the question of how African-American journalists will be ableto find a place in the paradigm of digital media.Those familiar with professional journalismknow the revolution of the new digital mediawill certainly not come in the form of television;instead, it will be podcast, zipped and down-loaded en masse. Practically every newspaperin the country maintains a presence on theInternet, and even other publications that havebeen traditionally restricted to the narrowparameters of print journalism have used theInternet to branch out.And even if minority or black publicationshave not completely translated their ideas andthoughts into the realm of the new media revo-lution, the community is certainly ready for it.The Internet has substantially changed the wayAfrican-Americans (and, indeed, all Americans)communicate with one another. The ever-chang-ing technology influences the media’s functionsby providing more tools to news organizationsfor greater coverage.The question does not seem to be whetherblack journalists are ready for the new mediarevolution because mainstream black journalistshave proved that they can adapt to the new tech-nological changes. The question, instead, iswhether the black media, those publications thatspecifically target African-Americans, are readyto embrace the revolution. Newspapers likeAfrican-American News and Issues or the NewMajority use very few of the revolutionarymedia tools that the mainstream has come toembrace — independent blogs, podcasting anthe like. As well, magazines such as the Crisishave not yet made the leap into the 21st centurysuch as Time or People magazines.If black media are to continue the traditioof keeping issues of importance to African-Americans relevant to mainstream Americasociety, it is imperative that they keep up wittechnological advances.

Online

Professional journalists fromthe Houston Chronicle, includ-ing sports writer TerranceHarris, and other leadingregional journalists explainedto students the benefits ofreporting, writing, and story-telling for the Web.

Student journalists produced aneight-page online newspaper with11 stories focusing on issues thatinclude black journalists’ ability toadapt to the new media revolu-tion, the significance of black col-leges, and journalism students’transition into professionalism.

Radio

Led by Texas SouthernUniversity journalism profes-sor Serbino Sandifer-Walkerand student executive produc-er Nakia Cooper, 10 studentswrote, edited and produced afive minute newscast thataired live on KTSU radio.

At a glance

Led by Cheryl Smith of The Dallas Weekly and Dr. KarenClark of Langston University, students attending Boot Camplearned cutting edge techniques for gathering, evaluatingand writing news across various media platforms. Theywere also introduced to strategies used by backpackjournalists. The backpack journalist performs at optimumlevels in a convergence journalism environment.

THE CONFERENCE

« « « «

Student Editor

Tristan Jones

Texas Southern University

Assistant Student Editor

Kangsen Feka Wakai

Texas Southern University

Editor

David Ellison

Houston Chronicle

Managing Editor

Pete McConnell

Houston Chronicle

Assistant Managing Editor

Lee Warren

Houston Chronicle

City Editor

Robert Stanton

Houston Chronicle

Assistant City Editor

Peter Thornton

Texas Southern University

Assistant City Editor

Lewis Smith

Prairie View A&M University

Director of Photography

Evan White

Prairie View A&M University

Assistant Director of Photography

David Butler

Prairie View A&M University

Design Editor

Cale Carter

Houston Defender

Deputy Design Editor

Terry Jackson

TSU Alumus

Practicum Coordinator

Serbino Sandifer-Walker

Texas Southern University

Design Staff

Randi Crowder

University of North Texas

Kent Floyd

Langston University

Richard White

Prairie View A&M

Jasmine Gibson

Skyline High School

Alisha Renae Prince

Paul Quinn College

April Garland

North Garland High School

See pictures of mentors andstudents,page 6

Actual Attendance: 128

52 pre-registered

45 on-site

20 speakers

11 volunteers/staff

KEEPING UP WITHTECHNOLOGY

Journalismin a DigitalAge

Roland Martin

Saturday, April 12, 2008 The Monitor3

Benna Sayyed

MONITOR STAFF WRITER

Journalists and educators at the NABJ Region VConference expressed optimistic views about the possibili-ty of electing the United States’first black president.Freddie Willis, a Houston Chronicle sports copy editor,believes that political, social and ideological change is thetop priority for manyAmericans. White Americawill not respond to a black leader in the same way theblack population might, hesaid, but that whites, too, arelooking for a break from thepolitical norm that traditional-ly controls the country. If any-thing, Willis said, the whitecommunity will welcome thechange.Willis said the countryneeds a boost in the economy,which is something that ablack president can accom-plish.“I think Barack Obamacan definitely help the lowerand middle class get better jobs – just get jobs period.There are a lot of talented young African-Americans outthere and the work force is just not presenting those oppor-tunities to them,” Willis said.Obama presiding as the nation’s commander-in-chief will allow him greater influence and power to make suchopportunities more feasible, he said.The Illinois senator is locked in a tight race with Sen.Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination.William Broussard, assistant athletic director atNorthwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., saidtwo demographic groups, specifically the younger and themore educated, would most likely support a black presidenbecause they are apt to be more liberal minded and capableof looking beyond race and sex.On the other hand, Broussard said ,older people wholive in areas where institutional racism is still visible mighnot be willing to fathom the idea of a black or female pres-ident.Broussard also emphasized that when considering thereactions of different ethnici-ties to the potential election oa black president, it is impor-tant that Americans not think oblack and white communitieseach as monolithic.“I think there are white peo-ple in this country who willvote for a black presidentialcandidate because of who theyare, where they’re from, theisocioeconomic class and theieducational background,” saiBroussard.He said the prospect oObama becoming president lieswith his speaking ability thaengages and inspires, and hiswillingness to embrace all peo-ple. Also, his open manner odiscussing his biracial back-ground adds to his credibility.“I think that this is going to engage certain groups opeople who may not have been that interested in politics.think he is going to be able to reach across racial and cul-tural lines in a way that’s unprecedented for an Americapresident,” he said.Broussard said he was impressed that Obama hasreached his position on personal merit.

Is America Ready For a Black President

Da’Janai Woods

MONITOR STAFF WRITER

Traditionally, young people have not been motivated toote in national elections, but this year things seem to berastically changing, especially in the Democratic primaryaces.What has inspired the attention of people ages 18-29 tonspire them to vote?Overwhelmingly, the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama –he first African-American to make it through major primar-es – has served as an inspiration for them to take a stand andote.Students who attended the National Association of Black ournalists Region VConference on April 12 at Texasouthern University had some definite opinions about theresidential campaign.Natalie White, a 25-year-old student from Langstonniversity in Langston, Okla., said she didn’t vote in the004 election, but she is inspired to vote this year because sheants to be a part of history.“I want to be able to say that I voted for the first black resident,” she said. “I like his positive attitude toward facinghe crisis that is taking place in America.”According to ABC News, a record number of youth haveurned out to vote in the primary elections. In Massachusetts,8 percent of youth voted, more than double the number thatoted in 2004. In Illinois, 23 percent of youth voted, up from4 percent in 2004.Hip-Hop mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs played a majorole in the 2004 national election through Rock the Vote,hich encouraged youths to go to the polls. But many reportshowed that the percentage of youth that voted in 2004 waslmost the same as in 2000.However, this year young voters – especially black youthsare casting ballots in record numbers.One of the states that experienced the most dramaticncrease in youth voters was New Jersey, where the numberf youth voters climbed from 4 percent in 2004 to 20 percentn this year.Markita Guy, a 24-year-old TSU student, thinks one of theeasons for the increase is that people want to see a change.“This year will really make a difference,” she said. “Iant to vote for someone who is willing to make a changend Obama is that guy.”Guy said she likes the critical issues that Obama is focus-ing on in his campaign, such as health care and education,because they affect her.In the Texas Democratic primary, voters ages 18-29 over-whelmingly supported Obama by a 61 percent to 39 percent.His opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, was a favorite amongthose 60 and older, leading Obama 63 percent to 36 percent.Obama has won among 18- to 29-year-olds in every state,capturing 67 percent of their votes in South Carolina, 59 per-cent in Nevada, 51 percent in New Hampshire and 57 percentin Iowa.In the past, young people have felt that their vote doesn’tcount. But Richard White, a student at Prairie View A&MUniversity, disagrees. He says that every vote matters.“I think my vote will make a difference,” said White, 21.“Whether you win by 100 or 1, every vote matters at the endof the day.”White said America is ready for a change, and that it’sgood to hear that message is being reaffirmed by Obama.“Achange is going to come,” he said.

Jarreth Alexander

MONITOR STAFF WRITER

Acareer in the media isn’t for the faint at heart andrequires journalists to be well-rounded and flexible, profes-sional journalists say.Without the necessary skills, a journalist’s frustrationbuilds and a career can become a revolving door – one dayyou’re in, and the next day you’re tossed out.Those messages were delivered in the “After the Love isGone” seminar that provided tips to recover from a bad firstinternship. It also gave student journalists insight on how tosurvive in the profession.“It’s very important that you network with everyone thatyou come in contact with in this business,” said TamaraWashington, assignment editor at KPRC-Channel 2 inHouston. “You never know, that person you just met mightbe your new boss in the near future.”Adegree in journalism doesn’t automatically mean a job,panelists said. But success is based on your experience,which is what gets you ahead in the industry. While it’sgood for media personnel to be experts in their concentra-tion, they also say it’s vital to know about global events.Panelists said it’s imperative to learn the tricks of thetrade so that the revolving door doesn’t spin out of control.They posed questions that students might ask themselvesafter a bad internship: “What do I do next?” “Where do I gofrom here?”Cheryl Smith, executive editor for the Dallas Weekly,suggested finding a mentor and selling your skills.“Presentation is a must, leaving a lasting good impres-sion so that a person will work with you again in the nearfuture,” she said.Smith said it’s good to have a life outside of your careerbut offered another caution.“(Romantic office) relationships may interfere with yourcareer, but it’s up to you to decide. It’s very important tohave that balance of your personal life and your career life,”she said. “Find a partner who understands your career andwon’t use it against you in every scenario.”Panelists said survival is the key to helping young jour-nalists stay ahead in the field by being knowledgeable of themedia.

Young voters flock to polls

After thelove is gone

YOUTH VOTE

“”

I think Barack Obama can definitelyhelp the lower and middle class getbetter jobs, just get jobs period. Thereare a lot of talented young African-Americans out there and the work-force is just not presenting thoseopportunities to them–

Freddie Willis

Barack and Michelle Obama