THE BYLINE – FEBRUARY 2023 ISSUE

THE BLACK HISTORY ISSUE

AABJ’S BLACK HISTORY PROGRAM BRINGS INSPIRATION AND HOPE

(Pictured above from left to right Phillip Ghee, George Bryant, Angela Y. Robinson, Harold Lamar, Gwen Sommers Redwine, Myrna Taylor, Condace Pressley, Stan Washington)

By James Teague

When it comes to the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists’ (AABJ), Trailblazer Program, two words come to mind: rich history. For people to really understand what’s happening around them, they have to research the history behind it which led to our present day.  Journalists are storytellers and have told many historical stories about the people, places, music, food, events, food, and culture.  On Saturday February 11th, over 100 media professionals, young and old, attended the 2023 AABJ Black History Trailblazer Program at WSB-TV station in Midtown to hear about the coming-of-age story of six veteran journalists coming up in their 40–50-year careers in media. This Black history event and panel discussion was an opportunity for the veterans to help attendees connect with the past through sharing their stories and knowledge they learned from their experiences as journalists.

The panelists of this program included Harold “Hal” Lamar, Myrna Taylor, Angela Y. Robinson, George Bryant, Gwen Sommers-Redwine, and Phillip Gee. Condace Pressley was the moderator. The panel discussed various topics, including how they began their careers, being the only Black journalist in the newsroom during the post-Civil Rights Era through the 1990’s, as well as the challenges and rewards of being journalists and building a strong network amongst each other.

“The interest is the human touch. That’s very important,” said Myrna Taylor, who is an award-winning radio journalist with a career that expands over 35 years in Atlanta.  “People want to know what’s going on in their communities and abroad. We really do.”  Each panelist raised the importance of knowing your history, studying your craft, and how much that plays a role in how far you will go in your journalism journey. “Don’t settle for just one phase of what you do in radio or anything else. Learn every facet you do, they can’t pigeonhole you,” said Harold Lamar, who is considered by his peers to be the “Dean of Black Radio News” because of his 52 years in journalism and radio news. Phillip Gee, who is one of the leading film photographers for WAGA -TV 5 (now Fox 5 Atlanta) who launched BET for the west coast, told the audience to make sure to study their craft. “Understand what’s coming now  and in the future. It’s going to come down to the facts you learn as a journalist. It’s important to understand the history in order to know where you’re going.”

Stan Washington, who is a founding member of AABJ, said he felt great that he was able to curate this Black history panel to help bridge the gap between the older and younger generation. “I’m just trying to make that connection between the present and the past. And having the young people see that some of the folks who paved the way, they’re still here to be mentors and do whatever to help,” Washington said. There was an abundance of love and support coming from the panelist and attendees, including guest appearances from other prominent members of Atlanta’s historical Black media, current and former AABJ members, and industry professionals like Joe Washington, Samuel Crenshaw, and Alexis Scott.

“Bring your own perspective,” said Gwen Sommers Redwine, one of the panelists who worked for the Southwest Georgia Enterprise and CNN. “Your perspective may be biased but it’s valid. Because you’ll see things people don’t.”

The last Black history panel AABJ hosted was in 2019 before COVID-19 began. For more information on future events or how to join AABJ, visit aabj.org.

________________________________________________________________________________

SIX THINGS TO DO IN ATLANTA DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

By Tianna Faulkner

Black History Month is a month to celebrate Black heritage and history, Black innovations, and Black culture in America and globally. Our contributions to society are tremendous. Atlanta, Georgia has been at the forefront of much of that history with the Civil Rights Movement. It is important that Black history is celebrated, especially in the month of February, for the future generations to know from whence they came and for the world to know our truth and greatness. Below lists six things to do in Atlanta to celebrate Black history month.

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will be in Atlanta, Georgia February 16^th through February 19^th at the Fox Theater to perform for five shows. The performances will include eight dance works that will connect audiences to the heart of dance. Performances include “Survivors” and the well-known “Revelations.” These performances are led by Artistic Director Robert Battle. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit alvinailey.org.

The Clark Atlanta University Art Museum is hosting an opening reception February 15^th from 4pm to 6pm to open two permanent collection exhibitions “From Black Spring to the Eternal” and “The Audacious Platform. There will also be an unveiling of the recently conserved “Art of the Negro” murals by Hale Woodruff. To reserve a space, click here.

Marietta’s Theater in the Square “The Mountain Top” is a riveting, poetic journey through Martin Luther King Jr.’s missing minutes on April 3, 1968. It’s a conversation about racism and justice and about the divergent paths of legacy, and how sometimes a great man is also human. The play is scheduled for February 17^th through February 26^th. For tickets, click here.

At The King Center, The Center for Non-Violence, you can learn about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., including his burial site, the eternal flame, his home, exhibitions, Freedom Hall, and historic Ebenezer Baptist Church. During your visit, learn about Coretta Scott King and also get educated on non-violence and voting, experience opportunities for students and educators, attend live events, and do research. For more information, visit thekingcenter.org.

The National Center for Civil and Human Rights is celebrating Black History Month. The center is hosting activities and events for the entire family during the month of February, including a conversation between the AJC’s Ernie Suggs and Ambassador Andrew Young. Visitors can also visit the Morehouse Martin Luther King Jr. Collection. Tickets are required. To register for an activity or event, click here.

Herndon Home Mansion Museum or Herndon Mansion as it is called locally, was built for one of the country’s wealthiest Black men and stands as one of Atlanta’s most significant architectural successes. The home is located in what has historically been called the ‘Northeast Lot’ of Atlanta University, now Clark-Atlanta University. This 9 1/2-acre cluster of important homes was planned by the University to be a model community; one might say a tiny Olmsted-type affluent suburb yet on a small scale — a haven for Atlanta’s academic and business elite. For more information, visit Herndon Home Mansion Museum.

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

THE BYLINE – JANUARY 2023 ISSUE

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Letter from the President

Craig Allen Brown, AABJ President

AABJ Members,

Let me start by wishing everyone a healthy, happy, and productive 2023!

I’m proud of the strides that the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists (AABJ) made in 2022. After a catastrophic pandemic decimated life as we knew it, we were able to begin having face-to-face meetings for the first time in over two years. One of our more successful and engaging events of 2022 was a brunch that allowed us to partner with the National Association of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) executive board, which was attended by NABJ Executive Director Drew Berry, Vice President of Broadcast Ken Lemon, Vice President of Digital Amir Vera and Secretary Madison Carter.

AABJ also partnered with the NABJ executive board last October to celebrate NABJ President Dorothy Tucker’s 40^th anniversary as a journalism professional.

AABJ’s Emmy-award winning television show, “iN Contact,” was able to reconnect with AIB Studios, and resume using the network’s studios to create engaging content about pivotal topics such as homelessness, breast cancer awareness, health concerns for Black men and professional development for journalists.

We were also able to continue an endeavor that I am particularly proud of, the mentoring and professional development of our student members. Several professional AABJ members volunteered to serve as mentors to students at Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University. AABJ was also able to send four AABJ/NABJ students to the NABJ Annual Conference in Las Vegas; these students all spoke of the experience as being “rewarding and fulfilling.”

However, as rewarding as 2022 was, I am even more excited about what 2023 will be for our chapter.

2023 will see AABJ host at least one membership meeting and one social event monthly, at a minimum. These social events will include mixers with other professional journalism organizations, such as the Online News Association, the Atlanta Press Club and the Society of Professional Journalists. We have scheduled an AABJ barbecue, a brunch and an Atlanta Falcons football game. We will wrap the year up with AABJ’s awards ceremony in December.

We will also have a host of panels and speakers come and share their expertise with our members. These events include photography and writing workshops, a Black history program, and our annual Black Male Media Project. We will also sponsor AAJB/NABJ students to attend the Region III Convention in Jackson, Mississippi, as well as the NABJ Convention in Birmingham, Alabama.

We will take deliberate actions to reconnect with those Atlanta-area businesses that have proudly served as sponsors and/or partners with AABJ, to further empower our organization. We will also foster relationships with Atlanta’s powerful and plentiful media organizations, to provide opportunities for employment for our members. Further, we will also create opportunities to celebrate the founders and trailblazers who worked so diligently to ensure that Black people in Atlanta and throughout the world always have a voice.

This is an organization that I am immensely proud of, and this board will work even harder in our final year to provide the networking opportunities, professional development opportunities and sense of family that all of you deserve.

Craig Allen Brown

President, Atlanta Association of Black Journalists

______________________________________________________________________________

101 Websites to help Journalists and Writers

By Stan Washington

People don’t realize how difficult good writing is until they decide to do it. Becoming really good at the craft of storytelling whether it’s through print or video is more of a long journey than a destination. Even after you win a few awards there is always room for improvement.

Every year Writer’s Digest, the leading publication to help writers of all genres – mainly print – publishes  their Yearbook which features great advice for writers and the very useful section: “101 Best Websites For Writers”.

The 2023 issue is out on the stands now. I picked up my copy at Barnes & Noble or you can order directly from www.writersdigest.com.

This year’s issue also features an article titled “100 Magazine Markets for Writers” which is a must have for freelancers. But to be successfully published with any magazine you must study back issues to see what type of articles they are running and you must get to know their target audience.

Being a successful freelance magazine writer is tough. Magazine editors are a tough sell. Also be prepared to write about subjects that may not interest you. For instance, you may not care for fishing at all – you love knitting. But Field & Stream magazine is offering a nice check for an 1100 word article. Expand your opportunities.

In addition to the websites, there is a very important article that all writers need titled: “How Much Should I Charge?” This chart lists every possible assignment a writer can receive from copywriting/editing to business plans to press releases to ghost writing a book.

So if you are having trouble with the dreaded writer’s block or how to turn your news article into an award-winning screenplay to writing your first book, this guide is one of the best resources out there.

The issue is broken down to several categories but for the sake of brevity I’m only going to give a sample of a few genres with journalism being the primary one.

FundsForWriters.com

There is money out there from nonprofit organizations itching to give you money. You can find a number of them represented at the NABJ Expo & Job Fair each year. You can also find leads through Writer’s Digest and other magazines geared towards writers. Or you can sign up for this free weekly newsletter for a list of 24-30 paying opportunities.

U.S. Copyright Office – Copyright.gov

Writers protect your work! This is the place where you learn the basics of copyright law, research copyright records and to register your creative work.

Freelancers Union – freelancersunion.org

Of the creative community is there any other group more abused than freelancers? The focus of this organization is the health and safety of all freelancers, contractors and entrepreneurs. The union offers access to insurance benefits and resources for legal and financial information. Membership is free.

All Freelance Writing – allfreelancewriting.com

Business writer and author Jennifer Mattern has operated this site for more than a decade. The site focuses on business writing for freelancers who are interested in working in this area.

Nieman Storyboard – NiemanStoryboard.org

Get feedback on your pitch for a compelling article. There are 11 categories designed to help you improve your techniques to make it a successful article.

Quill – QuillMag.com

This quarterly magazine has been a staple for writers and editors for nearly 100 years. Find insightful articles by industry leaders and veteran writers. But you don’t have to wait for three months to get the next issue, there are plenty of articles online.

Substack.com – Substack.com

This is Substack’s first appearance on this list. Created in 2017, the online platform provides writers to be paid directly by readers for their work.

The Editing Podcast –  LouiseHarnbyProofreader.com/podcast.html

This podcast and three others are making their debut on the list. Hosted by fiction editor Louise Harnby and Denise Howe the host offers needed advice for those writers looking for an editor but are not sure what to look for. The episodes range from what to expect from your editor to advice on grammar and punctuation and a lot more.

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