Black Journalists, Media Executives in Louisiana, Nationwide to Discuss ‘Blackness and the Media’ in LSU Miniseries this October

October 5, 2020

blackness and the media miniseries graphicBATON ROUGE—The LSU Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs’ three-part miniseries, “Blackness and the Media,” kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, at 3:30 p.m. CST. Hosted in collaboration with the Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists and the LSU chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists, the October miniseries is the second installment of the Reilly Center’s yearlong racism series in partnership with Southern University and A&M College’s Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences, Louisiana Budget Project, NAACP Louisiana State Conference and LSU Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Spearheaded by LSU Manship School of Mass Communication assistant professor in public relations Sheryl Kennedy Haydel, “Blackness and the Media” will feature conversations on the advocacy of the Black Press, Black representation in mainstream media and Black social media influencers leveraging their platforms to champion social justice and equality for Black communities.

“When I learned about the Reilly Center’s plans to host the racism series, I knew there needed to be a conversation about the Black Press and its role in our society,” said Kennedy Haydel, who will moderate the series. “My own research focuses on the historical influences of the Black College Press and social movements like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo, so it was a natural decision to collaborate with the Reilly Center on this miniseries.”

The schedule for “Blackness and the Media” is below.

Oct. 7 | The Black Press: Advocating from the Beginning to Today | 3:30 p.m. CST

The first installment of “Blackness and the Media” will feature a conversation about the genesis of the Black Press, its advocacy role, the twists and turns of its existence, and ongoing fight to remain relevant during a time of increased media competition.

Panelists include: 

  • Sheryl Kennedy Haydel, Ph.D., APR, Assistant Professor in Public Relations, LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, Moderator
  • Anitra Brown, Managing Editor, The New Orleans Tribune
  • Crystal deGregory, Ph.D., Research Fellow, Middle Tennessee State University’s Center for Historic Preservation
  • Renette Dejoie-Hall, President and Publisher, The Louisiana Weekly
  • Cheryl Smith, Publisher of I Messenger News Group and Secretary of the National Association of Black Journalists

Oct. 21 | Justice for Us All: Black Journalists and Their Continued Fight for Accuracy, Representation and a Seat at the Table| 3:30 p.m. CST

This conversation will focus on Black representation in mainstream media outlets, as journalists and decision-makers are paramount in the continued fight for racial equity and social justice.

Panelists include: 

  • Sheryl Kennedy Haydel, Ph.D., APR, Assistant Professor in Public Relations, LSU Manship School of Mass Communication, Moderator
  • Jarvis DeBerry, Editor, Louisiana Illuminator 
  • Brandi Harris, Morning Anchor, WBRZ News 2
  • Angel Jennings, Assistant Managing Editor for Culture and Talent, Los Angeles Times
  • Marc Spears, Senior NBA Writer, The Undefeated

Oct. 28 | New Media, New Rules: How Social Media and Digital Media Outlets Help Expand the Black Narrative and March Toward Real Systemic Change | 3:30 p.m. CST

In the final installment, Kennedy Haydel will moderate a conversation about how social media influencers are leveraging their followers to champion social justice and equality for Black communities near and far.

The series will be hosted using Zoom and broadcast on Facebook Live. Admission is free, but you must register in advance on Eventbrite to receive the Zoom meeting access code. Episodes will also be recorded and uploaded to the Manship School’s YouTube channel. For more information, contact ksibley1@lsu.edu.

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The Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs is partnership-driven, action-oriented and dedicated to exploring contemporary issues at the intersection of mass communication and public life. Its interdisciplinary approach draws together experts from diverse fields to advance research and dialogue. The intent is to inspire our communities to think deeply, take action, develop solutions and broaden knowledge. Underlying the Center’s endeavors is to strengthen and advance the Manship School’s national and state leadership in media and politics.

LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication ranks among the strongest collegiate communication programs in the country, with its robust emphasis on media and public affairs. It offers undergraduate degrees in public relations, journalism, political communication, digital advertising and pre-law, along with four graduate degree programs: master of mass communication, Ph.D. in media and public affairs, certificate of strategic communication, and dual MMC/law degree.

The Nelson Mandela College of Government and Social Sciences at Southern University aims to educate students who will matriculate with the spirit of service, superb competence and employability skills needed in a global marketplace. The College is located on the campus of Southern University and A&M College, the flagship of the only HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) University System in the nation.

The Louisiana Budget Project (LBP) monitors and reports on state public policies and how they affect Louisiana’s low- to moderate-income families. Using research, outreach and advocacy, LBP educates policymakers, the nonprofit community and the public about the economic and racial barriers that Louisianans face each day, and looks for solutions that can create a more widely shared prosperity.

The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.

The Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists (BRAABJ) is made up of local media and media-related professionals whose mission is to highlight and support journalists of color and give back through mentoring and scholarships. The organization was founded in March 2012 and is an affiliate of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

An affiliate of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), LSU NABJ is the only black and only minority student organization within the Manship School of Mass Communication. The purpose of the LSU NABJ is to promote the advancement of minorities in the mass communication field by strengthening the ties among Black communication professionals through service, scholarship, and mentorship while providing an outlook on resources and professional development within the Manship School of Mass Communication.

The LSU Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a division of the Office of Academic Affair and provides support, referral and information to students, faculty and staff on issues and concerns related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. For more information, please visit lsu.edu/diversity.

Contact Kelci Sibley | LSU Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs | 225-578-0416 | ksibley1@lsu.edu   

 

 

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