By Tyana Jackson
The National Association of Black Journalists is headed to Cleveland for its 50th anniversary celebration — a major milestone in the organization’s history — and convention organizers are preparing to set the stage for NABJ’s next 50 years.
“We haven’t planned everything just yet,” said Rhonda Crowder, president of Greater Cleveland NABJ Chapter. “We want to work really closely with the founders to develop programming and activities that honor the founders — events that document the history of the organization and help younger journalists understand the journey and where to go beyond 50 years.”
Forty-four Black journalists from news platforms across the nation gathered in Washington, D.C., in 1975 with a vision for the future of Black media, said Rod Carter, NABJ ecretary and Chair of the 50th anniversary committee. They strived to create an environment that allowed students and professionals to receive adequate training and support on a grander scale.
“The importance of it is, those 44 people risked jobs and everything else to come together, because they knew what we do is important and what we do is a vastly different thing than journalists who are not people of color,” Carter said. “We may have to deal with people hating us for journalism and the way we look, so honoring them is the least we can do.”
The 50th anniversary convention and career fair will be hosted in Cleveland for the first time to honor the founders and the progression of NABJ. Convention organizers say attendees should expect some surprises.
“We are really looking forward to showing off Cleveland,” said Margaret Biernstein, Director of Community Affairs for WKYC and member of the Greater Cleveland NABJ Chapter.
“We want to show you some of the amazing assets that we have there like the Black Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
Biernsterin added that the convention would be an opportunity for people to experience the city firsthand and understand its history and significance.
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