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February 2002 KCABJ Newsletter



New Leadership for KCABJ

Anita Parran
Anita K. Parran
The Kansas City Association of Black Journalists elected a new executive board for 2002 at its January meeting.

Longtime KCABJ member Anita K. Parran was elected president replacing Benita Y. Williams, a Northland courthouse reporter for The Kansas City Star, had served in that office for nearly three years -- one of the longest terms as president in KCABJ history. Anita is a free-lance writer and a public relations official with AARP, also known as the American Association for Retired Persons. Anita also owns her own public relations firm -- KK Charles Communications. Anita has served as president or board member of many community, business, civic and media organizations.

Tanyanika N. Samuels was re-elected KCABJ vice president/print. Tanya in 2001 filled the unexpired term left vacant by Erica Wood. Tanya is a general assignment reporter for The Star. Crystal Y. Lumpkins was elected vice president/broadcast. She replaces Natalie Moultrie, who works as the morning news anchor at KMBC-TV, Channel 9. Crystal works in public relations at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is an adjunct journalism professor at area colleges.

Joi L. Preciphs was re-elected secretary. Joi is a free-lance writer and works at the Mid-American Regional Council. Lewis Diuguid was re-elected treasurer. Lewis is vice president for community resources at The Star.

Kevin C. Morris, a columnist with EKC and a new member of KCABJ, agreed to take over as editor of the KCABJ Newsletter. Kevin edited the soon-to-be-released Urban League of Greater Kansas City book The State of Black Kansas City 2001-2002. He also edits the diversity newsletter published by LGC & Associates, whose chief executive is Linda Cooper.

One of Anita's first actions as KCABJ president was to set a regular monthly time for KCABJ meetings. They will take place at 11 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of every month at the AARP's office at 700 W. 47th St., Suite 110.

2001 In Review

Benita reviewed the accomplishments of KCABJ for 2001. It was a busy year:

  • KCABJ played a leading role in activities for the American Society of Newspaper Editor's annual Time Out for Diversity Week.

  • KCABJ held a community workshop to help people learn how to gain better access the media.

  • Membership packets were assembled and delivered to prospective members, and KCABJ had T-shirts made for the first time in 10 years with the group's logo and catchy artwork.

  • The organization held its annual student journalism workshop and had a class of 12 high school and college students at Rockhurst University. It was one of the most diverse groups of students ever.

  • The 10th Annual KCABJ Media Awards was combined with a 20th anniversary banquet at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center. Gerald Jordan, a founding member of KCABJ who now teaches at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, drove to Kansas City to deliver the keynote address.

  • The year was capped with a Christmas party at Benita's Country Club Plaza apartment.


    The Year Ahead

    For 2002, Kevin said he will be contacting KCABJ members with an "e-survey'' to gauge what they see as ways the organization can best serve its members. Joi said people who were approached about becoming members in 2001 said they were interested in professional development programs that the organization might offer. KCABJ member Yvette Walker, assistant managing editor for staff development and new media at The Kansas City Star, said she would be happy to put together a training workshop in the spring that would be designed to meet the needs indicated by the survey.

    Dates also were set for the 2002 KCABJ Urban Student Journalism Workshop. The orientation will take place Saturday, June 15. Anita said she wanted to avoid the family conflict with Father's Day this year. The workshop then would run from June 17-28 at Rockhurst University. KCABJ member Glenn E. Rice has agreed once again to shepherd the print part of the program. He will work closely with Tanya.

    Crystal, as vice president/broadcast, will pick up the duties for the broadcast portion of the program. KCABJ member Khia C. Simmons, who works for KMBC-TV, Channel 9, agreed to help put together that week of activities.

    No date has been set yet for the 11th Annual KCABJ Media Awards.


    NABJ News

  • The National Association of Black Journalists convention will take place July 31-Aug. 4 in Milwaukee. The main hotel is the Hilton Milwaukee City Center . The convention meetings will be at the Midwest Express Center. Call (414) 271-7250 to make reservations for a hotel room or log on to the NABJ Web site at www.nabj.org .

  • Entries are being accepted for the NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards. Prizes will be presented at the 2002 convention for outstanding coverage of African Americans and issues of special concern to the African-American community. The contest is open to broadcast and print entries. The deadline is March 1. Entries must have been published or aired between Jan. 1, 2001, and Feb. 28, 2002. For members, the entry fee is $75. For non-members it's $100.

  • NABJ also is seeking names for its Lifetime Achievement Award, Journalist of the Year, the NABJ Community Service Award and the Percy Qoboza Award for foreign journalists. NABJ presents awards for Best Practices, Chapter of the Year and Student Chapter of the Year. For more information check out the NABJ Web site or call (301) 445-7100.

  • Natalie Y. Moore is the new region VIII director of NABJ, which includes Kansas and Missouri. She is an education reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.


    Things of Use to You

  • CBS News is seeking college students for its internship program. Students could be placed in CBS news programs such as "60 Minutes,'' "48 Hours,'' "The Early Show,'' "CBS Evening and Weekend News,'' "CBS News Sunday Morning,'' "CBS Newspath,'' "Marketing,'' "CBS Radio'' and "Face the Nation.'' The deadline for the summer internships is Feb. 28. For more information contact Eldra Rodriguez Gillman at eig@cbsnews.com.

  • Black Enterprise magazine is seeking college juniors and seniors for its 2002 summer internship program. The internships run from June 3-Aug. 16. For more information call Lewis Diuguid at (816) 234-4723.

  • The Western Knight Center for Specialized Journalism is accepting applications for its expense paid seminar on multimedia reporting, editing and in-depth exploration of critical online topics. For more infirmation call Vikki Porter at (213) 743-4976.

  • KCABJ has received a list of 26 scholarships offered in a variety of subjects for students of color. For more information call Lewis.

  • Donald J. Lee, a former KCABJ vice president/print, sends word of job openings in Atlanta. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is seeking a reporter, an assistant business editor and a baseball writer. For more information call Lewis.

  • An 11-day tour of Jordan in the Middle East is being offered to African-American journalists at a cost of $500. All meals, hotels, transportation and fees are included. All you have to do is pay your way to Kennedy International Airport in New York. This trip is through Arthur W. Murphy, senior vice president of the Afro-American Newspapers in Baltimore. A non-refundable deposit is due on March 1. Murphy said the trip is being underwritten by the Jordan Tourism Board. For more information call (703) 243-7404 or (877) 733-5673. You can also see this Web site: www.seejordan.org.

  • The Kansas City cultural/networking organization Art & Soul is inviting KCABJ members to its Fifth Annual Classic Black program. It is recognized as Kansas City's grand finale for Black History Month. A gala banquet will take place Feb. 23 at the Scottish Rite Temple at Linwood and the Paseo. A table for eight is $320. The cost includes dinner, a pre-show, premium seating for the main concert at 8 p.m. Tickets for $25 also are available. For more information call (816) 965-7697 or visit www.kcsoul.com.


    What Will They Think of Next

    A new, little-known marketing term is making the rounds. It is called "NUD." It stands for Non Urban Dictate. Tom Joyner exposed it on his morning radio program. Essentially NUD means that a company is not interested in African-American consumers. The NUD label is a signal that a business does not want its marketing and advertising materials placed in media that are aimed at urban audiences. As a service to African-American consumers, the Urban Institute will list all companies that have an NUD policy. The Urban Institute is based in Washington, D.C. The phone number is (202) 833-7200. The e-mail that KCABJ received on NUD lists 25 mainstream companies.


    KC People

  • KCABJ ended 2001 with 51 paid members. It has started 2002 with 11 paid members. They are KCABJ President Anita K. Parran, Treasurer Lewis Diuguid, Kevin Morris, Benita Williams, Adrienne Rivers, Kia Shante Breaux, Yvette Walker, Glenn E. Rice, Khia C. Simmons, Ceaser Williams and Delores M. Jones.

    Financially, KCABJ ended the year in the black. Although, Lewis reported to the membership that lower interest rates have dampened earnings for the organization and will continue to have a negative effect on KCABJ finances in 2002.

  • Glenn E. Rice, who also is NABJ Treasurer, has been appointed to serve on the Unity board of directors. He replaces former NABJ president Vanessa Williams, whose term expired in 2001.

  • KCABJ member Malecia El-Amin received a Stars on Grand Award from The Kansas City Star for her work on the 2001 KCABJ Journal. Malecia did a tremendous amount of work copy editing stories that the students produced and laying out the pages of the workshop publiccation. Lewis nominated her for the award. Behind the scenes, KCABJ member Angela Curry, At Your Service columnist at The Star, did a lot of work to ensure that Malecia was selected for her work to bring more young people of color into this profession.

  • Former KCABJ member Jason Whitlock has taken on the added duty of being Kansas City's Celebrity spokesperson for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City. Jason has been a sports columnist for The Kansas City Star since 1994 and in recent years has picked up his own very popular sports talk radio program. He is pictured in The Kansas City Call on Jan. 1 with Ollie Gates, head of Gates Barbecue.


    Membership Renewal Time

    Mail this application with your $20 check to cover your annual membership dues. It entitles you to receive the KCABJ monthly newsletter and monthly meeting notices.


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    2002 Kansas City Association of Black Journalists
    P.O. Box 32744, Kansas City, Mo. 64111

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