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HAMPTON, Va. (March 29, 2019) – Registration is now open for the 2019 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Region I Conference, April 12-14, 2019, which will take place at the Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism. This year’s theme is “Reclaiming Our Story: Guardians of Our History Since 1619 and The True Responsibility of Black Journalists Today.”

Hosted by NABJ, Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals (HRBMP) and Hampton University, this gathering will bring together hundreds of journalists, communication professionals and students from across the Northeast U.S. to participate in this conference that recognizes the 400^th Anniversary of enslaved Africans’ first arrival to America.

“The 400th anniversary is based on the first documented arrival of Africans to Virginia in 1619 where slavery started in America. History records that it began when 'Colonial officials traded food for more than 20 Africans, who had been captured from a Portuguese slave ship.' These 20 plus Africans had lives, families, dreams, aspirations -- an established heritage and a culture. They had a history; they had stories. As guardians of this history, journalists have a responsibility to ensure that these stories and those of the generations that follow are not forgotten nor overlooked and are accurately portrayed, reported and distributed to mass audiences encompassing all demographics. I'm thankful for this opportunity to bring hundreds of journalists to Hampton Roads at the time of this 400th mark and to highlight the significance of this occasion throughout the multiple media resources within NABJ and around the globe," said Karen Eure Wilson, conference co-chairperson, Deputy Director for NABJ Region I and a founding member of HRBMP, the local affiliate chapter of NABJ.    

This year’s NABJ conference includes a job fair, student training, resume critiques, diversity management training and more.

“It is an absolute honor for NABJ to hold the 2019 Region I Conference in Hampton Roads, Va. to commemorate the 400th anniversary of when Africans landed on American soil. I’m extremely proud to work with the Hampton Roads Black Media Professionals and the Hampton University Association in coordinating this historic and successful endeavor as we are anticipating record attendance,” said Johann Calhoun, News & Special Projects Editor for The Philadelphia Tribune and NABJ Region I Director. “There is no better time than now to hold this conference when freedom of the press has taken center stage. We must reclaim our voice and our story.”

“Having this year’s conference at Scripps gives NABJ, HRBMP, and all of the schools an opportunity to immerse themselves in a full day of seminars, discussions, training and speeches,” said B. DàVida Plummer, Dean of the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, Assistant Vice President for Marketing/Media, and a founding member of HRBMP, the affiliate chapter of NABJ. “The announcement of this collaboration is a fitting reminder to the Black Media Professionals in this market who originally launched the HRBMP during the early years of our careers that our legacy is continuing to live on. We look forward to this conference, setting into motion continual aperture of collaborative investment in future journalists learning the craft here in our region.”

NABJ Region I consists of CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA, and WV.

To register for this year’s NABJ Region I Conference, click here: https://www.nabj.org/m/event_details.asp?id=1164969.