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Updated: Monday, February 25, 2008
Published: Thursday, February 14, 2008 |
NABJ is moving forward ... with optimism, forward thinking and a reality check
NABJ is moving into second quarter with optimism, forward thinking and a reality check. 2008 will be a year where the President, board of directors, executive director and staff will be charged with doing more with less. The budget process has been an exercise in spending reductions, real-time analysis of current and future revenue streams, and embracing the reality that the best way we can serve our membership during these tough economic times is to get back to basics.
At our January board meeting, we trimmed the budget while maintaining funding for our mission and priorities to best serve our membership. There will be no reductions in the business of advocacy, protecting jobs, and providing professional development opportunities.
The end of 2007 brought with it a series of layoffs, newspaper fire sales, media takeovers, television ownership changes, staff reductions, and hiring freezes. Now more than ever NABJ needs to be on the front line fighting to protect the interests of our members, while highlighting new opportunities for employment and professional growth. We know this battleground we've been here before -- we just need to roll up our sleeves, be prepared to work hard, and stay focused on our goals.
Your new administration is making real progress -- advocacy, membership benefits, professional development, and public lobbying to protect journalists who are trying to maintain their footing on the ever changing media landscape.
- NABJ is lobbying Congress to reverse the FCC decision in allowing corporate ownership of both print and broadcast media in the same city. We believe with increasing media consolidation the number of minority owners will steadily decrease.
- NABJ and The City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism are offering a joint Scholarship which will provide $7,500 to a NABJ member to enroll in CUNYs innovative, three-semester program leading to an M.A. in journalism
- In December, NABJ joined with the United Nations to cover climate change and development in Senegal. Seven NABJ fellows, who represent several major print and broadcast media across the country were provided an opportunity to gain experience in international reporting. The NABJ Media Institute International Fellowships for the trip were made possible through support from the Knight Foundation, the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, and the International Reporting Project. See attached blog entry on the Africa experience.
- In October, NABJ held its inaugural conference on political and congressional reporting in Washington, D.C.. The conference connected media leaders with journalists of color who are looking to cover the national and political realm.
- In September, NABJ sponsored the Little Rock Nine Media Symposium in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the integration of Little Rocks Central High School.
- NABJ Board of Directors approved the creation of an Associates Task Force
- NABJ Board of Directors approved at $5,000 grant to continue the investigative reporting of slain African American reporter Chauncey Bailey.
- NABJ is urging the FCC to direct Sirius and XM (currently involved in a proposed merger) to lease their broadcast infrastructure and at least 20% of their channel capacity to a minority controlled entity.
In coming months, your board has scheduled high level meetings with publishers and network executives advancing the NABJ diversity, training, and hiring agenda.
Yours in service,
Barbara Ciara
President, National Association of Black Journalists |
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