The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University will host the 22nd annual NABJ Multimedia Short Course March 19-22, 2014.
The annual seminar is designed to encourage NABJ’s student members to pursue television production as a career. During the four-day seminar, students participate in workshops that provide them hands-on experience and a practical understanding of what broadcast newsroom jobs entail.
The JOMC Department has hosted the seminar on the A&T campus over the last two decades. JOMC Interim Chair, Gail Wiggins, has been instrumental in coordinating the program as a springboard for future journalists.
The seminar gives broadcast journalism students access to mentors who currently work as news directors, producers, writers, assignment editors and directors at some of the top television stations in the country.
Professional journalists participating in the 2014 short course include: Anthony Wilson, news anchor, WTDV ABC 11, Durham; Sharon Stevens, reporter/producer, HEC-TV (Higher Education Channel), St. Louis, MO; Mario Boone, news reporter, WLOS, Asheville; Marc Willis, public affairs specialist, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Washington, D.C.; Carl McLean, photographer, WSOC, Charlotte;
Melody Freeman Taylor, producer, CNN, Atlanta, GA; Charlitta Rodrigues, platform manager, NBC Universal, Washington D.C.; Damany Lewis, anchor, KXTV News 10, Sacramento, CA; Kerwin Speight, nightside executive producer, WRC-TV, Washington, D.C.; and Anzio Williams, news director, NBC 10-WCAU, Philadelphia, PA; and Sadiyyah Rice, editor and producer, Higher Education Channel Television (HEC-TV), St. Louis, MO.
This year’s event will feature workshops on writing for the Internet, politics in the newsroom and a short course on multimedia news media production. Short course participants will learn the technical skills needed to produce quality multimedia stories, including audio recording and editing, graphics, slideshows, blogging and web design concepts.
The sponsors for this year’s short course include: North Carolina A&T State University’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and the College of Arts and Sciences, Comcast-NBCUniversal, the CBC/WRAL Community Fund of Triangle Communication Foundation, WXII-12 (Hearst Communications) and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
The seminar is open to student members who are juniors and seniors enrolled in an accredited college or university. Students must have a declared major in broadcast journalism or communication, and a cumulative grade point average of 2.5. There are 40 students participating in this year’s multimedia short course seminar.
A&T students participating in the 2014 short course include: Jasmine Adelekun, Gitory Bartell, Jordynn Carlisle, Jaleesa Chinn, Jeremy Days, Melanie Dunning, Lauren Everett, Vernetta Jenkins, Jazzmin Lawrence, Kelsey Merritt, Kierra Perry, Julian Scrivens, Nichelle Whitehead.
Visiting students participating include: Rochelle Alleyne (University of Florida); Frederick Ennette (Pennsylvania State); Briana Hamilton (Morgan State University); Diane Jeanty (West Virginia University); Natalie Johnson (Florida A&M University); Tiara Lavender (Jackson State University); Larry McGill (North Carolina Central University); Jessica Mitchell (University of North Texas); Kiara Palmer (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill); Christina Pegues (Winston Salem State University); Deanna Reid (Hampton University); Cierra Riley (Northern Illinois University); Kristen Robinson (The University of Georgia); Emmilyne Victor, Mia Young, Shavon Anderson, Melanie Johnson (Howard University).
The short course week culminates in the student production of the “NABJ News” broadcast, which features two students who anchor the show. The “NABJ News” will also be streamed live via webcast this year.
As a result of the annual NABJ Short Course, students gain the following outcomes:
- The ability to produce a newscast, to understand the roles of each position in a production environment and to gain knowledge about the process of producing a newscast from start to finish.;
- The ability to gain skills in producing content in real time and the short course gives them experience in producing content in only a few hours in a real news environment;
- Students understand the essential importance of meeting deadlines;
- Students are able to gain job leads. During the workshop seminars, students are able to connect with professional mentors and journalists from around the U.S. Students have the ability to obtain a professional review and critique of their demo reels, portfolios and resumes;
- Students gain knowledge about emerging media by understanding how to translate news and stories across different media platforms, including radio, television, and electronic media;
- Students are able to enhance their writing skills and learn how to be concise and think on their feet.
NABJ, the National Association of Black Journalists, is an organization of journalists, students and media-related professionals that provides quality programs and services and advocates on behalf of black journalists worldwide. |
