February 23, 2004
Belmont Journalism Program Works With NABJ, High School, to Increase Newsroom Diversity
The Belmont University New Century Journalism program and the Nashville Association of Black Journalists are working together in a new effort to increase the numbers of journalists of color. Members of Belmont's journalism faculty and NABJ, the local chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, will visit Maplewood High School regularly to share their experience, education and insight on working in a newsroom.
Dr. Sybril Bennett, executive director of Belmont's New Century Journalism program, says the Belmont-NABJ outreach is in direct response to a meeting Jan. 9 in New York between representatives from the Radio Television News Directors Association and UNITY, an organization that includes journalists who are members of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association and the Native American Journalists Association. The industry leaders met to examine what they called the "disturbing decline in racial and ethnic representation in the nation’s local broadcast newsrooms."
"We have the experience, the access and the responsibility to help reverse this trend," says Bennett.
Lelan Statom, meteorologist for the Newschannel 5 Network, is president of the local NABJ chapter. "Through this partnership, this is one way we can give back," Statom says. "We hope to help students who may later decide to pursue a job in the industry."
Bennett says the program is starting only at Maplewood High School at first, to determine its effectiveness, and may be expanded to other area high schools with journalism programs in the fall of 2004.
For more information, contact the Office of University Marketing and Communications at 460-6646, or contact Dr. Bennett directly at 615-460-6383 or bennetts@mail.belmont.edu.
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- Office University Marketing and Communications
Greg Pillon: 615.460.6645
Belmont University
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Named one of the top two “Schools to Watch” in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Belmont University is a fast-growing community of more than 5,400 students who come from every state and 25 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. The university’s purpose is to help students explore their passions and develop their talents to meet the world’s needs. With more than 75 areas of study, 20 master’s programs and three doctoral degrees, there is no limit to the ways Belmont University can expand an individual's horizon. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.
For more information visit www.belmont.edu
