Mass communications students gain valuable professional reporting exposure during NABJ Conference in Alabama
The National Association of Black Journalist held its annual conference over the weekend of April 5 – April 7. Representing Alcorn State University were Mass Communication Students Ren’essa Maulseed, Jazmin Green, Majesty Ferguson, and RaShunda Veals.
The conference is dedicated to helping minority groups that educate its patrons about the world of journalism.
“The conference consisted of two days,” said Majesty Ferguson a junior mass communication student. “Both had different sessions focused on different aspects within media and journalism.”
With media and journalism being a constant within the field, one could assume that the students were in for an interesting weekend. That assumption would be correct. “I learned different ways to perfect my craft and content,” said Ferguson. “The different sessions offered at the conference showed us how to utilize tools, apps, and much more of our writing and content.”
One of the more important lessons taught there was the business aspect of media. The event also had a segment dedicated to reading and understanding contracts.
“It’s important to know what you’re signing before you end up in a contract that makes you unhappy,” said Ferguson.
Over the course of two days, students and even faculty alike were given a crash course in the philosophy of journalism. With the lessons taught during the short weekend, the participants will be looking to take those teachings and translate them at Alcorn and elsewhere.