National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convenes in New Orleans June 20-24, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2012

National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convenes in New Orleans June 20-24, 2012
NABJ hosting learning lab focusing on The Times-Picayune restructuring and offering free registration for lay-offs

WHAT: National Association of Black Journalists Convention and Career Fair (NABJ)

WHERE: Hilton New Orleans Riverside

WHEN: Wed, June 20- Sun, June 24, 2012

DETAILS: The 37^th Annual NABJ Convention and Career Fair - the largest career fair for minority journalists - will be held in New Orleans June 20-24, 2012. More than 2,400 attendees will come together to network, participate in professional development sessions and celebrate excellence in journalism.

This year's convention, appropriately themed "New Platforms. New Directions. New Orleans.," will explore this current pivotal and rapidly-changing time for media outlets, including the recent restructuring of The Times-Picayune. NABJ is offering free registration for journalists that have been laid off.

Amidst delving into transforming newsrooms, NABJ will host an impressive assortment of headliners including Vice President Joe Biden, Trayvon Martin's Family, Reverend Al Sharpton, former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, Academy Award Winner Viola Davis, Cedric The Entertainer, Niecy Nash, Spike Lee, Melanie Fiona, Anthony Anderson, Meagan Good and Avery Johnson.

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is the largest organization of journalists, students and media-related professionals of color that provides quality programs and services to black journalists worldwide. NABJ is committed to widening career opportunities for veteran, young and aspiring black journalists and providing continued professional development and training. NABJ annually awards nearly $100,000 in scholarships and internships to college and high school students nationwide.

NABJ's last meeting was held in New Orleans in 1983. This year's meeting is estimated to generate $2.8 million in economic impact and generate positive media coverage of the city.

WEBSITE: www.nabj.org
TWITTER: #NABJ12, @NABJ
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/groups/2204566906/

MAJOR EVENTS: (All events are held at Hilton New Orleans Riverside unless otherwise noted)

• Wed, June 20; 5:30 p.m.: Kick-off Reception & Ceremony with opening address by Vice-President of the United States Joe Biden
• Wed, June 20; 8 a.m.-5 p.m.: Learning Lab: Career Transition: Change, Creativity and Resilience; Oak Alley Room, Third Floor
• Thurs, June 21; 9:30 a.m.: Plenary: Trayvon Martin: A Crime Story in the Digital Age: Panelists Include: Trayvon Martin's parents, Attorney Ben Crump and Reverend Al Sharpton
• Sat, June 23, 2012, 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.: NABJ Celebrity Golf Tournament: Hosted by Stan Verrett of ESPN and Professional Football Player Kordell Stewart; Lakewood Golf Club
• Sat, June 23, 2012, 1-5 p.m.: NABJ Film Festival: Special screenings of "Beast of the Southern Wild," Cedric the Entertainer and Niecy Nash's "TV Land's Soul Man," Spike Lee's "Red Hook Summer" and "Middle of Nowhere." Joy Theatre.
• Sat., June 23, 2012: NABJ "NABJ Rebuild" and "NABJ Read": Partnering with the St. Bernard's Project to makeover a home and the New Orleans Public Library to collect books for New Orleans teenagers. Home: 2464 Athis Street. New Orleans Public Library, 219 Loyola Ave.

TO OBTAIN PRESS CREDENTIALS: Members of the working press who wish to cover the convention, please visit: www.nabj.org/?2012PressCredentials.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
NABJ: April Turner, cell: 646-244-4917, aturner@nabj.org
New Orleans CVB: Tara Letort, 504-566-5019, tletort@neworleanscvb.com; Kelly Schulz, 504-421-0962, kschulz@neworleanscvb.com