The staff of The Panther student newspaper participated in the 10th annual HBCU National Newspaper/Media Conference in Baltimore, Md., Feb . 13-17.
The conference, which was hosted by Morgan State University, was designed to allow editors from the newspapers of HBCUs to share ideas as well as allow representatives from professional news organizations to network with the college students. The event included a competition supported by the Black College Communication Association, which judged entries from variou s newspapers.
The Panther was among the newspapers recognized for their work. The publication brought home second place awards in the categories of “Best Opinion Section” and “Best Individual Photography.” It was also awarded third place in “Best Spot News Story” and received an honorable mention for “Best Use of Photography.”
The conference did not only focus on careers in print journalism, as students were offered advice from experts in the field of radio and television broadcasting. Journalists from National Public Radio, ESPN, and the Associated Press hosted seminars that informed students in attendance about the world of professional media.
Stephen A Smith, a basketball commentator who often appears on Sportscenter spoke to the students, encouraging them to be independent and hard-working to survive in the journalism industry. “When you’re black people are looking for a reason not to hire you” he said, “Your job is to not give it to them.”
Representatives from the Black College Wire (BCW), the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), and the American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) also attended, offering their expertise to the young journalists.