PREPARING FOR PRODUCTIVE MEDIA CAREERS IN A COMPETITIVE WORLD

COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY

April 19-20, 2013

FRIDAY, 4/19/2013:

Registration

7:30am (CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

Welcome

9:00am:

Dr. Pamela O'Brien, Chair, BSU Communications department, School of CAS

Dr. Weldon Jackson, BSU Provost

Introduction of keynote speaker:

Dwight M. Ellis, J.D., BSU Communications department, School of CAS

Keynote Speech:

Maureen Bunyan, News Anchor/Correspondent, WJLA-TV (Washington, DC)

Appreciation Remarks:

Dr. George Acquaah, Dean, BSU School of CAS

Directions to Sessions:

Dr. Shirelle Briscoe, BSU Communications department, School of CAS

Plenary Session

WHERE TO FIND MEDIA JOBS AND WHO CONTROLS THEM

(10:00-11:20 am) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

Moderator:

Richard Prince, editor, "Richard Prince's Journal-isms"

Panelists:

Roselyn Jacobs, Corp. VP Human Resources, WUSA-TV

Mark Segraves, Reporter-Correspondent, WRC-NBC-TV/DC 50 TV

Jack Gravely, The Jack Gravely Show (WLEE-AM, Richmond, VA

Michelle Duke, VP National Association of Broadcasters Education

Rory Reese, Producer/Editor, ABC, Inc.

Panel Description: The nature and description of media jobs and careers has

changed dramatically, as have opportunities for work in these areas. This panel will

discuss changes in legacy media (e.g. radio, TV, print), emerging media and some

contemporary challenges and consequences that have resulted in corporate policy

changes and employment down-sizing. A ten-minute Q&A with the audience will

be conducted during the session.

Concurrent Sessions

STRATEGIES FOR MEDIA CAREER PLANNING

(11:25am-12:30 pm) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

Moderator:

Dr. Shirelle Briscoe, BSU Communications department, School of CAS

Panelists:

Lon Walls, Communications Director, Washington, DC Fire & EMS Department

Dr. Cecil Hale, Communications professor, City College of San Francisco

William L. Wallace, VP/Associate General Counsel, National Geographic Society

Jennifer Lawson, Sr. VP, TV & Digital Video Content, CPB

Panel Description: How do you prepare for a successful job or career in the traditional radio

or television workplace? Is a college degree or professional certificate sufficient evidence of

value to prospective media employers? What effect has media convergence had on the

demands for media workers? What are some core interests and values that today's

prospective media professionals should develop to make them distinctive media employees

and entrepreneurs? These and other relevant issues will be discussed by this panel. A ten-

minute Q&A with the audience will be conducted during the session.

OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES FOR RADIO-TV TALENT

(11:25am-12:30 pm) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 117)

Moderator:

Dr. Otis Thomas, BSU Communications Professor/Dir. BSU-TV, School of CAS

Panelists:

Bob Bloom, Board Chairman, MD-DC-Delaware Broadcasters Association

Jeffrey Ballou, Deputy News Editor, Al Jazeera English

Lisa Fager Bediako, president/co-founder, Industry Ears

Roxanne Fulton (BSU alumnus-2008); Studio Technician, NBC Universal/Comcast,

Houston, TX

Robin Breedon, BSU Communications Adjunct Lecturer; former radio-TV host

Panel Description: Recent changes and layoffs of popular long-term minority radio and

television personalities and journalists have caused many to wonder if the progress of

minority media professionals is moving backward. What industry or societal factors are the

causes of this phenomenon? What adjustments should communications and journalism

schools and programs make to better prepare students interested in media talent positions?

What is the relationship between traditional journalism and entertainment standards and

practice in the industry? Are students and other prospective media workers being adequately

prepared for the blurring of these standards and practices? A lively discussion is anticipated

on these and other related topics. A ten-minute Q&A with the audience will be conducted

during the session.

SPECIAL LUNCHEON FOR CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS

(e.g. moderators/panelists)

RESUME WORKSHOP

(1:25pm-2:00pm) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 117)

Facilitator: Dr. Monique Leslie Akassi, BSU department of English, School of CAS

Session Description: Assistance will be given to conference attendees seeking help in

composing effective resumes for media job and internship opportunities.

Plenary Session

CAREERS IN RECORDING & SPORTS INDUSTRY MANAGEMENT

(2:20pm -3:35 pm) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

Moderator:

Vada Manager, CEO/Manager, Global Consulting Group

Panelists:

Marcus Johnson, president/CEO, Marimelj Entertainment Group, LLC

Bill Stepney, Partner, Broad Market Media, LLC

Ronda Robinson, Esq, Entertainment attorney

David Dickerson, David Dickerson Communications

Curtis Symonds, CEO, The HBCU Network

Panel Description: Contemporary media jobs and career paths, enhanced by emerging

technologies and multi-platform availabilities, are creating many opportunities for productive

and creative involvement by new and established persons interested in the recording and

sports industries. This panel will discuss the many facets of these opportunities and challenge

to be considered. A ten-minute Q&A with the audience will be conducted during the session.

Plenary Session

JOBS & CAREERS IN PUBLIC RELATIONS

(3:35 -4:40 pm) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

Moderator: Professor Rochelle Daniel, BSU Communications department, School of

CAS

Panelists:

Darlene Richeson, MaZie Global Solutions, LLC

Cheston W. Reisler VP, Human Resources, Porter Novelli

Musa L. Eubanks, Director of the Office of Community Relations for Prince George’s

County

Kira Calm Lewis, Sr. Public Communications Rep WSSC

Billie R. Gross, Public Affairs Specialist, Office of Public Liaison, Bureau of Public Affairs,

U.S. Department of State

Panel Description: Public Relations is one of most viable and active career categories of the

media industries. Globalization, government policy changes and transformation of societal

values have created situation and business opportunities for persons interested in these

communications sectors. This panel will discuss fresh insights into job areas like crisis

management, corporate communications and lobbying. A ten-minute Q&A with the audience

will be conducted during the session.

BSU COMMUNICATIONS RECOGNITION RECEPTION

(Special Collections Room, Thurgood Marshall Library (5:00- 7:00 pm)

Purpose: Outstanding leaders and contributors to the progress of minorities and women in

media will be honored at this event.

Lon Walls, Dir. Communications, District of Columbia Fire & EMS department

Marcellus Alexander, EVP Television, NAB/President NAB Education Foundation

Howard Woolley, Sr., VP Strategic Alliances & Wireless Public Policy, Verizon

Pluria Marshall, Sr., Founder/Chairman, National Black Media Coalition

Betty Hudson, EVP, Communications, National Geographic Society

Jennifer Lawson, Sr. VP, TV & Digital Video Content, CPB

Lisa Fager Bediako, President/co-founder, Industry Ears

Richard Prince, Editor, 'Journal-isms"

Maureen Bunyan, News Anchor/Correspondent, WJLA-TV (Washington, DC)

Daniel Spears, Vice President Industry Relations Licensing, BMI

Topper Carew, CEO, Step It Up, Inc./Visiting Researcher/Scholar at the MIT Media Lab

SATURDAY, 4/20/2013:

Registration

7:30am (CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

Welcome

9:00am: Dwight M. Ellis, J.D., BSU Communications department, School of CAS

Directions to Sessions

Dr. Adrian Krishnamy, BSU Communications department, School of CAS

Plenary Session

PLANNING SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN MEDIA SALES & ADVERTISING

(9:10am-10:30am) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

Moderator:

Dr. Pamela O'Brien, Chair, BSU Communications department, School of CAS

Panelists:

LaTanya Junior, Chief Development Officer/Chief Marketing Officer, 4A's Innovation Lab

Memuna Lee, Advertising & Event Marketing Coordinator at Country Financial

Daniel Spears, Assist. VP, Industry Relations, Licensing, BMI

Tijuan Gray Minor, Regional Sales CBS Radio, Baltimore, MD

Panel Description: The media is a business and the production of revenue is the objective

of all commercial media industries. Is this objective included in the instructional curriculum

of current communications and journalism programs? Is today's mercurial economic climate

demanding a differently-trained media worker? Is the growing competition among higher

learning institutions for student populations driving greater use of online education courses

and non-degree certificates (e.g. Harvard University's professional certificate programs)?

How do the media industries feel about the quality of high school and college graduates

seeking employment? This panel will discuss industry expectations and solutions to these

and other media workplace needs. A ten-minute Q&A with the audience will be conducted

during the session.

Concurrent Sessions

PRODUCTIVE TRENDS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PRINT AND PUBLISHING

INDUSTRIES

(10:30am-11:45am) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 117)

Moderator:

Professor Karima Haynes, BSU Communications department, School of CAS

Panelists:

Will Walters, Publisher-CEO, Monarch Magazine

Yanick Rice Lamb, Newspaper-magazine journalist

Ron Nixon, Reporter, New York Times

Panel Description: How are the print and publishing industries changing? Are the

demands of these industries being met by the scores of college graduate hopefuls

seeking employment and career opportunities? What is the status of minority-oriented

newspapers and magazines? How has the greater use of social media and new

technologies impacted the state of journalism? This panel will explore the industries

now and how they will be in the future. A ten-minute Q&A with the audience will be

conducted during the session.

BUILDING SUCCESSFUL CAREERS IN SOCIAL MEDIA PRACTICE & RESEARCH

(10:30am-11:45am) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

Moderator:

Kadija Bangura, CEO, English Muffin Public Relations, LLC

Panelists:

Benet Wilson, Social Media editor, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association

Wendy V. McAllister, Evolution Consulting Group, Inc.

Professor E. L. Berry, Ph.D. Student (UMBC), Adjunct Faculty (BSU)

Yolanda McCutchen, Journalism Professor, Claflin University

Krishana Davis, Freelancer, Style Blazer Magazine/The Afro Newspapers

Danielle Ricks - Social Media Specialist

Panel Description: Social media, as a universal tool of communication and public

research, is the most evolutionary change to impact the media industries since the

telegraph. While social media technology have become much-used appliances by most,

evidence exists that effective business use and ethical judgments need critical

attention. Are businesses and media industries satisfied with the level of "social media

intelligence" of job and career-seekers? Do most students realize the true power and

influence that social media has on their job and career aspirations? What can

secondary and higher education institutions do to improve greater understanding and

ethical use of social media tools? A ten-minute Q&A with the audience will be

conducted during the session.

Concurrent Sessions

ALTERNATIVE CAREERS IN TELEVISION & FILM INDUSTRIES

(11:45am-12:55pm) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

Moderator:

Dr. Otis Thomas, BSU Communications Professor/Dir. BSU-TV, School of CAS

Panelists:

Lyn Dyson, Founder/President, Multi-Media Training Institute

Mark Walton, Managing Director, Onyx Global Marketing, Inc.

Topper Carew, CEO, Step It Up, Inc./ Visiting Researcher/Scholar at the MIT Media Lab

Panel Description: In the video business of media, content is essential. The

proliferation of multi-platforms (e.g. television, movie screens, smart phones, Ipads) to

carry digitized programming has created opportunities for established and "wannabee"

filmmakers wherever they exist. This "democratization" of video and music expression

opens new career and business corridors for all who crave personal expression and

want to make a difference on a global scale. This panel brings together three

experienced contributors to the worlds of commercial and documentary video

production and distribution to share insights and strategies for success.

A ten-minute Q&A with the audience will be conducted during the session.

PREPARING FOR A PRODUCTIVE CAREER IN COLLEGE TEACHING & RESEARCH

(11:45am-12:55pm) (CLT Bldg, Rm. 117)

Moderator:

Dr. Langmia Kehbuma, BSU Communications department, School of CAS

Panelists:

Dr. Elkanah E. Faux, Bilingual Economist, BSU School of Business

Dr. Monique Leslie Akassi, BSU Department of English, School of CAS

Panel Description: Recent studies indicate education as one of the most valued and

necessary career paths for decades to come. Highly prepared and skilled teachers on

all levels, especially at the collegiate level, are needed to help ensure a well-educated

populace for a stronger democracy and smarter workforce. The three scholars of this

panel will explain critical elements and stages of progress toward distinction as an

effective domestic and international teacher on the college level. The value of higher

education research and publishing will also be discussed. Lively audience participation

will be encouraged. A ten-minute Q&A with the audience will be conducted during the

session.

Conference adjournment 1:00pm: Dwight M. Ellis, J.D., BSU Communications department, School of CAS

(CLT Bldg, Rm. 102)

NETWORKING SOCIAL

(outside Rm. 102, CLT Bldg; 1:00-3:00 pm)

An opportunity to mingle with session presenters & guests.