National Association of Black Journalists chartered at HPU
By Brailey Lisath, Staff Writer //
This semester, journalism at High Point University is adding a splash of color. A university chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists will be emerging full force this fall thanks to the efforts of students Mayeesa Mitchell, Jasmine Williams and Jasmine Forte.
The NABJ’s mission statement is to provide quality programs and services to and advocate on behalf of black journalists.
Co-Founder Mayeesa Mitchell intends to bring a wide variety of speakers and presenters to campus with the founding of this organization, “I spearheaded the startup of this chapter because I felt that the school neglected to bring people of color to campus to talk about their experiences in the field of communication. The purpose of NABJ at HPU is to change that, and to give our students access to professionals will similar backgrounds and cultures.”
What began in April is hoped to, as Mitchell described, “hit the ground running” in the fall. “This summer, the officers and I have been working together to plan programming,” she said. “We will have a table at the activities fair. We hope to gain new members in the fall and put on useful programming that will attract many students.”
The NABJ chapter is an opportunity to expand students’ knowledge base in the Journalism track as well as in other tracks of the communication major. The intention of the organization is to bridge the gap between the classroom and the industry, as well as to create opportunities for students to network and build relationships with future mentors, employers or colleagues. NABJ is open to anyone interested in hearing from journalism professionals of color; students of all ethnicities and academic majors are encouraged to join.
“We’re so excited to get started! This really is a great opportunity to network for all students, whether they are a journalism major or not,” said Mitchell.
The organization’s first event will be a meet and greet with professors in the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication at HPU on Sept. 12, in conjunction with the Society of Professional Journalists. Contact Mayeesa Mitchell, Jasmine Williams or Jasmine Forte with any questions about the HPU chapter, or if you’re interested in joining, and follow the group on Facebook for more updates.