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Written by Morgan Norris

Good morning to the hardest-working journalists in the country. Got your coffee? You better! (Especially if you had too much fun last night.) Conference days can be exhausting. There’s always too much to do, from catching up with old friends to networking to job hunting to learning something new from an interesting workshop. Plus, we’re in Cleveland, AKA “The Land”!

Welcome to NABJ’s first-ever student newsletter. We will send you an email every morning during the 50th National Association of Black Journalists Conference to help you stay up-to-date with all the latest developments.

This year’s conference is coming at a pivotal moment with our nation bitterly divided along partisan lines and our community facing anti-DEI initiatives, federal spending cuts and reductions in HBCU funding.

Meanwhile, our industry has taken a sharp downturn, with NABJ members facing layoffs and significant cuts in resources for national and local news organizations. Amid all of this uncertainty, Black journalists are finding solace, community and encouragement at this year’s conference.

“It gives me a safe haven to know that, along with whatever we’re experiencing in the field, we’re not alone,” said Jasmine Butler, a reporter at WTOC. “We’re human, and this industry can feel dehumanizing.”

Wednesday’s panels seemed particularly tailored for the times.

At “Receipts Ready: Exposing Disinformation Targeting Black Communities,” panelists discussed the duty of Black journalists to cover what is truly newsworthy, rather than chasing after clickbait. As an example, they cited last year’s presidential election. Too many newsrooms, they said, wasted time trying to verify President Donald Trump’s claim that Haitian immigrants were eating dogs and cats in Ohio rather than covering the potential impact of his proposed policies.

“We used to want to be right, not first,” said Axios Local Managing Editor Delano Massey. “We’re going through memory warfare right now, so journalists need to be students of history first so people don’t forget.”

While the media landscape is challenging to navigate for professionals, it can be overwhelming for students and other early-career journalists trying to get their foot in the door.

“I’m trying to soak up as much information as I can, especially because it’s my senior year,” said Rhema Coleman, a student at the University of Oklahoma. “It’s super exciting to see everyone come together to bring Black voices to the top, and I’m ready to learn as much as I can.”

“It can be pretty demoralizing if you compare yourself as a student, but I also feel inspired,” said Ashon Calhoun, a student at Villanova University. “I can take the skills I’m learning and the information from panels back home to become sharper. It’s a great opportunity for us to show NABJ what we've got, too.”

While newcomers are looking to soak up as much as they can, veterans are here to learn and catch up with some old familiar faces.

“I feel great. It's like a family reunion every year," said Butler.

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