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April 10, 2025 - April 12, 2025

2025 NABJ Region III Conference

April 10-12, 2025 | Johnson C. Smith University

100 Beatties Ford Road | Charlotte, N.C. 28216

Theme: POWER FORWARD

Thanks to Our Partners and Sponsors:

CAROLINA PANTHERS

JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY 

WBTV

HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF BLACK JOURNALISTS

 

Event Program Book: bit.ly/NABJRegion3Book

REGISTER BY MARCH 31 AND BE ENTERED INTO A GIVEAWAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN FREE #NABJ25 CONVENTION REGISTRATION!
Join us for the NABJ Region III Conference, April 10-12, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C., a must-attend event for journalists and communicators! 
This dynamic gathering offers career-boosting opportunities, from hands-on workshops in storytelling, investigative reporting, and AI in journalism to vital discussions on leadership and climate change reporting. 
Attendees can connect with mentors, network during the Career Showcase, and hear from lawmakers at the Political Town Hall. Recharge with mindfulness sessions, explore Charlotte’s Black history, and enjoy engaging receptions and a closing dinner. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your skills, expand your network, and celebrate the craft of journalism!
We’ll see you in the Queen City! All are welcome!
Registration is available onsite.

Schedule-at-a-Glance

Subject to change.
Shuttle Schedule
Offered by Riches & Roses Chauffeured Transportation
Friday, April 11, 2025
  • 7 AM – 10 AM | DoubleTree – JCSU Campus
  • 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM | JCSU Campus – Gantt Center
  • 6 PM – 9 PM | Gantt Center – Carolina Theater
  • 9 PM – 11 PM | Carolina Theater – DoubleTree
Saturday, April 12, 2025
  • 6 AM – 10 AM | DoubleTree  – JCSU Campus
  • 11 AM – 12:30 PM | JCSU Campus – Gantt Center
  • 5 PM – 8 PM | DoubleTree – NASCAR Hall of Fame
  • 7:30 PM – 9 PM | NASCAR Hall of Fame – DoubleTree
*One vehicle operates every 20 minutes!

April 10, 2025

Updated Registration Time
8:30 AM–5 PM | Registration & Check-in | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall (Lobby) 
The Career Showcase is postponed.
9 AM–5 PM | Student Success Breakout Workshop | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall 
This workshop is geared toward all students. It includes a writing workshop on conversational writing, tips on properly pitching a story, a discussion on the importance of being factual and balanced, professional tips on shooting a story, and best practices for job interviews.
Students will have an opportunity to do pre–work where they can put together a video and/or write an article highlighting the 50th anniversary of NABJ’s founding. Students can get help with their work from professionals and have a story to add to their resume. Access to pre-work assets to help students get an early start on their projects will be emailed to registrants after online pre-registration closes.
Students will receive a certificate of completion.
Sessions from 9 AM to Noon & 1 PM to 5 PM
Workshop Schedule:
  • 9 -11:30 a.m. – Broadcast and Print Writing – Workshops focusing on conversational writing, facts and balance.
    • Print Writing – Room 105
    • Broadcast Writing – Room 132
  • 10:45 a.m. – Noon – Tips on Pitching a Story and Shooting Like a Pro (Room 132)
  • Noon – 1:00 p.m. – Grab-and-Go Lunch (Room 322 – Smith Tech Innovation Center)
  • 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. – Best Practices for Interviews and Mock Job Interviews (Room 132)
  • 1:15 – 4:15 p.m. – Broadcast Production Session and Project  (3rd Floor Lounge Area)
  • 4:15 – 5 p.m. – Mentor-Mentee Debrief: Critiques, Q&A, Key Takeaways, and Resources (Room 132)
Instructors/Mentors:
    • Ken Lemon, NABJ President and Reporter, Cox Media Group, WSOC-TV
    • Mario Boone, Media Relations Expert
    • Shakoya Brown, Professor, Rhetoric and Communication, Johnson C. Smith University
    • Glenn H. Burkins, Founder and Publisher, QCity Metro
    • Chavis Carter, Lecturer, Mass Communications, North Carolina Central University
    • Brett Chambers, Lecturer, Mass Communications, North Carolina Central University
    • Chanel Davis, Editor in Chief, YES! Weekly
    • Markus Gray, Professor, Communications Instructor, Johnson C. Smith University
    • Xavier Higgs, Publisher and Editor, First Source Magazine
    • Kaci Jones, Anchor, WCCB-TV
    • Karvis Jones, Production Assistant, FanDuel Sports Network South
    • DeVan Killingsworth-Wells, Photojournalist, WSOC-TV
    • Damany Lewis, Anchor, WSOC-TV
    • David Squires, Professor, Journalism and Mass Comm, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
    • Reginald Walker, Jr., Video Producer, Sports Business Journal
    • Beverly White, Veteran Broadcast Journalist
    • Anthony Wilson, Retired Anchor, WTVD-TV
7–8:30 PM | NABJ Region III Political Town Hall | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall (Auditorium) 
In collaboration with the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition powered by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)
Black Women: What’s Left To Give?
From education to activism, organizing, and more, no group has done more to support and shape our society, culture, and politics than Black women. Yet when America had a chance to choose a Black woman to lead, it didn’t. Is it time for Black women to give themselves a “time-out”?
  • Welcome: 
    • Councilman Malcolm Graham, Charlotte City Council
    • Commissioner Vilma D. Leake, Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners and District 2 Representative
    • U.S. Congresswoman Alma Adams, North Carolina
  • Moderator: 
    • Chanel Davis, Editor in Chief, YES! Weekly
  • Panelists:
    • Melanie Campbell, CEO, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation and Convener, Black Community Women’s Roundtable
    • Mary-Pat Hector, CEO, RISE
    • Tracy Jones, Southern Bureau Chief, AHF
    • Errin Haines, Editor-at-Large, The 19th

April 11, 2025

9 AM–5 PM | Registration & Check-in | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall (Lobby)
8–9 AM | Breakfast | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall, Room 322 – Smith Tech Innovation Center
  • Invocation: Rev. Jordan Boyd, Pastor, Rockwell AME Zion Church
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
9–11 AM | Building Financial Inclusion Through Storytelling | Powered by Regions Bank | Johnson C. Smith University, Stem Hall Auditorium
Media relations professionals with journalism backgrounds are highly sought after. Organizations leverage their skills to connect with local and national media, run employee-focused news sites, and produce customer-facing brand awareness campaigns. This session will focus on how Regions Bank uses brand journalism to share authentic, timely, and engaging stories. Panelists will highlight how Regions collaborates with nonprofit partners and community members to create more prosperity for all.
  • Moderator: Kevin R. Hyrams, Past President and Advisor, Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists and Managing Partner, Sidereal Global
  •  Panelists:
    • Veleka P. Finch, Vice President, Senior Corporate Communications Business Partner, Regions Bank
    •  Jimmie Lawrence, Jr., Vice President, Consumer Banking Manager for North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina, Regions Bank
    •  Kim Carter Evans, Psy.D., Ph.D., MBA, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer. TruFund Financial Services, Inc.
9–11 AM | Weather & Climate Change Reporting | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall, Room 105
Weather impacts everyone and is a major driver of news coverage, especially during natural disasters. NABJ’s Region III, which comprises states in the southeastern and south-central U.S., as well as the Caribbean, has experienced many natural disasters due to storm activity in the Atlantic and Gulf Coast.
This session explores the increasing intensity of storms, specifically due to climate change, including discussions on historic hurricanes like Milton and Helene. It also examines the battle against disinformation and misinformation in forecasting, storm coverage, and emergency response.
  • Moderator: Dominic Brown, Meteorologist, NBC 10 Boston and Chair, Weather and Climate Task Force
  • Panelists:
    • Britney Hamilton, Meteorologist and Physicist, Spectrum News+
    • Vernon Turner, Meteorologist, Spectrum News 1
    • Melba Newsome, Professor and Program Director, Environmental & Epistemic Justice Initiative, Wake Forest University
9–11 AM | Investigative Reporting | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall, Room 132
This session is focused on the basics and best practices for investigative reporting for journalists. The panel will be led by the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting (housed at Morehouse College in Atlanta).
  • Panelists:
    • Kawana Bowman, Project Manager, Ida B. Wells Society
    • Arlette Hawkins, Project Manager, Ida B. Wells Society
    • Michael Hewlett, Criminal Justice Reporter, The Assembly NC
11:30 AM–1 PM | Lunch | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall, Room 322 – Smith Tech Innovation Center
  • Mistress of Ceremony: Siobhan Riley, Anchor and Reporter, WCNC-TV
  • Speaker: Garry D. Howard, Director of Corporate Initiatives, American City Business Journals
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
1–2:30 PM | The Impacts of AI in Journalism and News Media | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall, Room 105
Artificial intelligence is transforming journalism, offering both groundbreaking opportunities and urgent challenges. This dynamic panel will explore the role of AI in content creation, newsroom operations, and combating misinformation while addressing ethics, transparency, and its impact on the future of journalism. Join leading experts as they discuss how media professionals can leverage AI responsibly, preserve journalistic values, and navigate the profound shifts shaping the industry. This session is designed to spark meaningful dialogue and provide actionable insights for navigating AI’s evolution in the media landscape.
  • Moderator: Kevin R. Hyrams, Past President and Advisor, Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists and Managing Partner, Sidereal Global
  • Panelists:
    • Alice Fuller, Principal Consultant & Social Media Strategist, Sheer Social
    • Julio César Bahamón, Ph.D., Teaching Associate Professor, Graduate Certificates Program Director (AAI & GDD), University of North Carolina at Charlotte Department of Computer Science
    • Emma Way, Associate Director, Editorial Product, Axios Media, Axios Local – Charlotte
    • Blair Shiff, Digital Director, TEGNA Inc., WCNC-TV, Charlotte
    • Tyler Dukes, Lead Editor, AI Innovation in Journalism, McClatchy Media Co.
 1–2:30 PM | NABJ Leadership Learning: Introduction
This session is focused on introducing veteran and emerging journalists to management opportunities within broadcast and print.  Panelists will also discuss the qualities of good leadership in management roles and what they are looking for in future leaders. This is an introductory leadership discussion where GMs and VPs will provide an overview of the NABJ Leadership Academy, which is powered by Disney and the ABC News Group. 
  • Moderator: Kathy Y. Times, NABJ Past President and President, Yellow Brick Media Concepts, LLC
  • Panelists:
    • Leroy Chapman, Executive Editor, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
    • Jeff (Uzi) Anderson, Operations Manager, Radio One
    • Michelle Robinson, General Manager, WBTV-TV, Charlotte
BREAKOUT SESSIONS
2:45–4:15 PM | Pivoting from Traditional News | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall, Room 105
This session focuses on how to pivot from the newsroom to other communications careers, as well as entrepreneurship.
  • Moderator: Brett Chambers, Lecturer, Mass Communications, North Carolina Central University
  • Panelists: 
    • Brian “B Daht” McLaughlin, Entertainer and Radio Host, BDAHT Entertainment
    • Aundrea Cline-Thomas, CEO, The Rewrite and Host, The NEXT Best Thing Podcast
    • Laresa Thompson, TV Personality/Content Producer
2:45–4:15 PM | How to Power Forward in Political Reporting | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall, Room 132
This session will focus on maintaining the Fourth Estate—journalism—under a hostile U.S. administration. Speakers will also discuss safety while covering politics and the impact of social media versus traditional media.
  • Moderator: Walter Smith Randolph, NABJ Vice President-Broadcast and Executive Producer, Investigations, CBS New York
  • Panelists: 
    • Mary C. Curtis, Columnist, Roll Call
    • Chris Williams, Political Producer, Spectrum News 1
    • Irving Joyner, Professor of Law, North Carolina Central University
2:45 – 4:15 PM | Real Talk: The Truth Behind Sports Journalism | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall (Auditorium)
This is an interactive discussion in which veteran and young journalists discuss strategies for building a solid foundation for a sports journalism career.
  • Moderator:
    • David Squires, Professor, Journalism and Mass Comm, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
  • Panelists:
    • Garry D. Howard, Director of Corporate Initiatives, American City Business Journals
    • Derrian Carter, Clemson Beat Writer, Greenville News
    • Caulin Avery, Student, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
    • Kamryn Jackson, Sports Reporter, Greenville News
    • Wynton Jackson, Student, Hampton University
5–7 PM | Opening Reception | The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
  • Mistress of Ceremony: Brooke Frierson, News Producer, WBTV-TV
Speakers:
  • Ken Lemon, NABJ President and Reporter, Cox Media Group, WSOC-TV
  • Steve Crocker, NABJ Region III Director and Anchor, WBRC-TV 
  • Tonya Rivens, President, Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists and Radio Host, Praise Charlotte
7:30 – 10:30 PM | Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists – Power Play Night
The Historic, Refurbished Carolina Theater
230 N. Tryon Street, 28202
Join CAABJ and “Black Charlotte: A Poetic Celebration of Place & Folk,” a spoken word project, for a night of music, food, games, and poetry.
Tickets are an additional $15 per person.

April 12, 2025

7–8:30 AM | Morning Recess | Johnson C. Smith University Track & Field (Irwin Belk Complex-Stadium)
Backup indoor location: Bruns Avenue Elementary, Gymnasium (501 S. Bruns Ave.)
This is an inclusive event for people of all abilities geared toward movement. Attendees will be able to walk or run on the track. 
  • Led by Dawn Roberts, Founding Co-Chair, NABJ Wellness Task Force
8:30–9:30 AM | Breakfast  | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall, Room 322 – Smith Tech Innovation Center
9 AM–Noon | Registration & Check-in | Johnson C. Smith University, New STEM Hall (Lobby)
10 AM –Noon | Press & Pause: Mindfulness & Movement to Support Mental Health 
We will highlight the importance of movement and mindfulness and how both support mental health for journalists and mass communicators. This session includes engaging table talks that provide intimate platforms for deeper discussions on wellness, mindfulness, and mental health.
  • Moderator: Dr. Lisa Luedeman, Professor of Communications Studies, Gardner-Webb University
  • NABJ Wellness Task Force Introduction and Table Talk Speaker:
    • Dr. Kortni Alston Lemon, Happiness Scholar & Founding Chair, NABJ Wellness Task Force, info@drkortnialston.com 
  • Additional Table Talk Speakers:
    • Darius Tibbs, Fitness Coach and Creator, The MEN-Tal Health Collective
    • Aundrea Cline-Thomas, CEO, The Rewrite and Host, The NEXT Best Thing Podcast
    • Tamara Jeffries, Senior Narrative Content Consultant and Yoga Instructor
    • Larry Spruill Jr., Emmy Award-winning Journalist
    • Monica Wood, Charlotte Therapist, Public Relations Expert
    • Marie Torres, Deputy Director, NABJ Region III and Managing Editor, Spectrum Networks
10 AM–Noon | Closing Group Session: NABJ Leadership Learning: Leading in Turbulence 
Some people talk about managing through a storm. But what does it take to actually do it? How do you lead a newsroom when the political winds shift and some see journalists as the enemy? Hear from newsroom leaders navigating this upheaval in real time.
  • Moderator: Kathy Y. Times, President, Yellow Brick Media Concepts, LLC
  • Speakers:
    • D’artagnan Bebel, General Manager, FOX26/Houston
    • Rana Cash, Executive Editor, Charlotte Observer
    • Cedric Thomas, General Manager, WSOC-TV/Charlotte
12:30–1:30 PM | Lunch 
  • Mistress of Ceremony: Gayle Hurd, News Anchor, WPTF-AM-FM and WRAL-TV
  • Speaker: Rachel Scott, Senior Political Correspondent, ABC News
  • Student Success Certificate Presentation
2–3:30 PM | Charlotte Black History Tour 
Tour Ambassador:
  • Tonya Rivens, President, Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists and Radio Host, Praise Charlotte
Pickup and drop-off location:
  • The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, 551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
CBI Bus Tours, founded in 2011, provide an innovative, interactive approach to bringing the history of Charlotte to life while exploring how our shared history and “what’s in the ground” in our community impact our present and our future.
 6:30–8 PM | Closing Mixer
NASCAR Hall of Fame (Hall of Honors)
400 E MLK Jr. Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28202 
  • Hosts:
    • Gayle Hurd, News Anchor, WPTF-AM-FM and WRAL-TV
    • Rod Carter, NABJ Secretary and Anchor, WNCN-TV
      • Recognition of NABJ’s Founders—50th Anniversary 
      • Introduction of Speaker
  • Keynote Speaker: Kim Godwin, Former President, ABC News
  • Recognition of Region III Directors
    • Marie Torres, Deputy Director, NABJ Region III and Managing Editor, Spectrum Networks
    • Kevin R. Hyrams, Past President and Advisor, Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists and Managing Partner, Sidereal Global, LLC
  • Closing Prayer:
    • Dedrick Russell, Executive Producer for Community Content, WBTV-TV

Host Hotel

Host Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Charlotte City Center
*Book at the group rate by midnight on March 19!*
DEADLINE EXTENDED: March 29

Registration 

REGISTER BY MARCH 31 AND BE ENTERED INTO A GIVEAWAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN FREE #NABJ25 CONVENTION REGISTRATION!
Registration Rates
(Total includes a $3.00 administrative fee.)
On-site registration is available in-person on April 10-12, 2025
*No Cash Accepted • Debit or Credit Cards Only
  • Professional Member (Professional/Emerging Professional/Alumni/Academic/Media-Related Members)—$75
  • Student Member—$50
  • Nonmember—$100
  • Student Nonmember—$65
Early-Bird by March 31, 2025—(Last Day to Register Online)
  • Professional Member (Professional/Emerging Professional/Alumni/Academic/Media-Related Members) – $50
  • Student Member—$35
  • Nonmember—$90
  • Student Nonmember—$50
If you’re not signed into our site already, you’ll need to log in using your NABJ username and password to view the discounted member rates.