Jackson State University hosted the 3rd Annual National Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Media Summit June 27-29 at the Student Center.
One of the events of the summit was the HBCU Awards programs, which acknowledged and celebrated the achievements of historically black colleges and universities throughout the United States. Crowning winners in the fields of leadership, arts, athletics, research, and community engagement, the HBCU Awards presentation is the first and only event to recognize the influence and impact of HBCUs on American culture. At this year’s awards program, Jackson State won two awards: Best Marching Band (JSU Sonic Boom) and Best Male Athlete (Anaso Jobodwana).
Also, several university presidents and communications professionals presented to public relations and marketing personnel from HBCUs across the country.
M. Christopher Brown, Ph.D., president of Alcorn State University, talked about the importance of being prepared when university-related news goes national. The president of Dillard University, Walter Kimbrough, Ph.D., who was given the nickname “the Hip-Hop Prez”, talked to the attendees about the importance of social media and how best to use it. Earl Richardson, Ph.D., president emeritus of Morgan State University, discussed strategies regarding HBCU research and media agenda setting.
“We are honored that Jackson State University, one of the nation’s premier centers of education, research and service, wass so willing to open its doors and community to help us pioneer a new cultural staple in support of HBCUs,” said Jarrett Carter Sr.,
founder and executive director of the Center for HBCU Media Advocacy and founding editor of the HBCU Digest.
Jackson State has produced hundreds of media professionals who work throughout the country and is home to student media outlets including the award-winning Blue & White Flash newspaper and JSU-22 Tiger TV. The University Communications team runs JSU’s Digital Media Center, which includes JSUTV, WJSU 88.5 FM and the Tiger Sports Network, as well as the university’s marketing, public relations and athletic media relations efforts.
Veteran newspaperman and JSU graduate, Eric Stringfellow, is executive director of University Communications.
“We were honored to be selected to host the National HBCU Media Summit and annual HBCU Awards,” said Stringfellow, a former reporter, editor and columnist for The Clarion-Ledger andwho has taught journalism for more than two decades at JSU, Tougaloo College and the University of Mississippi. “We were excited to help further the conversation about the impact we can make through our media strategies.”
Designed to engage the national HBCU community in media literacy and development, the National HBCU Media Summit will provide best practices in media culture building from HBCU communities from around the nation. Through dialog with practicing journalists, administrators, PR professionals, faculty and students, the summit assists in providing a focused, national media strategy for HBCUs.