HBCU Newspaper Conference expected to attract hundreds
BY LATRICE PINKINS
January 25, 2005
The award winning Southern DIGEST at Southern University Baton Rouge is preparing to co-host the seventh annual HBCU National Newspaper Conference and job fair February 3-5.
"The conference goal is to increase the number of minority journalist in this field," said SU Student Media Director, Derrick Hackett. "There are a lot of qualified journalist and this is a way to address and support black college newspapers."
For three days journalism students will have the opportunity to attend more than 40 sessions discussing news coverage, leadership, sports writing, photography, layout and design, copy editing and careers.
"It serves as a two fold, one to introduce the students to the industry and two to help address the problems the black college newspapers are having," Hackett said.
The 2004 conference in Montgomery, hosted by Alabama State included more than 200 attendees from HBCUs all around the United States.
This is the first time Southern University will host the convention.
"It is a great opportunity for the university to showcase itself and the SU student media," Hackett said.
The first conference was spearheaded by Morgan State University in Baltimore in 1997.
In 2003 Jackson State hosted it in Jackson, Miss. and they are firm supporters of the conference.
"We will always be there to support and promote it no matter what school it goes to," said Sylvia Watley, advisor to the Blue and White Flash at Jackson State University.
It is now partnered with the Black College Communication Association that works to improve communications programs at HBCUs.
Chairperson of BCCA Valerie White, says this is an excellent way for students to grow as journalists.
"They get to see experts in the journalism field and we have nationally known people and let them select role-models at the nations top media organizations."
Posted By: Will Moss
Thursday, January 27th 2005 at 8:36AM
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