When I met Roland Martin, CNN Political Analyist, in February of this year, he told me not to miss this year’s NABJ convention. In retrospect, this was one of the best career decisions I have made. I have gained so much knowledge and met many so many people. I met my sorority member, entrepreneur and recent past NABJ president, Kathy Times. I chatted with CNN weekend anchor T.J. Holmes. I also got to rub noses with former NABJ president Barbara Ciara, and her colleagues. There are many positive facets to the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention which included: Networking, learning labs, and job opportunities, just to name a few.
The NABJ conference is where minority journalists come together each year to be “real” with one another. At this year’s gala, CNN anchor T.J. Holmes described the assemblage as a family reunion and what other place can one expect a reality check but among loved ones? With that said, there was no better location than the “City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection” to hold this year’s 36th annual event.
Since its founding in 1975, NABJ boasts a membership of over 3,300 journalists, students, and media-related professionals. From Wednesday August 3rd to Sunday August 7th, people from diverse backgrounds met at the Pennsylvania Convention Center to job hunt, learn, and have fun. There were many workshops, learning labs, a job fair, and other activities to enhance the tools that we all arrived and we left each event, equally competent as those hosting the classes.
There were so many choices that I found it difficult to choose which learning lab I would commit to on day one, let alone[TG3] , pick the seminars I would attend throughout the week. Every day I found sessions that were relevant to where I am in my career, and gave me advice as to where I needed to be. That was the beauty of the various classes; all of them were focused on taking advantage of the new ideas that are currently shaping and directing journalism to new heights. These classes taught us how to utilize innovations to take our skills to the next professional level.
The session, Innovating Journalism: In Your Newsroom, Classroom and Beyond, took the ambiguous idea of “being innovative” and made it concrete. The panelists explained how innovation is more than dreaming, but is a well thought out process that involves a formula, and works only with direction. Impressed, I walked out of that class after the first class, awakened, because there were great ideas waiting inside of me.
Tips for convention attendees:[TG4]
Network. There are always so many opportunities to network, from the bathroom to parties. Capitalizing on all conversations is a way to forge friendships and to potentially get a job. Learn to always keep business cards on hand because it is a way to associate a conversation with a face. Do not forget to follow up with the people you meet immediately whether it be via email or via phone.
Take notes. Have a pen and pad ready for all of the learning sessions you attended. This way, you can refer back to concepts or ideas that were interesting you me after the convention is over.
Be Strategic. Have an idea of who you would like to meet. Know what lab you want to attend to help with your business, for example. Decide which extra activities you want to see. This will help you maximize your time. Time was of the essence. Arriving late to a class says so much about your character, and you will have missed out on a valuable part of the conversation!
Attend the Next NABJ Convention. Luckily, we won’t have to wait another full year before the next convention. NABJ’s 2012 convention will be held from June 20th- 24th in our newly elected president’s home town of New Orleans, Louisiana. 
EXTRA (Squared) 