THE BYLINE-AUGUST 2022 ISSUE

UNPACKING IT ALL:  HOW BLACK JOURNALISTS CAN COVER RACE AND EQUALITY

By Natalie Mendenhall

“When I was a younger journalist, there was always this whole thing about not becoming the story. You have to disconnect yourself from the story.” 

That’s the message Nicquel Terry Ellis remembers hearing from her early days as a journalism student at Michigan State University. But fast forward a few years and now times have changed for the Senior Writer of Race and Equality at CNN.

Ellis says a major shift in how newsrooms cover race came in the summer of unrest following the police killing of George Floyd in 2020. As the country wrestled with the injustice of its past, many editors were left with the question, “How do we handle bias?” Ellis said during that time, and even now, she finds it difficult not to insert her perspective into stories when covering communities of color. “We know that these are going to be stories that are impacting people who look like us. People who we identify with, our families, our friends, our neighbors, our children, are impacted by what’s happening in the country. It’s, hard to [not] feel connected to these issues.”

Thus, when CNN created its Race and Equality department two years ago, she saw it as a chance to be a voice for her community. The award-winning journalist has covered in-depth- topics such as COVID in communities of color, Black maternal health, and even how Black voters flipped Georgia.

But with those weighty topics also comes the need to unplug. Ellis says when she’s not working on the weekend, she tries to soak in all the love from her infant daughter and husband. “When weekends come, I don’t have to work normally so I can unplug.  Saturday, I’m not going to watch the news… I’m going to spend time with my daughter and my husband. We’re going to go to the park, we’ll get dinner, ice cream, and we’re going to play because I just need that.”

And Ellis says a support system goes beyond having her family and friends. She adds you also need professional connections and mentors. “Get a mentor, find someone who you admire or someone who is willing to help you. Someone who has reached a point in their career that you want to hit.” 

Finally, when asked if she had advice for journalist students, Ellis said networking with other journalists is important. The2022 NABJ convention in Las Vegas is a good place to start. Ellis also recommends students apply for the NABJ Student Projects at future conventions. “I would definitely highly recommend black student journalists look into that program through NABJ because they do sponsor your entire trip. You basically go, you work for the convention, reporting stories about the convention, and they have it for both digital and broadcast.” 

Follow Nicquel Terry Ellis on Twitter: @NTerryEllis.

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FOUR FESTIVALS TO ENJOY IN ATLANTA BEFORE SUMMER ENDS

By Tianna Faulkner

Atlanta Black Restaurant Week, August 5-14, 2022

Celebrate the flavors of African American, African, and Caribbean cuisine during Black Restaurant Week. Black Restaurant Week is a ten-day showcase celebrating the best in culinary arts. Dine at one of the participating restaurants offering weekly specials.

Founded in 2016 by Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell, and Derek Robinson, Black Restaurant Week® is dedicated to celebrating the flavors of African American, African, and Caribbean cuisine nationwide. Through a series of events and promotional campaigns, Black Restaurant Week’s culinary initiatives help introduce culinary businesses and culinary professionals to the community.

Our innovative approach to a restaurant week includes highlighting other aspects of culinary businesses including catering services, food trucks, and culinary products. This helps stimulates the local economy and presents full access to the Black culinary industry which is a key ingredient to the American culture.

For more information about Black Restaurant Week Atlanta, visit Black Restaurant Week Atlanta.

Taste of Atlanta “Food That Rocks” in Sandy Springs-August 19-20, 2022

Dine at Restaurants in Sandy Springs. A tasting event like no other, celebrating Sandy Springs Restaurants, Food, Wine, Beer & Cocktail Tastings, plus Chef Demonstrations during the day and Live Music at night

Taste of Atlanta is committed to building greater awareness and support for the chefs, their restaurants and staff who work tirelessly to provide us with delicious food and drink experiences that we cherish. Taste Around Town events, which include events in Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Midtown, and Chamblee, will explore cool communities and discover established and new neighborhood favorites. Enjoy signature bites from favorite chefs and top-rated restaurants along with wine, beer & cocktail tastings, chef demonstrations during the day and live music at night. For more information, visit Taste of Atlanta.

Piedmont Park Arts Festival-August 20-21, 2022

The Piedmont Park Arts Festival is a visual arts and crafts event held annually in downtown Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. This two-day festival of the arts is centered around a large artists’ market and family-friendly events.

Over 250 artists and vendors present a variety of mediums and crafts at the Piedmont Park Arts Festival, from photographers and painters to leather workers, jewelry makers, glass blowers, and sculptors. Along with artisan demonstrations, the festival also offers food trucks and beverages, performances and shows, and a children’s play area and activities. Admission to the festival is free, and funds raised are donated to an area charity or fundraiser.

The Piedmont Park Summer Arts Festival is presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, for people of all ages, customs, and interests. The Midtown community of Piedmont Park is considered to be home to one of the largest and most enthusiastic art buying communities in metro Atlanta. The Piedmont Park Summer Arts and craft festival brings back the tradition to Atlanta’s arts community. Visit Piedmont Park Arts Festival for more information.

BronzeLens Film Festival-August 23-28, 2022

The BronzeLens Film Festival of Atlanta, Georgia is a non-profit organization, founded in 2009, that is dedicated to bringing national and worldwide attention to Atlanta as a center for film and film production for people of color. The mission of the BronzeLens Film Festival of Atlanta, Georgia is two fold: to promote Atlanta as the new film mecca for people of color; and to showcase films and provide networking opportunities that will develop the next generation of filmmakers.

Over the last twelve years, BronzeLens has promoted the work of independent filmmakers of color from Atlanta, the Southeast region, the nation and the world. The growth is rooted in the high standards, in participation by leading Hollywood professionals (including partners like WarnerMedia, Turner, HBO, Universal Films, BET, VH1, Panavision, and ARRAY (an indie film releasing platform founded by BronzeLens honoree/Selma director Ava DuVernay) and in success stories derived from relationships started at BronzeLens. Visit Bronzelens Festival for more information.

This issue of the Byline was edited by Tianna Faulkner, AABJ VP of Print.

THE BYLINE MAY 2022 ISSUE

Mental Health Expert Talks How Georgia Residents Can 

Maintain Their Mental Health During COVID-19

By Da’Zhane Johnson

Being isolated for almost two years caused significant problems in society and we see that in data.” That’s Abdul Henderson’s take on the pandemic. Henderson is the executive director at Mental Health America of Georgia. He says Georgia still has room for growth when it comes to dealing with mental health. And the data backs that up, non-profit Mental Health America (MHA) says, Georgia’s overall ranking is 31 out of the 50 states and Washington D.C. The report ranks the states around adults and accounts for those with any mental illness, serious thoughts of suicide, mental health access, etc. The start of the pandemic left thousands of residents out of work and uncertainty left many to develop unwarranted thoughts.

“A lot of people lost jobs and a lot of people lost housing, which are two main components of social deterrence of mental health,” said Henderson. 

And that combination of factors caused people across The Peach State to reach out for help. On June 20, 2020, the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities highlighted the state’s Crisis and Access Hotline received 800 calls. That’s double the amount received the previous year. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported an average of 650 calls between July 26 and Aug. 25 during the same year. Communities of color suffered a disproportionate impact from the pandemic. Primarily, economic vulnerability has led to these communities being uninsured, therefore, reducing health care access. There is also a stigma surrounding mental health. For example, in the Black community mental health illnesses are seen as weaknesses instead of serious health concerns.  

“In communities of color specifically, we have to recognize it’s okay to not be okay and seek out treatment,” Henderson pointed out. 

But the silver lining of the pandemic was that mental health resources became more accessible digitally. The digital health industry saw an overall increase in profits and start-ups. In the first half of 2021, the industry made $15 billion, according to Mercom Capital Group. 

“The use of technology is important in creating access, especially in low-income and rural communities,” Henderson stated. “As long as the company has a licensed professional on the other end that is talking to a client, I feel confident that the platform is credible.” 

Georgia’s approach to mental health advanced last month too after Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Mental Health Parity Act (HB 1013). This bill implemented a plan that prompts insurers to treat mental health coverage the same as physical health coverage. 

Henderson commented, “This bill lays the foundation because it addresses parity, workforce needs and children’s behavioral health. We believe that it will improve our national ranking in terms of providing more access.”

If you or someone you know wants more mental health resources, you can visit the Mental Health of America of Georgia website to learn more about advocacy and programs. For more information or to reach the COVID-19 Emotional Support Line from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., call 866-399-8938. The Georgia Crisis and Access Line is available 24 hours a day, call 800-715-4225. 

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CBS 46 Anchor Trayce Hutchins Talks Balancing Motherhood and Career

By Ariyana Griffin 

“Make sure this is what you want to do. Like a lot of industries, this one is based on you being a commodity for a business.” That’s Trayce Hutchins advice on balancing motherhood and a career in broadcast media.

Hutchins is an evening anchor for CBS 46 news Atlanta. She has worked in the media industry for nearly two decades. Hutchins has covered everything from hurricanes in Fort Myers, FL to events and heat waves in Phoenix, AZ, to breaking news in Atlanta, GA.  During this time, she has balanced being an active mother while still pursuing her career.

“It’s not always easy. Sometimes you have to set boundaries and priorities in terms of what you try to accomplish day to day,” the news anchor said. 

Hutchins is grateful that her current role allows her to prioritize “mommy-daughter time” with her daughter, which now often involves binge-watching television shows in the evening. But that wasn’t always the case. When her daughter was younger, Hutchins said she had to pick up and move to different cities to follow new opportunities. 

“When my daughter was younger, we moved a lot. For my career, it’s generally every three years I have a new contract. Every two to three years I would move for another opportunity. The biggest sacrifice at that time was not planting roots, because that’s not what the career path called for at the time.” 

However, moving to Atlanta allowed Hutchins a more stable life and her daughter was able to matriculate through her academic career in the same city. Hutchins advice to mothers is for moms to have a strong village. She emphasized how important it is to have a support system while being a mother in this field because journalists are often away from home and family.