PABJ MEETING NOTES
March 12, 2002

Oct. 9, 2001
May 8, 2001
April 12, 2001

From President Sherry L. Howard
I. We are co-sponsoring a reception to introduce the new Inquirer editor, Walker Lundy, to community representatives in the Philadelphia area. The reception will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at the Haddington Center, 5331 Haverford Ave. We are planning a small event to allow for as much personal interaction as possible with Lundy.

II. We are planning a Media Access Workshop on Sat., May 18, at The Inquirer/Daily News building. We have held this workshop in the past as a way to instruct community organization on ways to get their stories told in the newspaper, on TV and radio. This year, we are adding a component for small businesses and public relations professionals.

III. We are still accepting applications for our scholarships. Each year, PABJ presents two $500 scholarships to high school students interested in pursuing journalism as a career. Please pass the word on to students you know. For more information, contact Denise Clay at 215-949-4195. The deadline is May 3.

IV. We are planning a cross-cultural training program in the fall that will provide journalists with the skills they need to be effective in the 21st century as the makeup of the country changes. Linda Wallace is spearheading it. If you'd like to join the committee, please email her. We expect this to be as big an event as our health forum in December 2000. We are also seeking sponsors for the program.

V. Denise Clay mentioned to the group that gospel impresario Hezekiah Walker had expressed interest in helping us raise money for our scholarship fund with a concert. Denise is to work on the details of such a project.

VI. Our new website is up and running. It's full of information for journalists, students and community organizations. Take a look and pass along the word.

VII. Mark your calendars for May 4, when Region 2 Director Sarah Glover is
planning a townhall on the Black Press. This is the 175th anniversary of the founding of the first black newspaper in this country, Freedom's Journal. The event will be held from 1-5 p.m. at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. The New York ABJ will hold a benefit event that night. You can get more details on the PABJ website. Please help Sarah and Region 2 celebrate this historical milestone.

Our guest speaker at the March meeting was Milton McGriff, who updated us on the national campaign for reparations. He said that N'COBRA is making plans to send 1,000 people to Washington to lobby Congress to pass the reparations bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Conyers. Member Deidra McGee spoke of a presentation she heard on the Africana Encyclopedia.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Region 2 Director Sarah Glover reports that Brother Eric Ture Muhammad, son of Kwame Ture (former Stokely Carmichael) and an NABJ member, will be in Philadelphia at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 5, at 4601 Market St., Second Floor, as part of his "Strategies for Black Liberation" Tour. Admission is free.