After making history this summer by naming Dr. Elayne H. Anthony, the first educator and the first African-American to serve on the Mississippi Association of Broadcasters (MAB) Board of Directors, the group made another historic move by having its first meeting at Jackson State University.
For the first time in its 74-year history, the organization met at JSU on October 30 and was hosted by the Department of Mass Communication in the Mississippi e-Center @ JSU located on Raymond Road. The Mississippi Association of Broadcasters is one of the nation’s leading state broadcast associations. With 100 percent of Mississippi TV stations, and 85 percent of Mississippi radio stations as members, the MAB represents the Mississippi broadcast industry in Washington, D.C. and at the state and local levels, and has been representing and serving Mississippi radio and television since 1941.
“MAB is an important voice for the broadcast industry in our state and I appreciate the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors. It will certainly provide an additional means for tracking issues and trends that our students should be aware of as they embark on their professional careers,” said Anthony, director of the Department of Mass Communications at JSU.
The mission of the JSU Department of Mass Communications (proposed School of Journalism and Media Studies) is to provide academic excellence in the areas of media production, multi-media journalism and integrated marketing. The Department provides students with theoretical and hands-on training needed to be successful in the field of media and communications, coupled with the core principles of basic journalism and digital communication.
The purpose of MAB is to assist members with broadcast industry and general business related challenges. The association serves as a catalyst on national and state issues, in matters affecting the broadcasting industry through a close working relationship with state and federal legislators, the FCC and other important parties.
Board officers include Chairman Johnny Boswell, owner of Boswell Media in Kosciusko, Miss., and Vice Chair Kenny Windham, general manager at iHeart Media in Jackson.
Anthony is a Jackson native who made a name for herself as the first African-American female news anchor on WJTV Channel 12. She previously served as chair of the communications department at Belhaven University.