NABJ Conference focuses on the future of journalism
Tavis Smiley School of Communications Hosts
Tristan Jones
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
NABJ Conference focuses on the future of journalism
By Tristan Jones
More than 100 people, including keynote speaker and CNN contributor Roland Martin, gathered at the National Association of Black Journalists Region V conference held at Texas Southern University Saturday, which focused on transforming careers in a changing industry.
In addition to his speech, Martin also moderated a town hall discussion on the presidential race with TSU political science professor Franklin Jones, University of Houston political science professor Christine LeVeaux-Haley, state Sen. Rodney Ellis, and the New Majority newspaper publisher/editor Paul Bennett.
"The industry is changing and students and professionals must be able to adapt to the changes," said Martin.
Overall, the National Association of Black Journalists' conference, held at TSU's Tavis Smiley School of Communication, gave participants a hearty dose of new media.
"We're going to make sure that journalists, communications professionals and students that want to go into journalism, in particular the communications field, have an idea of what it's like to be a multimedia journalist in this changing media climate," said Cindy George, NABJ Region V director. "We know that the way students were taught in the past, the way professionals are working now, is not going to give them the type of career that is going to last them another 10 or 20 years."
NABJ has taken it upon itself to arm students with the necessary tools to compete in a changing, more competitive industry.
Experts said the changing industry will force communication students and media professionals alike to either adapt to the changes or simply be left behind.
"I think the simple fact of reality is that nowadays it's not as easy to get a job in the television or media profession as it was four, five, even ten years ago," said Freddie Willis, a sports copy editor with the Houston Chronicle. "Nowadays it's a matter of getting out there and working at what you do and getting better at what you do."
By Tristan Jones
More than 100 people, including keynote speaker and CNN contributor Roland Martin, gathered at the National Association of Black Journalists Region V conference held at Texas Southern University Saturday, which focused on transforming careers in a changing industry.
In addition to his speech, Martin also moderated a town hall discussion on the presidential race with TSU political science professor Franklin Jones, University of Houston political science professor Christine LeVeaux-Haley, state Sen. Rodney Ellis, and the New Majority newspaper publisher/editor Paul Bennett.
"The industry is changing and students and professionals must be able to adapt to the changes," said Martin.
Overall, the National Association of Black Journalists' conference, held at TSU's Tavis Smiley School of Communication, gave participants a hearty dose of new media.
"We're going to make sure that journalists, communications professionals and students that want to go into journalism, in particular the communications field, have an idea of what it's like to be a multimedia journalist in this changing media climate," said Cindy George, NABJ Region V director. "We know that the way students were taught in the past, the way professionals are working now, is not going to give them the type of career that is going to last them another 10 or 20 years."
NABJ has taken it upon itself to arm students with the necessary tools to compete in a changing, more competitive industry.
Experts said the changing industry will force communication students and media professionals alike to either adapt to the changes or simply be left behind.
"I think the simple fact of reality is that nowadays it's not as easy to get a job in the television or media profession as it was four, five, even ten years ago," said Freddie Willis, a sports copy editor with the Houston Chronicle. "Nowadays it's a matter of getting out there and working at what you do and getting better at what you do."
Be the first to comment on this story