WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 20, 2017) — The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is partnering with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated (CBCF) at its 47th Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. this week. NABJ members will be participating in the ALC’s signature event, the General Session Luncheon, titled “The 5 W’s Are Still About Storytelling” on Sept. 21, 2017 starting at 11:30 a.m.

NABJ President Sarah Glover will co-moderate the panel with Jason Johnson of The Root. NABJ member Karen Carter Richards of Houston Forward Times joins Panama Jackson of Very Smart Brothers, Armstrong Williams of Howard Stirk Holdings, Carlton Houston of WUSA, Francesca Chambers of DailyMail.com, and Cornell Belcher of Brilliant Corners Research & Strategies. The panel will explore how diverse voices impact civic engagement and how African-Americans play a role in reporting major news stories and community journalism across media platforms.

“NABJ is pleased to partner with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation especially at such a critical juncture in our industry,” said President Glover. “Now more than ever the role of the journalist is being challenged and or stifled. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right guaranteed by the Constitution and NABJ members are committed to practicing journalism at the highest ethical level. Forums such as this one enable us to remain true to our mission by involving our communities and sharing critical information.

“We look forward to participating in future endeavors with the CBC Foundation because of its progressive and forward-thinking approach to the issues affecting our people. We also realize that where there is unity there is strength, and information is power!”

The CBCF Convention theme is “And Still I Rise” and speaks to the legacy of resilience of black people across the Diaspora. About 1,200 attendees are expected at the luncheon event.

“This partnership and the panel will offer both CBCF and NABJ a stage in which the mission of journalism – to delivery content so that there is a well- informed citizenry and the charge of the CBCF, to inform policy and educate the public – will resonate with our attendees and increase their understanding of the impact they have as engaged individuals in their communities,” said A. Shuanise Washington, president and chief executive officer of the CBCF. “For more than four decades, NABJ has been in the forefront advocating for the hiring and promotion of black journalists and preparing them to cover stories from a broad range of perspectives and platforms. As a convener of critical policy information, CBCF is able to collaborate with a wide audience around sustainable solutions to empower and enhance opportunities throughout the African American community,” she said.

Dynamic images that have been featured in the NABJ Visual Task Force Photo Auction will be featured on screen during the luncheon. Every year, at the NABJ Convention, the VTF hosts a photo auction where about 100 images, most often taken by black photojournalists and photographers of color and depicting the black community, are up for auction. Proceeds benefit student scholarships and visual journalism education. The next VTF auction takes place Aug. 4, 2017 at the Detroit Marriott at Renaissance Center.

In addition to NABJ’s representation at the General Luncheon Session, NABJ member and Former NABJ Vice President-Digital Benet Wilson is partaking in the Emerging Leaders Power Luncheon on Sept. 21. She will be providing career advice to a small group of millennial professionals. Also, Roland Martin of TV One will moderate a panel on the State of Black Tourism on Sept. 21 at the Marriott Marquis from 9-11:30 a.m.

Register for this year’s ALC and purchase luncheon tickets here.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., the National Association of Black Journalists is the largest organization for journalists of color in the nation, and provides career development as well as educational and other support to its members worldwide. For additional information, please visit www.nabj.org.

ABOUT CBCF
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Incorporated, established in 1976, is a non-partisan, non-profit, public policy, research and educational institute intended to broaden and elevate the influence of African Americans in the political, legislative and public policy arenas.