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From the President
 Anita K. Parran
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First and foremost, I bow down to KCABJ Treasurer Lewis Diuguid who has taken over the reins of the monthly newsletter - again! Many thanks for stepping in and picking up the gauntlet.
Secondly, kudos to the excellecnt work of members who worked so hard and diligently to help make this year's Urban Journalism Workshop at Rockhurst another success. Yes, there were some glitches, but everyone pulled together to ensure that the students were challenged, kept their noses to the proverbial grindstone, learned a lot, and had fun.
I take my hat off to the significant players of the workshop: Tanyanika Samuels, Glenn Rice, Lewis Diuguid, and Crystal Lumpkins. Their dedication and enthusiasm for this annual program is unwavering and, I'd like to say "heroic." Numerous journalism professionals, both KCABJ members and non-members, added texture to the student experience by volunteering their time and sharing their expertise and experiences. Stellar community leaders also played a significant role during the two-week period. I thank all of them, and personal letters to them are "in the mail."
By now, each of you have received the first generation of a more formal Member Directory. It is my intention to provide quarterly updates - and enhance presentation of the document. Let me know if this roster is helpful. Again, I apologize if there were omissions, incorrect information, and/or misinformation. PLEASE send any changes AND suggestions to my attention at akparran@swbell.net and the next iteration will reflect those corrections and comments. I hope you know that this information was distributed ONLY to KCABJ members and is not intended for public consumption.
A gentle reminder: the NABJ annual convention is fast approaching. Please let me or one of the Executive Board members know of any concerns, questions, or comments that you would like us to voice during the business meetings. We'll provide you with a report of the convention activities when we return.
Finally, it is my hope that members will soon receive a member survey and a recommended revision of the Constitution, which has not been revised since it was written in 1981. A memo will detail your next action steps regarding these two documents.
Please feel free to contact me anytime if you have concerns, ideas or suggestions to improve our organization. I promise that you will be called into "active duty" as we plan the remaining events of the year!
KCABJ July Meeting
The next KCABJ membership meeting will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 27 at the AARP office, 700 W. 47th St., Suite 110. This will be the meeting before the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Milwaukee, which will run July 31 through Aug. 4. Topics at the KCABJ meeting will include an evaluation of the summer KCABJ Urban Student Journalism Workshop -- what worked, what needs improvement. The students' TV newscast was completed early so members will be able to see the show at the July meeting with all of the outtakes.
Another key topic at the meeting will be the 11th Annual KCABJ Media Awards program. The deadline for entries is July 20. There has been a renewed request by a media corporation to change the format. Members may want to open up that discussion again.
A third topic is KCABJ's latest response to ongoing correspondence from KCTV-5 over its demotion of of Dee Griffin and the demotion of Geri Gosa from a weekday reporting position to the ''weekend ghetto,'' where too many African Americans are finding themselves working -- again. KCABJ's advocacy for its members made NABJ headlines in the national organization's online news e-mailed to NABJ members. Please be sure to attend the meeting. Refreshments will be served.
NABJ Convention
Several KCABJ members have taken advantage of the pre-registration savings and plan to attend the NABJ convention in Milwaukee from July 31 to Aug. 4. On-site registration will cost $605. The theme at this year's NABJ convention is ''Building the Best!'' It will include an Authors Showcase, giving people attending the convention who have published books in 2001 or 2002 an opportunity to promote their work. KCABJ has two book authors. President Anita Parran and Secretary Joi Preciphs were contributing authors to the Urban League of Greater Kansas City's State of Black Kansas City 2002. For more information about the Authors Showcase contact A'Lelia Bundles at ABundles@aol.com.
The workshops at the convention will include ''School Vouchers: Paying for Other Children's Education,'' ''Blackout: How the Lack of Black A&E Journalists Silences Hollywood,'' ''The Face of War: Images from Afghanistan,'' ''Would You Like Some Color With That Layout,'' ''Buddha, Jesus and Allah: Covering Religion in the United States,'' ``Opportunities in the Black Press,'' ''HIV/AIDS: A Global View,'' ''Boot Camp: Editing Stories with a Military Angle'' and ''NABJ's New School Meets Old School.'' The NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 31.
An NABJ Jam party will bring people together at 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 31. A Bid Whist Tournament will be at 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1. The Milwaukee NABJ chapter will host the party at 11 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2. Another convention party will follow in Saturday, Aug. 3. That one generally is sponsored by the chapter that will host the convention next year.
The 2003 NABJ convention will be in Dallas. NABJ will partner with other journalists of color to cosponsor the Third Unity Convention in 2004 in Washington, D.C. The first Unity convention was in Atlanta in 1994. The second was in Seattle in 1999. Other sponsoring organizations are the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Hispanic and the Native American Journalists Association. NABJ is the largest of the four groups. Those conventions generally attract about 5,000 journalists of color.
The NABJ convention for 2005 will be in Atlanta. The 2006 convention will be in Detroit. NABJ also will celebrate its 30th anniversary in Atlanta. Detroit had been the host of the NABJ convention in 1982 and 1992. Both cities have large African American populations and have drawn record numbers of African American journalists to the NABJ conventions there. More than 2000 black journalists are expected to attend.
News You Can Use
KC People
KCABJ members who plan to attend the NABJ convention include Glenn E. Rice, NABJ treasurer; Tanyanika Samuels, KCABJ vice president/print; Yvette Walker; Benita Williams; and Lewis Diuguid, KCABJ treasurer.
2002 Kansas City Association of Black Journalists
P.O. Box 32744, Kansas City, Mo. 64111