Temple Association of Black Journalists
was awarded earlier this month as the Student Chapter of the Year by the National
Association of Black Journalists.
TABJ received three nominations for the national honor, which was handed out at the 31st annual convention held in Indianapolis
from Aug. 16-20. Only one other school – University of North Carolina-Chapel
Hill – received at least one nomination. Outgoing TABJ President Donnell Jackson said he wasn’t made aware of Temple being
on the receiving end of the honor until three days into the convention.
NABJ’s Web site states that the Chapter
of the Year honor could be bestowed for any number of reasons, including commitment to community service and the journalism profession, as well as stark increases in a charter’s memberships and awarded scholarships.
TABJ has about 60 members, a marked improvement from when Jackson joined the organization upon his arrival at Temple.
“Membership could have [played a role] but black journalists that go to Temple are serious about their majors. That’s the biggest thing,” Jackson said. “They’re not just here to party. They’re worried about what they’re going to do after graduation.”
The convention, which draws about 3,000 attendees, is the largest professional gathering of black journalists.
Christopher Vito can be reached at cvitox01@temple.edu.
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