the monitor

HOUSTON
Saturday, April 12, 2008 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS REGION V CONFERENCE TRANSFORMING CAREERS IN A CHANGING INDUSTRY

« INSIDE NABJ Region V looks at emerging media

CONFERENCE
GETS RAVE
REVIEWS
By Tristan Jones
MONITOR STAFF WRITER

More than 100 people, including

keynote speaker Roland Martin, gath-
ered at the NABJ Region V confer-
ence that focused on transforming
THE MULTIMEDIA careers in a changing industry.
REVOLUTION In addition to his speech, Martin
participated in a town hall discussion
NABJ arms its mem-
on the presidential race with TSU
bers with an arsenal of political science professor Franklin
new media skills. Dallas Weekly’s Cheryl Smith and Langston University’s Dr. Karen Clark lead students in boot
Jones, University of Houston political
See Page. 2 camp practicum.

“
science professor Christine LeVeaux-
Haley, Houston Defender publisher
Sonny Messiah-Jiles, state Sen.
Rodney Ellis, and the New Majority
newspaper publisher/editor Paul
Bennett.
McConnell, deputy metro editor/sub-
We know that the way students were taught
urbs at the Chronicle.
in the past, the way professionals are work- TSU students also realize the
importance of having the conference
ing now, is not going to give them the type
on their campus.

Overall, the National Association
of Black Journalists’ conference, held
at Texas Southern University’s Tavis
Smiley School of Communication,
gave participants a hearty dose of new
media.
“We’re going to make sure that
journalists, communications profes-
sionals and students that want to go
into journalism, in particular the com-
munications field, have an idea of
what it’s like to be a multimedia jour-
BARACK OBAMA’S BID nalist in this changing media climate,”
FOR THE PRESIDENCY said Cindy George, NABJ Region V
director. “We know that the way stu-
Barack Obama is fight- dents were taught in the past, the way
ing to become America professionals are working now, is not
going to give them the type of career
’s first black president. that is going to last them another 10 or
However, is America 20 years.”
ready for Obama? NABJ has taken it upon itself to
See Page. 3 arm students with the necessary tools
”
of career that is going to last them another “I think this is a great opportunity
for journalism students,” Nakia
10 or 20 years.
Cooper, a senior broadcast journalism
– Cindy George
major at TSU, said. “They get a crash
NABJ Region V Director
course and real life experience to see
what it’s going to be like in the job
market.”
Times are definitely changing,
to compete in a changing, more com- getting out there and working at what journalism experts say. Whether they
petitive industry. you do and getting better at what you are changing for better or worse will
Experts say the changing industry do.” be dictated by the future and how new
will force communications students New medium now requires media professionals adapt to the
and media professionals alike to either reporters to have the total package, changing market. The whole purpose
adapt to the changes or simply be left including video and blogs, to stay cur- of the NABJ conference is to better
behind. rent in the changing business. prepare students and professionals for
“I think the simple fact of reality is “Reporters must now diversify a new journalism industry that is
that nowadays it’s not as easy to get a their skills. Not only are they expect- tougher and more competitive.
job in the television or media profes- ed to go out and report, but they will “You’ve got to get aboard this
sion as it was four, five, even 10 years have to take their own photographs train,” said George, also a Chronicle
ago,” said Freddie Willis, a a sports and video and get them posted online reporter. “We don’t want this train to
copy editor with the Houston ASAP. We are now in a minute-by- leave the station without black jour-
Chronicle. “Nowadays it’s a matter of minute competitive market,” said Pete nalists on it.”ck journalists on it.”

Martin inspires conference participants

By Tristan Jones
MONITOR STAFF WRITER
CNN contributor and nationally syndicated
columnist Roland Martin is committed to
teaching students and fellow media profession-
als the ins and outs of journalism.
He said he’s adapted well to the changing
industry, as his work and various projects
demonstrate. His biography embodies what it
means to be the total package as a journalist.
HBCU’S LEADING “I’m a contributor on CNN (and) commen-
THE PACK tator on TV One cable network. I write a blog
and a column for Essence magazine. My col-
Historically Black umn is nationally syndicated – also the radio
Colleges and show in Chicago; do public speaking; and I’ve
written two books.”
Universities are pro-
Martin was the keynote speaker at the
ducing some of the luncheon April 12 at the NABJ Region V
nation’s top leaders Conference at Texas Southern University. He
See Page. 4 discussed the changing journalism industry and
what students and media professionals need to
do to thrive in the business.
Roland Martin, CNN contributor and national “In talking to students as well as profes-
syndicated columnist. sionals, I want to get them to understand that
they are operating in a new world,” Martin
said. “They must be able, as journalists, to
adapt to the changing conditions of our indus-
try and … access and exploit new opportunities
to allow them to thrive in this industry.”
The point of new media journalism is to
allow journalists to appeal to a broader demo-
graphic, which also introduces them to a wider
audience, he said.
Other professionals concurred.
“When you’re doing all of these things in
multimedia, you’re branding yourself,” said
Gloria Neal, CEO of Aliglo Media Partners
LLC. “If you’re a journalist, you should never
stop branding yourself. You are your own com-
pany.”
Freddie Willis, a Houston Chronicle sports
copy editor, said: “I think in five to 10 years
online journalism is going to take over.”
On the subject of diversity, Martin said he
does not believe media companies’ contention
that they cannot find qualified black talent at
TSU and other predominantly black institu-
tions.
“I’ve always rejected that,” Martin said. “If
some folks know how to look and know where
to look, you can always find them. I’ve always
seen that as a cop-out.”
2 The Monitor Saturday, April 12, 2008

Journalism
« THE STAFF

in a Digital
Student Editor
Tristan Jones
Texas Southern University

Age
Assistant Student Editor
Kangsen Feka Wakai
Texas Southern University

Editor
David Ellison
Houston Chronicle KEEPING UP WITH
Managing Editor
Pete McConnell
Houston Chronicle
TECHNOLOGY
Assistant Managing Editor By Jerrell Allen
Lee Warren MONITOR STAFF WRITER
Houston Chronicle

City Editor
Robert Stanton
Houston Chronicle
Assistant City Editor
Peter Thornton
Texas Southern University
Assistant City Editor
Lewis Smith
Prairie View A&M University
Director of Photography
Evan White
Prairie View A&M University
Assistant Director of
Photography
David Butler
Prairie View A&M University
Design Editor
Cale Carter
Houston Defender
Deputy Design Editor
Terry Jackson
TSU Alumus
Practicum Coordinator
Serbino Sandifer-Walker
Texas Southern University
A
recent presidential primary for Sen.
Barack Obama has reacquainted the
United States with one its past specters
— uncomfortable racial tension.
As a result, African-American journalists
find the new landscape of the professional
media a little more difficult to navigate. They
have to deal with a new “revolution” as well as
the constant struggle to keep up with the higher-
than-usual standards placed on them by main-
stream media outlets.
In a society nourished by TV talk show
hosts such as FOX’s Bill O’Reilly and CNN’s
Lou Dobbs and Glenn Beck – all of whom
preach that race doesn’t matter – minority jour-
nalists face challenges simply by mentioning the
importance of race in politics or journalism.
Compounding this problem is the question of
how African-American journalists will be able
to find a place in the paradigm of digital media.
Those familiar with professional journalism
know the revolution of the new digital media Roland Martin
will certainly not come in the form of television;
instead, it will be podcast, zipped and down-
loaded en masse. Practically every newspaper
in the country maintains a presence on the ing technology influences the media’s functions Majority use very few of the revolutionary
Internet, and even other publications that have by providing more tools to news organizations media tools that the mainstream has come to
been traditionally restricted to the narrow for greater coverage. embrace — independent blogs, podcasting and
parameters of print journalism have used the The question does not seem to be whether the like. As well, magazines such as the Crisis
Internet to branch out. black journalists are ready for the new media have not yet made the leap into the 21st century
And even if minority or black publications revolution because mainstream black journalists such as Time or People magazines.
have not completely translated their ideas and have proved that they can adapt to the new tech- If black media are to continue the tradition
thoughts into the realm of the new media revo- nological changes. The question, instead, is of keeping issues of importance to African-
lution, the community is certainly ready for it. whether the black media, those publications that Americans relevant to mainstream American
The Internet has substantially changed the way specifically target African-Americans, are ready society, it is imperative that they keep up with
African-Americans (and, indeed, all Americans) to embrace the revolution. Newspapers like technological advances.
communicate with one another. The ever-chang- African-American News and Issues or the New

Design Staff
Randi Crowder
University of North Texas «THE CONFERENCE
Kent Floyd
Langston University At a glance
Richard White
Led by Cheryl Smith of The Dallas Weekly and Dr. Karen
Prairie View A&M
Clark of Langston University, students attending Boot Camp
Jasmine Gibson
learned cutting edge techniques for gathering, evaluating
Skyline High School
and writing news across various media platforms. They
Alisha Renae Prince
n Actual Attendance: 128 n 20 speakers
were also introduced to strategies used by backpack
Paul Quinn College
n 52 pre-registered n 11 volunteers/staff
journalists. The backpack journalist performs at optimum
April Garland
n 45 on-site
levels in a convergence journalism environment.
North Garland High School

« Print « Online « Radio

Student journalists produced an
eight-page online newspaper with
11 stories focusing on issues that
See pictures of include black journalists’ ability to
mentors and adapt to the new media revolu-
students, tion, the significance of black col-
leges, and journalism students’
page 6 transition into professionalism.
Professional journalists from
the Houston Chronicle, includ-
ing sports writer Terrance
Harris, and other leading
regional journalists explained
to students the benefits of
reporting, writing, and story-
telling for the Web.
Led by Texas Southern
University journalism profes-
sor Serbino Sandifer-Walker
and student executive produc-
er Nakia Cooper, 10 students
wrote, edited and produced a
five minute newscast that
aired live on KTSU radio.
Saturday, April 12, 2008 The Monitor 3

Is America Ready For a Black President

two demographic groups, specifically the younger and the
By Benna Sayyed
more educated, would most likely support a black president
MONITOR STAFF WRITER
because they are apt to be more liberal minded and capable
of looking beyond race and sex.
Journalists and educators at the NABJ Region V
On the other hand, Broussard said ,older people who
Conference expressed optimistic views about the possibili-
live in areas where institutional racism is still visible might
ty of electing the United States’ first black president.
not be willing to fathom the idea of a black or female pres-
Freddie Willis, a Houston Chronicle sports copy editor,
ident.
believes that political, social and ideological change is the
Broussard also emphasized that when considering the
top priority for many
reactions of different ethnici-

“
Americans. White America
ties to the potential election of
will not respond to a black
a black president, it is impor-
leader in the same way the
black population might, he
I think Barack Obama can definitely tant that Americans not think of
black and white communities
said, but that whites, too, are
looking for a break from the
help the lower and middle class get each as monolithic.
“I think there are white peo-
political norm that traditional-
ly controls the country. If any-
better jobs, just get jobs period. There ple in this country who will
vote for a black presidential
thing, Willis said, the white
community will welcome the
are a lot of talented young African- candidate because of who they
are, where they’re from, their
change.
Willis said the country
Americans out there and the work- socioeconomic class and their
educational background,” said
needs a boost in the economy,
force is just not presenting those

”
Broussard.
which is something that a
He said the prospect of
black president can accom-
plish.
opportunities to them Obama becoming president lies
with his speaking ability that
“I think Barack Obama
engages and inspires, and his
can definitely help the lower
and middle class get better
– Freddie Willis willingness to embrace all peo-
ple. Also, his open manner of
jobs – just get jobs period.
discussing his biracial back-
There are a lot of talented young African-Americans out
ground adds to his credibility.
there and the work force is just not presenting those oppor-
“I think that this is going to engage certain groups of
tunities to them,” Willis said.
people who may not have been that interested in politics. I
Obama presiding as the nation’s commander-in-chief
think he is going to be able to reach across racial and cul-
will allow him greater influence and power to make such
tural lines in a way that’s unprecedented for an American
opportunities more feasible, he said.
president,” he said.
The Illinois senator is locked in a tight race with Sen.
Broussard said he was impressed that Obama has
Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination.
reached his position on personal merit.
Barack and Michelle Obama William Broussard, assistant athletic director at
Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., said

YOUTH VOTE
After the
Young voters flock to polls love is gone
By Da’Janai Woods
By Jarreth Alexander
MONITOR STAFF WRITER
MONITOR STAFF WRITER

Traditionally, young people have not been motivated to

vote in national elections, but this year things seem to be
drastically changing, especially in the Democratic primary
races.
What has inspired the attention of people ages 18-29 to
inspire them to vote?
Overwhelmingly, the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama –
the first African-American to make it through major primar-
ies – has served as an inspiration for them to take a stand and
vote.
Students who attended the National Association of Black
Journalists Region V Conference on April 12 at Texas
Southern University had some definite opinions about the
presidential campaign.
Natalie White, a 25-year-old student from Langston
University in Langston, Okla., said she didn’t vote in the
2004 election, but she is inspired to vote this year because she
wants to be a part of history.
“I want to be able to say that I voted for the first black
president,” she said. “I like his positive attitude toward facing
the crisis that is taking place in America.”
According to ABC News, a record number of youth have
turned out to vote in the primary elections. In Massachusetts,
28 percent of youth voted, more than double the number that
voted in 2004. In Illinois, 23 percent of youth voted, up from
14 percent in 2004.
Hip-Hop mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs played a major
role in the 2004 national election through Rock the Vote,
which encouraged youths to go to the polls. But many reports
showed that the percentage of youth that voted in 2004 was
almost the same as in 2000.
However, this year young voters – especially black youths
– are casting ballots in record numbers.
One of the states that experienced the most dramatic
increase in youth voters was New Jersey, where the number
of youth voters climbed from 4 percent in 2004 to 20 percent
in this year.
Markita Guy, a 24-year-old TSU student, thinks one of the
reasons for the increase is that people want to see a change.
“This year will really make a difference,” she said. “I
want to vote for someone who is willing to make a change
and Obama is that guy.”
A career in the media isn’t for the faint at heart and
requires journalists to be well-rounded and flexible, profes-
sional journalists say.
Without the necessary skills, a journalist’s frustration
builds and a career can become a revolving door – one day
you’re in, and the next day you’re tossed out.
Those messages were delivered in the “After the Love is
Gone” seminar that provided tips to recover from a bad first
internship. It also gave student journalists insight on how to
survive in the profession.
“It’s very important that you network with everyone that
you come in contact with in this business,” said Tamara
Washington, assignment editor at KPRC-Channel 2 in
Houston. “You never know, that person you just met might
be your new boss in the near future.”
A degree in journalism doesn’t automatically mean a job,
panelists said. But success is based on your experience,
which is what gets you ahead in the industry. While it’s
good for media personnel to be experts in their concentra-
tion, they also say it’s vital to know about global events.
Guy said she likes the critical issues that Obama is focus-
Panelists said it’s imperative to learn the tricks of the
ing on in his campaign, such as health care and education,
trade so that the revolving door doesn’t spin out of control.
because they affect her.
They posed questions that students might ask themselves
In the Texas Democratic primary, voters ages 18-29 over-
after a bad internship: “What do I do next?” “Where do I go
whelmingly supported Obama by a 61 percent to 39 percent.
from here?”
His opponent, Sen. Hillary Clinton, was a favorite among
Cheryl Smith, executive editor for the Dallas Weekly,
those 60 and older, leading Obama 63 percent to 36 percent.
suggested finding a mentor and selling your skills.
Obama has won among 18- to 29-year-olds in every state,
“Presentation is a must, leaving a lasting good impres-
capturing 67 percent of their votes in South Carolina, 59 per-
sion so that a person will work with you again in the near
cent in Nevada, 51 percent in New Hampshire and 57 percent
future,” she said.
in Iowa.
Smith said it’s good to have a life outside of your career
In the past, young people have felt that their vote doesn’t
but offered another caution.
count. But Richard White, a student at Prairie View A&M
“(Romantic office) relationships may interfere with your
University, disagrees. He says that every vote matters.
career, but it’s up to you to decide. It’s very important to
“I think my vote will make a difference,” said White, 21.
have that balance of your personal life and your career life,”
“Whether you win by 100 or 1, every vote matters at the end
she said. “Find a partner who understands your career and
of the day.”
won’t use it against you in every scenario.”
White said America is ready for a change, and that it’s
Panelists said survival is the key to helping young jour-
good to hear that message is being reaffirmed by Obama.
nalists stay ahead in the field by being knowledgeable of the
“A change is going to come,” he said.
media.
4 The Monitor Saturday, April 12, 2008 Saturday, April 12, 2008 The Monitor 5

The Significance
HBCU’s

“
continued from page 5
“It [HBCUs] must seek
today to move into the
mainstream and serve the
8 out of 10 African-
American engineers grad-
uate from HBCUs.
…[HBCU’s] must produce individuals
Whalum is a proud
that make the greatest individual impact, graduate of TSU. He
recently completed a two-
competent and trained citizens who can

”
whole urban community. As year stint as Artist in
never before it must pro- achieve for themselves and their commu- Residence at the
duce individuals that make Stax/Soulville Music
nity.”

of HBCU’s
the greatest individual Academy in Memphis.
impact, competent and He is still one of the top
– Granville Sawyer
trained citizens who can selling contemporary jazz
achieve for themselves and artists and a respected
their community as never saxophonist. Meanwhile
07 annual report, HBCUs constitute
before it [HBCU’s] must produce his former teacher and mentor,
3 percent of all colleges and univer-
individuals that make the greatest Harris is gearing up for a grueling
sities in the nation. But they enroll
individual impact, competent and schedule this fall when he perform
16 percent of all African-Americans
trained citizens who can achieve for some dazzling shows so to raise

Preparing a new generation of African-American leaders

attending four year degree granting
themselves and their community,” money for the TSU jazz studies pro-
institutions and graduate 30 percent
stated Sawyer. gram, his gem.
of them. The report also states that
According to NAFEO’s 2006-

TSU campus

By Kangsen Feka Wakai

MONITOR STAFF WRITER

On a warm summer day in 1976, 22 years According to the American Council on

after the U.S. Supreme Court handed down the
landmark Brown v Board of Education decision, a
young man and his father drove from Memphis,
Tenn., to Houston, Texas.
Their destination: Texas Southern University,
a historical black university that in its own way
had played a monumental role in desegregating the
city of Houston. That young man eventually
enrolled at TSU, and credits that institution for
molding and sculpting his flourishing career.
Today, that young man is one of contemporary
jazz’s giants: Kirk Whalum.
Recently, Whalum was joined by an alumnus
of the Duke Ellington Band, Barry D. Hall, among
other jazz greats, former students, friends and
members of the TSU community at the universi-
ty’s Sterling Student Life Center to pay homage to
Howard Harris, composer, educator, mentor, musi-
cian, teacher and walking jazz archive.
Theirs was a musical tribute to a man who
personifies the ethos of Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)—excellence
and sacrifice. Today, Harris’ jazz studies program
is one of only two such programs in the state of
Texas.
“I have been involved with the jazz ensemble
since 1971. Then in 1981 the director resigned; so
from 1981 till now I am still standing,” said
Harris.
TSU is the nucleus of Houston’s historic Third
Ward neighborhood. It was born out of the
inequities that characterized the state’s segregated
education system.
The 50th Texas Legislature established TSU
on March 3, 1947. It was founded as the Texas
State University for Negroes and later changed in
1951 to Texas Southern University.
The National Association for Equal
Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) repre-
sents HBCUs and predominantly black institutions
with the executive, legislative, regulatory and
judicial branches of federal and state government
amongst other non-governmental organizations to
provide services to its over 118 members.
NAFEO contends that HBCUs were founded
primarily for the education of African-Americans,
although their charters were not exclusionary.
Cheney University in Pennsylvania, founded in
1837 was the nation’s first HBCU.
Education Minorities in Higher Education Annual
Status Report, HBCUs graduated 20 percent of all
Photo: TSU's: Earlie Hudnall
bachelor’s degrees earned by African-Americans
Above, Howard Harris, on the right, Kirk Whalum.
in 2000-01. Twenty-five thousand and ninety bac-
calaureate degrees were awarded to African-
American students that academic year the report
stated.
The Status Report is widely recognized as the
national source of information on current trends
related to minorities in higher education. The
report is made possible by a grant from the GE
Foundation.
Peter Thornton, a communication instructor in
the TSU Tavis Smiley School of
Communication, attended a historically white
university as an undergraduate, but did his gradu-
ate studies at TSU. In fact, Thornton is one of the
first to have graduated from the school of commu-
nication graduate program. He cites access to
resources as a great resource in HBCUs.
“I think I had more access to the equipment
and professors than I did at Boston University,”
Thornton said.
Granville Sawyer is a former TSU president
who served on President Richard Nixon’s commis-
sion on campus unrest and has been a lifelong
advocate for HBCUs.
Sawyer saw the importance as both a student
at an HBCU [Tennessee A&I University] and
administrator.
In his landmark document on the role of urban
universities, The Urban Commitment, Sawyer out-
lined his vision for the role and importance of
HBCUs.
HBCU’s continued on page 6
5 The Monitor Saturday, April 12, 2008

Getting ready for the

multimedia World of Journalism
By Ashley Minor
MONITOR STAFF WRITER

C
“
ohen Cosby, a Texas Southern nalist, authors and celebrities are also
University public relations stu- famous bloggers.
dent, relies on his cell phone to “Blogging started out because people
keep up with his busy lifestyle, while
When not actually using a PC, most people read the news on felt like they weren’t getting the news
also keeping abreast of the latest news. that they needed,” said Gloria Neal, CEO
“When not actually using a PC, most
their PDA (personal digital assistant) like I do… All day I get of Aliglo Media Partners LLC. “Then it

people read the news on their PDA (per-
sonal digital assistant) like I do,” said
Cosby. “All day I get the latest updates
from the New York Times, the
Washington Post and other major news-
papers.”
To meet the demands of Cosby and
others like him, journalists are becoming
multimedia experts.
Cosby was one of the students partic-
ipating in the National Association of
Black Journalists Region V Conference
at TSU. The theme of one of the work-
shops he attended was Getting Ready for
the Multimedia World of Journalism.
Multimedia technology has allowed
the news – including newspapers – to
have an instant impact. With advances in
technology – mobile phones and Internet
access – the news is within reach at all
the latest updates from the New York Times, the Washington
Post and other major newspapers.
times.
According to an article in pewinter-
net.org, 62 percent of adult Americans
have taken advantage of mobile access to
digital data and other such tools.
Americans use the Internet with a wire-
less connection away from home or
work, or used a nonvoice data application
with their cell phone or PDA.
“People don’t want to wait until
tomorrow to get their news,” said
Houston Chronicle sports copy editor
”
– Cohen Cosby
Freddie Willis. “Now, it just comes down
to time.”
Journalists are adapting skills that
relate to all aspects of communications.
Today, journalists are familiar with pro-
ducing and publishing content online,
while also taking advantage of the trend
toward social media.
Blogging has given people who are
not communications professionals an
opportunity to have their messages
viewed by a broad audience. Some jour-
was considered a form of social media,
but now it’s certainly professional
media.”
Neal said that in order for journalists
to have longevity in their field, they must
become as marketable as possible. A
reporter must also be prepared to design,
blog and have experience in radio and
television.
Some newspaper photographers and
reporters are now shooting and producing
video.
“For those of us on the news side of
the business, it is alarming, because we
have to learn new skills,” said Billy
Calzada wrote in a San Antonio Express
–News story. “It is also enticing and fas-
cinating because the Internet offers a new
outlet for our news content.”
Saturday, April 12, 2008 The Monitor 6

«THE MENTOR STAFF

Serbino Sandifer-Walker David Ellison Cheryl Smith Pete Mcconnell Robert Stanton
Texas Southern University Houston Chronicle The Dallas Weekly Houston Chronicle Houston Chronicle

Karen Clark Lewis Smith Peter Thornton Cale E. Carter Terry Jackson
Langston University Prairie View A&M University Texas Southern University Houston Defender TSU Alumus

«THE STUDENT STAFF

Ashley Minor Kangsen Feka Wakai Tristan Jones Da’janai Woods Jerrell Allen
Texas Southern University Texas Southern University Texas Southern University Langston University Prairie View A&M University

Kent Floyd Richard White Randi Crowder David Butler

Langston University Prairie View A&M University University of North Texas Prairie View A&M University

Jasmine Gibson Alisha Renae Prince April Garland Evan White

Skyline High School Paul Quinn College North Garland High School Prairie View A&M University