Newspro: Unity '08

Unity '08
What: Joint conference of the four major associations representing journalists of color, held every four years
Where: McCormick Place West, Chicago
When: July 23-27
Who: Presented by Unity: Journalists of Color, a coalition of the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Native American Journalists Association
Details: 2008unity.org

• Color it Unity
  Once every four years the four biggest associations for journalists of color join forces for a major conference, billed as the largest gathering of journalists in the nation. Nearly 10,000 participants are expected this week for Unity ’08, taking place July 23-27 at McCormick Place West in Chicago. To get the best angle on Unity ’08, TelevisionWeek correspondent Allison J. Waldman spoke with Bryan Monroe, editor of Ebony Magazine, president of the National Association of Black Journalists and Unity ’08 board member... On Page 24 and Page 31
• Keeping Pace With the Candidates
  The battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination made this a historic election season. At Unity ’08, however, journalists are taking a hard look at what hasn’t changed with the times. “The historic nature of this year’s presidential race underscores the lack of minority journalists covering it,” said Barbara Ciara, president of the National Association of Black Journalists... On Page 20 and 21
• Layoffs Call NABJ to Action
  The National Association of Black Journalists has never been healthier. The organization, which is the largest of the four groups putting on the Unity Conference, numbers 4,000 members. “We’re holding on to our members and improving from last year, so we’re growing,” said NABJ Executive Director Karen Wynn Freeman... On Page 22 and 23
• Latino Journalists Face Touchy Topics
  The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is heading into its fourth Unity Conference with the hot-button issue of immigration reform and how it is covered by the media at the top of its list of concerns. The organization expects up to 1,200 attendees at Unity ’08, and is sponsoring four panels as well as its Hall of Fame gala awards dinner and ceremony on Friday night at Chicago’s McCormick Place West... On Page 24 and 25
• Arab American Journalists Get the Floor
  Arab American reporter and AAJA member Natasha Ghoneim will take part in the panel “From Iraq to Iowa: Covering Arab Americans—How to Get It Right on Deadline,” scheduled for Friday at the Unity ’08 Conference. Sponsored by the Asian American Journalists Association, the panel aims to raise awareness for reporters who cover Arab American issues... On Page 25
• Olympics Put Focus on China
  The Asian American Journalists Association uses the term “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders” to describe all Americans “who self-identify with one or more of the three dozen nationalities and ethnic groups in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Islands.” That’s a pretty broad spectrum from which to cull journalists, and a fair number of those journalists (AAJA has about 2,300 members) will take part in the Unity Conference in Chicago this week... On Page 26 and Page 30
• AAJA Awards Honor Commitment
  The Asian American Journalists Association will host its annual awards banquet Friday at Chicago’s Hyatt Regency as part of Unity ’08. Keynote speaker for the gala event will be Martin Bashir, co-anchor of ABC’s “Nightline” and correspondent for “20/20” ... On Page 26 and Page 30
• Quake, Games Offer Opportunity in China
  When early reports trickled in of a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in the Sichuan province of China on May 12, many U.S. TV stations scrambled for overseas talent to cover it. At San Francisco’s KTSF-TV, Asian American journalist, Hong Kong native and veteran anchor Mei Ling Sze simply looked around the newsroom. KTSF, which has served the Bay Area’s Asian American population for 32 years, first broadcast a live Chinese newscast in 1988 and now broadcasts in 10 Asian languages... On Page 27 and Page 30
• Going Before Cameras
  To a lot of sportswriters, it might look as though ESPN anchor Michael Kim arrived early at sports-fan heaven. Mr. Kim, who on Thursday will moderate a Unity ’08 sports keynote breakfast sponsored by ESPN, in association with the National Association of Black Journalists, probably would agree with that assessment... On Page 27 and Page 30
• Expanding the Native Talent Pool
  The Native American Journalists Association may be the smallest of the four groups involved in the Unity Conference, but its strength lies in the dedication of its members and its leadership. The organization expects nearly 200 attendees, including about 30 students taking part in weeklong workshops to define convergence media models. NAJA is sponsoring four panels and an awards banquet and ceremony during the Chicago confab... On Page 28 and Page 31
• Telling Story of All Americans
  It was April 19, 1995, and KOCO-TV reporter Cherokee Ballard thought she would get a manicure before heading to work at the ABC affiliate in Oklahoma City. She saw black smoke rising from the downtown area, and her phone began ringing. Without even looking to see who it was, she answered, “I’ll be right there.” As the shocking news broke of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building that killed 168 people, Ms. Ballard got on the air and stayed on for the next 22 hours, the beginning of a week of nonstop, commercial-free coverage for most of the stations in Oklahoma City... On Page 28 and Page 30