Time to Change

Six African journalists were among the participants at the recently concluded convention and career fair of the National Association of Black Journalists, NABJ. The African journalists, who are fellows of the Joel Belz International Media Fellowship were both observers and active participants in the life changing seminars and opportunities inherent in the media profession.

For five days, accomplished media practitioners at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel, played hosts to over two thousand journalists who engaged them constructively. The convention and career fair, tagged The Power of Change, had a bias for entrepreneurship, specialized journalism and transition journalism. Experienced speakers from all genres of journalism—print, broadcast, and online espoused the unlimited opportunities and possibilities inherent in the profession.

Extensive seminars spanned topics like Fame, Fortune and Freelance, Power Writing for the Web, Advanced Multimedia Training, Help! I'm Getting Out! I Need a New Job. Beyond the daily commitments, the participating journalists were given tips on freelancing. The importance and power of having a personal website was discussed even as the gathering got new ideas on proposal writing for grants and research fellowships.

It was no different in the exhibition hall where the NABJ Authors' Showcase and Bookstore was held.

Robin Stone, a journalist and author of My Times in Black and White: Race and Power at the New York Times and other journalist authors gave insight on the much ignored book authorship by journalists. Stone is of the opinion that "book authorship can be an important step to extend the journalist brand to give a more in depth view of the stories we tell," she said. Since one step usually leads to another, Stone and her team gave the journalists the tools for picking a "hot" subject to explore, get the attention of agents and editors and also in be involved in book promotion and speaking engagements.

Beyond seminars, career talks and exhibitions, the NABJ convention was a golden opportunity for participants to see and exchange ideas with role models of African descent in America. One of such distinguished guests was Michael Steele, who in 2003 became the first African-American elected as Lieutenant Governor of Maryland. His lecture titled, "Life, Liberty and Legacy" was a ride through his years as a seminarian in the Order of St. Augustine in preparation for priesthood before he switched to a flourishing career in law. Other "star guests" were award winning Donnie McClurkin and CeCe Winans who gave the audience a piece of their voices.

For some African journalists from Nigeria and the Gambia, covering the annual event was also an opportunity to become members of the association. The African journalists were recipients of the World Journalism Institute's Joel Belz International Media Fellowship to attend the program.

The World Journalism Institute is committed to the development of African Christian journalists and established the Fellowship named in honor of Christian journalist Joel Belz. Michael Longinow, a professor of journalism from Biola University, California, received the fellows on behalf of the WJI. Longinow, a Christian academic was chosen not only because he lives close to San Diego, but also because of his commitment to Christ and his thirst to impact other people of the same faith.

Longinow was asked about whether Christian journalists should report sad stories like war and murder? Longinow is of the opinion that Christian journalists can report any story as long as they write with honesty and with all sense of responsibilities. "The Bible also has sad stories. My mother was shot in her home when I was just three years. We never knew whether she was shot by another person or if it was a suicide. Sad stories abound and someone has to report them. It is amazing how even Christian journalists sometimes abandon ethical and Christian principles of honesty and fairness. But, as long as these principles are observed, a Christian can report such stories," he said.

Folashade Adebayo

Folashade Adebayo, a journalist from Lagos, Nigeria, was chosen by the World Journalism Institute to attend the convention as a recipient of the Belz International Media Fellowship. She was one of six journalists from Africa who received a fellowship stipend of $2,500 to attend the annual convention of the National Association of Black Journalists (July 28 - August 1, San Diego, California) and one from Latin America who attended the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention in 2010.

Adebayo is a senior reporter with Tell magazine in Lagos, Nigeria.