McKinney and Estrada reported on the conference as well as talked to professional journalists about their advice and experiences.
The NABJ conference experience
By Meghann Estrada |
This year’s convention offered professional and student journalists a schedule full of workshops and panels designed to open dialogue about the changes within the media industry and ways to keep up with those changes.
In addition to the educational sessions, a career fair hosted over 50 media organizations, including CNN, BET, ESPN and The Washington Post.
Despite the many events dedicated to professional enrichment, the convention also integrated various after-hour receptions and parties. Other entertainment highlights included Spike Lee screening his HBO documentary, If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise, as well as Boris Kodjoe premiering the first episode of his new NBC show, Undercovers.
“NABJ was formed to push for diversity,” said Joe Davidson of The Washington Post, one of several NABJ founders attending. “The goal was to have African Americans included in all aspects of diversity and all levels of media, allowing for a variety of thoughts and opinions which we are still working towards.”
Next year, the event will be held in Philadelphia. Founder Francis Ward recalled when Philly last hosted the convention in 1995, the organization gained national attention because of its support of former member Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was scheduled to be executed that week for the murder of a police officer.
Ward said journalists, especially black journalists, must remember their purpose.
“Journalism is a public service,” the Syracuse University professor said. “Our role should not be to want to become a celebrity even though, yes, some people do. Our role should be to want to make society better and help people through the telling of their stories.”
Despite the many events dedicated to professional enrichment, the convention also integrated various after-hour receptions and parties. Other entertainment highlights included Spike Lee screening his HBO documentary, If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise, as well as Boris Kodjoe premiering the first episode of his new NBC show, Undercovers.
“NABJ was formed to push for diversity,” said Joe Davidson of The Washington Post, one of several NABJ founders attending. “The goal was to have African Americans included in all aspects of diversity and all levels of media, allowing for a variety of thoughts and opinions which we are still working towards.”
Next year, the event will be held in Philadelphia. Founder Francis Ward recalled when Philly last hosted the convention in 1995, the organization gained national attention because of its support of former member Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was scheduled to be executed that week for the murder of a police officer.
Ward said journalists, especially black journalists, must remember their purpose.
“Journalism is a public service,” the Syracuse University professor said. “Our role should not be to want to become a celebrity even though, yes, some people do. Our role should be to want to make society better and help people through the telling of their stories.”
Landing the first job
By Jeff McKinney |
My experience this year was a lot different. Last year, I was just happy to be able to go. This year I took something different from it. Perhaps the most valuable things I took from this year’s conference were the importance of networking and finding something that makes you stand out. Although I knew networking with other people was important, in order to make it in this business, it’s about whom you know as well as what you know.
I spent more time in the job fair part of the conference this year, attending every day this year as opposed to just once last year. I received many valuable contacts and talked to many employers from Bloomberg, ESPN, CNN, Politico, NASCAR and People Magazine.
Another major part of the conference is the workshop sessions. The most important one I went to was called “Getting That First Job — Period." This session was very informative because the panelists discussed many things that would be helpful for students trying to break into the business. Among the things I took from it were researching the company you want to work for and selling yourself on your resume and interview.
While pursuing a job, you should be able to name some of the staff and their work. You should also have something on your resume that makes you standout. Whether it’s going on a mission trip to Africa, having a blog, or even being a bartender, small things like this could start off conversations from employers. They’re looking for someone with skills as well as personality.
I met some great people inside and out of the conference. This includes Cordell Eddings, who’s an IU alumnus now working for Bloomberg News; Michael Wilbon, a sports columnist for The Washington Post and analyst for ESPN; Spike Lee, acclaimed film director; and some fighters from the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Although the latter weren’t involved in the conference, I still enjoyed the brief experience of meeting a few of the fighters because I’ve been working on a UFC blog and one day would like to write for the UFC.
If there’s one thing that anybody should take from this conference, it’s if you work hard, you can get to where you’re trying to go. Journalism involves a lot of work. It’s even harder for African Americans and people of color in general to get into the business. Conferences like these are a good way to directly network, and I hope I’ll be able to attend many more.
Q&A with JET’s Mira Lowe
By Meghann Estrada |
| Courtesy photo |
| JET editor-in-chief Mira Lowe (left) found time to talk to senior Meghann Estrada during the NABJ conference. |
In her newly appointed position as the first woman to edit the African American newsweekly publication, Lowe has spearheaded the start of the new JET website, myjet247.com, and led the production of the commemorative Michael Jackson issue.
The Brooklyn native got her start at a small paper in New Jersey as a copy editor, despite applying for the reporter position. After 11 months, she attended a job fair where Newsday, a New York daily paper, hired the young journalist.
While working with Newsday, Lowe quickly moved up the ranks and became associate editor for recruitment, leading the Minority Editorial Training Program (METPRO). In 2007, then-editorial director Bryan Monroe offered Lowe a position as assistant managing editor for both Ebony and JET magazines. Intrigued with the opportunity to try something new and to be involved with two iconic publications, she took the position.
Attending the 35th NABJ Convention & Career Fair in San Diego, Lowe found time to sit and talk with me at Redfield’s at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. As we drank hot chocolate and she ate a chicken quesadilla, we discussed her new position as editor-in-chief at JET.
Estrada: Describe obstacles you have faced. Do you think you experienced those adversities because you are a woman, African American, or both?
Lowe: Starting off working in a mainstream newsroom, the biggest obstacle would have had to been the lack of women of color mentorship in the newsroom. At Newsday, the African Americans on staff were a very close knit group and we came together in meetings, talking about our various concerns, but to see a role model who looked like me in a management position…it just wasn’t there.
When I was there, one of the founders of NABJ, Les Payne, was the only African American editor, and we developed a good relationship, but there were no women. Not having that mentor made me more observant and astute as a journalist. I would see what worked and didn’t work for others, and try to apply those lessons to my own personal journey. I feel in this business you have to continue to learn in order to grow in which you will become more confident as your skills grow.
Estrada: As editor-in-chief of JET, what are some of your main responsibilities?
Lowe: I’m in charge of setting the editorial direction, which includes administrative, hiring, recruitment, invoicing, some writing, editing, strategic planning and thinking about what direction the magazine should be heading.
Within the community, JET has always been known, but now it’s time to know the brand JET not just the magazine which means print, mobile, Web and beyond. We are trying to appeal to the new generations and still hold on to the core audience. In doing so, we’ve launched the new website, myjet247.com, which we have been getting a lot of positive responses.
With this position, I have many different responsibilities, and it’s a tradeoff because I went from gathering news to directing the coverage of the news. At times, I wish I could do more writing, but I’m not a big fan of having editors do all the writing of the stories. It’s not the editor’s job to micromanage. Instead, it should be to delegate. That’s why it’s crucial to be surrounded by a professional and strong staff.
Estrada: What is most challenging about your position?
Lowe: Wanting to do excellent work with limited resources. It’s hard to do multiple great things when resources are limited. Due to the climate of the times, every media company is having to do more with less. This is allowing me to practice patience and to be more focused on one project at a time, allowing for optimal execution of each project.
Another major challenge for us at JET is how to be relevant to that younger generation. Since we are such a staple in the community, we have to appeal to the grandfather, the father and now the son. Our aim is to bridge that gap somehow, which is something we haven’t perfected but are trying to go in that direction.
Estrada: What is most rewarding about your position?
Lowe: I didn’t grow up wanting to be editor or be at a magazine, so I’m still getting used to the position and the esteem it holds. I’m remaining humble in my position because I don’t believe in self-promotion. It’s what God says and has in store for you.
I’ve been blessed to meet people from all walks of life, from celebrities to newsmakers. I grew up in a household where my parents loved music, and I’m the type that can go days without watching television, but I have to listen to music so having the chance to have lunch with blues legend B.B. King during my first week in this position was amazing.
Estrada: With over 20 years of journalism experience, what advice do you have?
Lowe: Don’t be afraid of change and trying new things. Too often, the newsroom is afraid of change and new ideas, but be change agents for the future. Don’t be afraid to be the only one, because when I started, I was one of two or three other African American women writers in my newsroom.
Networking is crucial because more often, it is not based solely on what you know but on whom you know, particularly for the African American media community. Be trailblazers in your own right, taking calculated risks. Sometimes, you might be blocking blessings by not entertaining possibility, so be open to new opportunities.
Estrada: At the NABJ Convention, you have been surrounded by your peers as well as the future industry leaders. What is your hope for the future of journalism? What is your hope for the future of black journalists?
Lowe: I just hope to see more African American journalists. I hope that in the future, we will have a greater presence in shaping news. I want us to own this industry in a way that we haven’t seen before. I want us to express what’s going on in our communities and be the connecting force for the mainstream delivering and speaking the truth.
More of us should become owners of media whether that is at television stations, websites, magazines or newspapers. Black press or not, the person who owns sets the tone and vision for the media because they are at the top making the decisions.
Overall, we should have more influence in national media companies in order to help change the discussion and dialogue. There are a lot of talented, skilled and determined future journalists out there that I can see making some of these hopes a reality.
Estrada: Describe obstacles you have faced. Do you think you experienced those adversities because you are a woman, African American, or both?
Lowe: Starting off working in a mainstream newsroom, the biggest obstacle would have had to been the lack of women of color mentorship in the newsroom. At Newsday, the African Americans on staff were a very close knit group and we came together in meetings, talking about our various concerns, but to see a role model who looked like me in a management position…it just wasn’t there.
When I was there, one of the founders of NABJ, Les Payne, was the only African American editor, and we developed a good relationship, but there were no women. Not having that mentor made me more observant and astute as a journalist. I would see what worked and didn’t work for others, and try to apply those lessons to my own personal journey. I feel in this business you have to continue to learn in order to grow in which you will become more confident as your skills grow.
Estrada: As editor-in-chief of JET, what are some of your main responsibilities?
Lowe: I’m in charge of setting the editorial direction, which includes administrative, hiring, recruitment, invoicing, some writing, editing, strategic planning and thinking about what direction the magazine should be heading.
Within the community, JET has always been known, but now it’s time to know the brand JET not just the magazine which means print, mobile, Web and beyond. We are trying to appeal to the new generations and still hold on to the core audience. In doing so, we’ve launched the new website, myjet247.com, which we have been getting a lot of positive responses.
With this position, I have many different responsibilities, and it’s a tradeoff because I went from gathering news to directing the coverage of the news. At times, I wish I could do more writing, but I’m not a big fan of having editors do all the writing of the stories. It’s not the editor’s job to micromanage. Instead, it should be to delegate. That’s why it’s crucial to be surrounded by a professional and strong staff.
Estrada: What is most challenging about your position?
Lowe: Wanting to do excellent work with limited resources. It’s hard to do multiple great things when resources are limited. Due to the climate of the times, every media company is having to do more with less. This is allowing me to practice patience and to be more focused on one project at a time, allowing for optimal execution of each project.
Another major challenge for us at JET is how to be relevant to that younger generation. Since we are such a staple in the community, we have to appeal to the grandfather, the father and now the son. Our aim is to bridge that gap somehow, which is something we haven’t perfected but are trying to go in that direction.
Estrada: What is most rewarding about your position?
Lowe: I didn’t grow up wanting to be editor or be at a magazine, so I’m still getting used to the position and the esteem it holds. I’m remaining humble in my position because I don’t believe in self-promotion. It’s what God says and has in store for you.
I’ve been blessed to meet people from all walks of life, from celebrities to newsmakers. I grew up in a household where my parents loved music, and I’m the type that can go days without watching television, but I have to listen to music so having the chance to have lunch with blues legend B.B. King during my first week in this position was amazing.
Estrada: With over 20 years of journalism experience, what advice do you have?
Lowe: Don’t be afraid of change and trying new things. Too often, the newsroom is afraid of change and new ideas, but be change agents for the future. Don’t be afraid to be the only one, because when I started, I was one of two or three other African American women writers in my newsroom.
Networking is crucial because more often, it is not based solely on what you know but on whom you know, particularly for the African American media community. Be trailblazers in your own right, taking calculated risks. Sometimes, you might be blocking blessings by not entertaining possibility, so be open to new opportunities.
Estrada: At the NABJ Convention, you have been surrounded by your peers as well as the future industry leaders. What is your hope for the future of journalism? What is your hope for the future of black journalists?
Lowe: I just hope to see more African American journalists. I hope that in the future, we will have a greater presence in shaping news. I want us to own this industry in a way that we haven’t seen before. I want us to express what’s going on in our communities and be the connecting force for the mainstream delivering and speaking the truth.
More of us should become owners of media whether that is at television stations, websites, magazines or newspapers. Black press or not, the person who owns sets the tone and vision for the media because they are at the top making the decisions.
Overall, we should have more influence in national media companies in order to help change the discussion and dialogue. There are a lot of talented, skilled and determined future journalists out there that I can see making some of these hopes a reality.
A chat with ESPN’s Jamar Hudson
By Jeff McKinney |
| Courtesy photo |
| ESPN's Jamar Hudson (right) told senior Jeff McKinney that he loves his busy job as an associate editor. |
Born and raised near Richmond, Va., Hudson attended the historically black college, Hampton University.
“I enjoyed my experience there,” he said. “Some people have negative stereotypes or things to say about HBCU’s, some of it is true, but not nearly as much as some people believe. It was a great experience going there.”
Although not always a journalist, Hudson always had an interest in sports.
“I originally wanted to be a physical therapist,” Hudson said.
But his interest in journalism grew as he read articles from the Scripps News service. He eventually had an internship with Gannett, publisher of over 80 newspapers across the United States, including USA Today. He later worked for the Daily Press as a stringer (freelance writer).
“After working at the Press, I got a grad internship writing for the Scripps Howard news service,” he said.
From there, Hudson went on to work as a sportswriter and columnist for the Knoxville News-Sentinel in Knoxville, Tenn.
Over the past four years, Hudson has been with ESPN. Working as an associate editor, Hudson stays very busy.
“I love my job,” he said, “It keeps me very busy, but I love it. I’ve been on the NFL beat for the past three seasons. Football is my favorite sport, so I really enjoy my work.”
Hudson said NABJ is a great opportunity for students as well professionals to network.
“Network. That’s the greatest advice I could give anybody who attends the conference,” he said. “Networking is very important here. Keep in contact with everybody you talk to. It’s key in this business that you network and keep up with your contacts. That’s what makes the conference so good. You have many opportunities here that you wouldn’t have anywhere else.”
But his interest in journalism grew as he read articles from the Scripps News service. He eventually had an internship with Gannett, publisher of over 80 newspapers across the United States, including USA Today. He later worked for the Daily Press as a stringer (freelance writer).
“After working at the Press, I got a grad internship writing for the Scripps Howard news service,” he said.
From there, Hudson went on to work as a sportswriter and columnist for the Knoxville News-Sentinel in Knoxville, Tenn.
Over the past four years, Hudson has been with ESPN. Working as an associate editor, Hudson stays very busy.
“I love my job,” he said, “It keeps me very busy, but I love it. I’ve been on the NFL beat for the past three seasons. Football is my favorite sport, so I really enjoy my work.”
Hudson said NABJ is a great opportunity for students as well professionals to network.
“Network. That’s the greatest advice I could give anybody who attends the conference,” he said. “Networking is very important here. Keep in contact with everybody you talk to. It’s key in this business that you network and keep up with your contacts. That’s what makes the conference so good. You have many opportunities here that you wouldn’t have anywhere else.”