Trump visit, Lollapalooza put NABJ in the spotlight
By Damenica Ellis
NABJ’s third time in Chicago for a national convention has kicked off with a flurry of action and set a record for the largest-attended convention ever.
Former President Donald Trump was interviewed by a panel of Black journalists, the Lollapalooza music festival is drawing crowds across the street, and preparations are in full swing for a historic Democratic National Convention that has seen a change in its likely nominee.
One year away from the 50th anniversary, this year’s theme is “Winds of change: Journalism over disinformation” and the convention is on track to beat the record for most registrations, NABJ Executive Director Drew Berry told the board Tuesday.
It “could be the biggest convention ever,” Berry added.
The previous record number of attendees was 4,105 people in Miami in 2019, and as of Wednesday, 4,181 people had registered for this year. More than one-third of registrants are students or emerging journalists with under five years of experience, Berry said. The career fair will have 70 companies and 144 booths.
The convention numbers aren’t the only thing growing. The number of NABJ memberships as of two weeks ago was 4,367 people and “growing like you wouldn’t believe,” Berry said.
The convention will cover a multitude of topics with 25 networking opportunities and about 70 sessions with a host of guest speakers.
“I think that it’s important that we are certainly looking at the issues that are current, but also building our skills as journalists, no matter what your position is or your platform is,” said Leisa Richardson, a lifetime member of NABJ who has served on the board and has been to every convention since Dallas in 1986. “Looking at the program, I think that we have all of those disciplines covered as well as different skill levels.”
The opening day was marked by the controversy and crowds that came with Trump’s Q&A session in the Hilton Chicago. Two Wednesday morning sessions were canceled and eight others were rescheduled to accommodate the former president’s visit.
Brandon Pope, president of the Chicago Association of Black Journalists, this year’s host chapter, sees NABJ’s moment in the spotlight as an opportunity.
“What better way to shape Chicago’s narrative than with the narrative shapers? said Pope. What better opportunity is there to help reframe the narratives out there, the false narratives out there about Chicago, than with the people in charge of shaping the narrative— and that’s Black journalism.”
The Chicago kick-off event was Wednesday from 9 p.m. to midnight, but those who could not get a ticket had other options. Several bars near the convention site offered free drinks and other specials to registered convention-goers on Wednesday, and those with convention badges get free access to the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center.
Registration will end at noon on Saturday.
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