NABJ student chapter concludes first semester at BBC

Sofia Galiano/ Staff Writer

Melody Timothee, a senior public relations major,  had never been involved in campus clubs or activities. Then she found out about the newly-formed University chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and decided take part in its launch.

“I now have something I can say I am a part of,” Timothee said.

Black reporters at FIU are now represented by the NABJ as the University’s chapter concludes its first semester of meetings.

It took several years of discussion with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication faculty, the Society of Professional Journalists and an eager group of students for the associations chapter to begin late last year.

The club will be accredited by the upcoming fall 2014, according to Gutzmore. He said the club was created to provide networking opportunities and to pave the way for black communication students on campus.

“It breaks the barrier between professional and aspiring,” said Clayton Gutzmore, president of the University’s chapter who majors in communications and writes for FIU Student Media.

He said although the University is diverse, black students are poorly represented in the school of journalism.

In 2012, black journalism students made up about 15 percent of the total number of SJMC students taking lower division courses, and made up about 11 percent of the total SJMC students enrolled in upper division courses, according to the SJMC’s online public accountability.

“Within the school, the black population is very small,” said Neil Reisner, SJMC faculty and NABJ advisor.

Although black journalism students are lacking, Reisner said he wants the club’s membership to grow in the upcoming semesters, inviting students of all majors and races.

“We are not segregated and anybody who wants to join can join,” he said.

This semester, local media professionals from the Sun Sentinel, the Miami Dolphins Media Relations and Harris Public Relations came to speak to students on how they can advance in the field.

Timothee, who first found out about the club from Gutzmore, said that interacting with professionals in her field and having access to additional resources through the club makes her glad that she joined.

Jasmine Richardson, a senior majoring in broadcast journalism and vice president of NABJ, said the success of the club relies on its members. For this reason, she wants to recruit freshmen who can maintain the club once the current board members graduate.

With less than a dozen unregistered members, the club hopes to reach students using social media, hosting events including guest speakers and a bowling night. They intend to reach these incoming students by presenting themselves during the communication orientation in the fall semester, she said.

Richardson said the organization also plans to collaborate with the Black Student Union and host meetings at the Modesto A. Maidique campus in the future. But, NABJ is currently focused on attracting students at the Biscayne Bay Campus, where the school of journalism is located.

“The club is in its baby stages,” said Richardson.

 

-bbc@fiusm.com

About the Author

Sofia Galiano
: News Director Assistant, former BBC Managing Editor. I'm a senior journalism major and psychology minor. I wrote for the South Florida Times through the Liberty City Link in spring 2014 and have written for The Beacon since fall 2013.

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