N.C. A&T Hosts 25th NABJ Short Course

GREENSBORO, N.C. (March 15, 2017) – The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication (JOMC) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is set to celebrate its 25th year of hosting the annual National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Multimedia Short Course seminar March 15-19, 2017.

Geared toward communication students, the short course is among JOMC’s and the NABJ’s longest running programs

“I’m so excited about this year's short course, and especially our 25th Anniversary celebration,” said Professor Gail Wiggins, interim JOMC chairwoman and short course director. “Since 1992, the National Association of Black Journalist Multimedia Short Course and N.C. A&T have served more than 800 journalism and mass communication students, representing approximately 65 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. and Canada.”

The annual seminar is designed to acquaint NABJ’s student members to careers in digital media and behind-the-scene jobs in the broadcast industry. Thirty students will participate in workshops that provide hands-on experience and a practical understanding of what it is like to work in a broadcast newsroom.

“Many of our short course graduates are working in the industry today, which is a testament to the value and significance of this program designed to prepare and develop the next generation of journalists,” Wiggins said.

This year, journalism and mass communication students from across the country will spend four days in workshops in N.C. A&T’s student media labs, where they will use industry-standard equipment to produce a half-hour newscast, develop digital media content, and create news packages. During the short course, students will have 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.

Students from 15 colleges and universities will participate in the short course, including A&T, Bennett College, Bethune-Cookman University, Florida A&M University, Georgia State University, Hampton University, Louisiana State University, Lyndon State College, Morgan State University,>

N.C. Central University, Northwestern University, Syracuse University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Michigan-Dearborn, University of Missouri, and Winston-Salem State University.

Mentors from various news markets will participate, from across North Carolina as well as Atlanta; Baltimore; College Park, Maryland; Flint, Michigan; Pittsburgh; Philadelphia; St. Louis, Missouri; and Washington, D.C. Mentors are coming from both the professional and academic sides of the business.

This year’s program will feature workshops on reporting and producing, shooting and editing, news writing techniques, multimedia production, politics in the newsroom and social media usage.  Journalism ethics and standards and how to ensure accuracy in writing and reporting will also be discussed.  A gala has been planned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the short course at A&T.

The gala will be Saturday, March 18 at the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons, 3121 W. Gate City Blvd. Tickets are $35 per person ($20 for students) and can be purchased online via NABJ’s website.

Veteran journalist April Ryan is the keynote speaker for the gala. Ryan has been the White House Correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) since January 1997. She is also the author of the best-selling book “The Presidency in Black and White: My Up Close View of Three Presidents and Race in America.” Her latest book is, “At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White.” Ryan will sign both books at the gala. 

See this Google Map to learn more about the professional journalists and the students in this year's short course.