Hanif on Media

OK, now that I have your attention with that Faux News headline, make that the National Association of Black Journalists convention, from which I’m back — and once again lauding our aspiring student journalists. See the site produced by the NABJ Student Media Project for examples of their outstanding work in print, photography, radio, TV and online. You may be watching the next Oprah — or the person who one day may run — or own — her and Bill Gates’ companies.

Meeting these kids, encouraging their work and watching them grow is one of the most rewarding aspects of our annual meets. There also are the professional development sessions, the chances to compare notes with pioneers and peers, meeting and hearing from the newsmakers who join us, and the family reunion atmosphere.

For years I reported to my Palm Beach Post readers about the newsmakers who addressed NABJ — such as candidates Barack and Hillary in 2007.

(In that column I mentioned my first NABJ, 1984 in Atlanta, where during a luncheon, then-Mayor Andrew Young made headlines by referring to presidential candidate Walter Mondale’s staff as a bunch of “smart-assed white boys.” Mr. Young proved himself a smart-ass during the recent presidential campaign, but that’s another post.)

This year I spent less time in the newsmaker events, and more in sessions improving skills for my multimedia work and my freelance projects.

But as always there were the compelling sessions regarding which I plan to transcribe my notes and/or post photos. (The screening of comedian Chris Rock’s eye-opening, semi-documentary “Good Hair” jumps to mind.)

For now I have catching up to do and writing deadlines to meet.

In the meantime, for a succinct look at the convention, I highly recommend my friend Richard Prince’s online Journalisms column. It’s a must read for media-watchers even when NABJ isn’t happening.

I’ll add other notable links as more colleagues’ work comes to my attention:

Richard Prince discussing the convention on NPR’s “Tell Me More” with Michel Martin.

DeWayne Wickham, USA Today/Gannett columnist, pegged to Valerie Jarrett: “Is Obama helping blacks?”