The News Argus November 1996 - Page 4
- CAMPUS HAPPENINGS
Triad Black Media Professionals
Hold Fall Workshop
BY DOUGLAS B. CLARK
Managing Editor
‘This is an excellent opportunity for
students and those of us who are working
in the media to come together to network
and learn from each other by sharing ideas
and experiences," said Ann W. Irving,
sales operation manager at News Channel
12.
Irving was commenting about the 5th
Annual Triad Black Media Professional
(TBMP) Fall Workshop that was held last
month. The theme of this year’s
workshop was "Making the Media Work
for You." Wanda Starke, news anchor at
News Channel 12 WXII, in Winston-
Salem, served as the moderator for the
workshop.
The Triad Black Media Professional
organization is composed of black
journalists, public relations professionals,
advertising account executives,
communication students, communication
educators and others who work or who are
thinking about working in the media.
Last month's workshop was
conducted for people in the community
who want to get news coverage about
events their organizations are sponsoring.
The president of TBMP for the next
two years is Ann McGill, a reporter for
Fox 8. “I really enjoy being a broadcast
journalist. It’s a very demanding and
exciting job for anyone who can handle
the pressures of working on tight
schedules and deadlines,” said McGill.
"Being able to work with others who rely
on your conu-ibution, and dedication as a
team player is very important when it
comes to disseminating the flow of news
and information to the public."
One of the topics that was discussed
at the workshop was, "Something to Talk
About: What Is News?" Dana Covert,
assignment editor at News Channel 12
mentioned that she receives hundreds of
story ideas and leads by fax, telephone
and by mail.
“As the assignment editor. I’m
responsible for which of the story ideas
and leads has the most newsworthiness
timeliness and to make sure that it has
news value for our viewers,” said Covert.
Scott Maxwell, a city hall/urban
issues reporter for the Winston-Salem
Journal , which provided the site this
year’s workshop said,
“We are on a much tighter deadline
than television news with regards to
newsworthiness and timeliness. In order
to produce the newspaper on time for its
mass circulation, the editorial staff must
also be able to coordinate their 'foot
soldiers' (the reporters pounding their
beats for stories) to make their deadlines
on time."
"Basic Tips for Telling Your Story,"
was covered by Kevin P. Cox, media
relations director at Wake Forest
University. He suggested that the
information in news releases should
always be direct and to the point.
“You should always include the
important facts like the time the event will
start and the location of the event,” said
Cox.
Joe Watson, general manager at
WSSU's WSNC-FM 90.5, said that "it is
very important to establish a relationship
with local businesses and organizations.
TBMP is an excellent opportunity for
students to get involved in mentorship
programs with professional s for their
guidance and support."
Drum Majors:
Enjoy ’Taking the Field’
BY DANIELLEI PROPllETE AND SHARONDA
WILCOX
Staff Writers
“Whatever you put into it is what you
get out of it,” stated Veryl Costner, a
junior chemistry/ premed major, who is
one-half of the two drum majors for the
“High Stepping Marching Rams.”
Enrico Leak, a senior mass
communications major, makes up the
other half of the powerful duo.
Although the performances that they
give on Saturdays are filled with high
stepping fun and energy, the duties of
being a drum major consist of much more.
They assist the band director, Emory
Jones; keep the momentum high; and
keep order within the band among other
responsibilities.
According to Costner, one
disadvantage of being a drum major is,
“You have to have an attitude with your
friends. From 5:30 to 7;30 p.m., it’s all
about business. Afterwards you can come
and chill with me.”
“As long as we sound like a family
on Saturdays, then I’ll be a little harsh
during practice,” said Leak.
WSSU has been known to have good
bands over the years. This year many fans
say the band also has a good sound.
“One reason for improvement in sound is
because we have better writers. Kevin
“Caesar” Handy, Mike Henson and Juan
Eckerd compose music for us,” stated
Leak and Costner.
The two also said that the band’s
half-time show announcer, Mike
Anderson, helps get the band and the
fans excited. “He gets the crowd hype so
when we get out there, all we have to do is
lake the show,” stated Cosuier.
When asked what type of feedback
they have received from the fans this
year, Costner said, “We haven’t really
received any negative comments or any
students booing, stemming from the fact
that, we have stronger and very talented
musicians this year.”
This year, the “High Stepping
Marching Rams,” have 90 strong
members. Leak and Costner say they
welcome more members and more
involvement from students who played in
their high school or college’s band.
It s not all hard. We have fun too,”
stated Costner. “We would also like the
university offer more financial support to
the band. Whenever we perform, we
represent WSSU,” said Leak.
According to Costner, due to budget
restrictions, the band had to “cut some
people’s scholarships this year in order to
travel.” “We need more resources so wc
can recruit more people,” stated Leak.
When asked what they’ll miss most
about the band, Costner replied,
“Companionship within the band.”
Zetas, Sigmas
Rock The Vote
PRESS RELEASE
Members of Omega Chapter, Zeta
Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Delta Alpha
Chapter, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity,
Inc., recently held voter registration
sessions here at WSSU.
Approximately 180 students were
registered. The voter registration drives
were held in residence halls, the Hauser
Student Union and Kennedy Dining
Hall.
The sorority and fraternity
members were participating in “Project
Vote ‘96,” a national program. The
purpose of the program was to bring the
organizations together to concentrate on
three aspects of the upcoming elections:
voter registration, voter education and
voter participation/Get Out the Vote!
Stone
from page 1
in a more computerized society
dominated by the Internet.
In the afternoon session, held
especially for mass comunications
majors. Stone met with them in the new
Kennedy Dining Hall in the Thompson
Student Services Center.
Stone introduced a new writing
formula to them callcd FEAT. This
acroynm stands for: Fairness, Even-
handedness, Accuracy and
Thoroughness. He said reporters
should use this when writing stories. He
told them if they used these things they
could become good journalists.
In his closing remarks, Stone left
the students with this wise saying from
Ralph Emerson, " Fame is a vapor,
popularity an accident and riches flee
with the wind. Those who cheer you
today, criticize tomorrow. Only one
thing endures, that character."
Stone is currently serving as the
Walter Spearman professor at the
journalism school at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Stone was the founding president of
the National Association of Black
Journalists (NABJ). He was also a
founding member of the National Center
for Fair and Open Testing.