Shannon McEnerney | Nov. 10, 2009
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| Photo by Shannon McEnerney |
| NABJ president Ashlee Green led last week’s meeting to discuss the group’s service projects and plans for next semester. Members have been working with a campus group this fall and plan to work with high school students next semester. |
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The members are looking to use the break for anything but relaxation. Instead, they view the time away from classes as a chance to network and meet with professionals in their respective hometowns to build connections that may lead to summer internships.
Inspired by a guest speaker in one of her classes, NABJ president Ashlee Green said building professional relationships is a goal for the chapter as it looks to activities next semester.
But immediate plans are to finalize work on their service project that taps into their communication talents. Members are producing materials and working with the the IU Archives of African American Music and Culture for the upcoming conference, “Reclaiming the Right to Rock: Black Experiences in Rock Music,” Nov. 13-14.
This service project allows the members to work in advertising, marketing, public relations and reporting. Green said IU professor Portia Maultsby, director of the archives, presented the project to members at an earlier meeting. Since then, the members have been handling the conference’s promotion and letting local groups and areas know about the event through Facebook, flyers and other promotional materials.
But the group’s service isn’t done. Green said members will be going to this weekend’s conference and reporting on the various sessions and happenings throughout the days to help record the conference experience for the IU Archives of African American Music and Culture.
“Hopefully, it will be a success,” Green said, adding that the chance to provide services with their media talents is beneficial to all members who are aspiring to work in some aspect of the media. Instead of asking a professional public relations organization, Maultsby contacted journalism students who share similar passions, and Green said the group was more than happy to help with services for the conference.
For next spring, Green said she hopes to invite alumna Melanie Sims, whose work has appeared in magazines such as Essence, to speak to members. She also wants to collaborate with the IU chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Public Relations Student Society of America, as well as the Indianapolis professional chapter of NABJ.
While the group’s work for the conference ends this weekend, the members will be continuing service project efforts next semester. Green said the group is working on a mentoring project with students at Broad Ripple High School in Indianapolis. Plans involve high school students coming to Bloomington to spend a day with the members in order to develop a feel for college life and to explore what college journalism is like.
“I’m geeked for next semester,” Green said.
