By Isaac Council
On Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3, the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists will hold the second annual Emerging Media Diversity Convention, where media professionals come together to help rising media students and professionals fine tune their craft.
The convention begins on Friday with a welcome reception at 6 p.m. at the CBS Philadelphia Studios, located at 1555 Hamilton St., across the street from CCP’s main campus. Attendees will hear the keynote address by CBS national news correspondent and anchor Ms. Jericka Duncan, followed by special guest speaker CBS newscaster Ukee Washington, and finally a brief award ceremony honoring the winners of this year’s Emerging Media Professional of the Year, Emerging Journalist of the Year, and PABJ President’s Award of Excellence.
Saturday’s activities will begin at 9 a.m. in the Winnet Student Life Building on CCP’s main campus. With a total of 24 speakers and two panel tracks to choose from, the Journalism/Media Entrepreneur track and the Journalism/Media Creator track, attendees will be instructed on subjects such as Media Law, and How to Establish Your Own Media Brand. The convention will conclude with lunch and a media job fair/career expo taking place in the Bonnell Building, lasting until 3:30 p.m.
Adjunct Professor Ernest Owens, president of the PABJ, said that while last year’s inaugural convention was modest, hosting around 50 attendees, the convention has sold out this year with over double the amount of registered attendees.
Professor Owens attributes this to moving the event from late September to the first weekend of October, allowing more to attend, as well as the great reception received for last year’s convention.
“Every aspect of this convention is worthwhile to me, but what has excited me the most are the connections that begin to grow following the workshops and career fair,” Professor Owens said. “It’s one thing to hear from these incredible speakers in the industry, but it’s another to get an opportunity to follow up with them shortly after.”
Professor Owens said not only has he seen a boost in job and internship opportunities, but he has also seen a growth in the relationships and synergy between young professionals, their mentors, and media partners.
“I’m very grateful to all of our impressive 24 speakers who are volunteering their time and expertise to inspire a new generation of local Black media makers. Experiences like these remind me why I keep going as a journalist and why the legacy of PABJ lives on,” Professor Owens said.
