(BALTIMORE – February 21, 2008) – At the request Morgan State University student Shauna Pickett, BMORENEWS publisher Doni Glover hosted a workshop on “Driving Readers to the Web” at the 10th Annual HBCU 2008 Newspaper/Media Conference. The conference, which featured students and professors from over 15 Historically Black Colleges and Universities from across the United States, was held at the Sheraton Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore.
(BALTIMORE – February 21, 2008) – At the request Morgan State University student Shauna Pickett, BMORENEWS publisher Doni Glover hosted a workshop on “Driving Readers to the Web” at the 10th Annual HBCU 2008 Newspaper/Media Conference. The conference, which featured students and professors from over 15 Historically Black Colleges and Universities from across the United States, was held at the Sheraton Inner Harbor in downtown Baltimore.
In addition to students and faculty members, a number of media outlets were present, including representatives from Google. Google is the largest Internet search engine in the world.
“The conference featured some incredibly powerful workshops that provided unprecedented insight for students of journalism by some of the toughest, world-class professionals in print, radio, TV and the Web,” said Glover. “A no-brainer for anybody looking to pursue work in the universe of media.”
Workshop topics included: Copy Editing 101 Evolution of Advertising; How to Improve Your Design & Layout; Breaking Into TV News; Public Relations vs. Advertising & Marketing; Visual Tips for TV; The Web; and Tips for Making Engaging Multimedia.
Panelists included Seth Rogin, The New York Times; Sam Martin, The Boston Globe; Richard Prince, Maryland Institute for Journalism Education; GiGi Barnett, WJZ 13, Baltimore; Justin Gladden, The Baltimore Sun; Jonathan Blakely, National Public Radio; Donnie Simpson, WPGC 95.5, Washington, D.C.; and Corey Mathis, BMORENEWS.com.
According to Jerrell Bratcher, a co-organizer of the conference, “On behalf of Morgan State University, the Black College Communications Association (BCCA), our attendees, and the students and advisers of our member Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), we want to thank Mr. Glover and the other panelists.”
He added, “It is our hope that they found the conference to be a very rewarding and fulfilling experience. Words can’t express or convey our thanks for their support of the 10th Annual National HBCU Newspaper/Media Conference.”
In addition to Bratcher, the two other lead organizers were Shauan Pickett and Devin Harney. All three students attend Morgan State.
According to Harney, "I believe the conference had a greater trunout than was expected."
He said the purpose of the conference was "to give students the opportunity to get into the media workforce."
"Thanks to a donation from Apple, we had 48 computers which allowed students in broadcast, the web, journalism and graphics to take part in our Student Media Project," said Harney.
"As a result of this project, students were able to work with industry professionals - like Joe Smith of WJZ TV 13 - and learn some good first-hand information. We think students learned more in 2 days than most learn in 2 years."
Harney said that over 15 HBCUs participated - including Howard, Prairie View, Tennessee State, Hampton, Grambling, Norfolk State, Bennett, Southern, Savannah, UDC, and the US Virgin Islands.