Early workshops instruct, inspire UNITY participants
By Tarana Burke
Diversity Institute Fellow
08.06.04
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Marjorie Hernandez, a reporter for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star, will take lessons back to her newspaper.
Wednesday, she was among hundreds of UNITY 2004 participants who attended pre-convention workshops that ranged from investigative journalism to covering race and ethnicity.
The five-day conference aimed at bringing together journalists of color from across the country to learn, network and unite started Wednesday, but early workshops were offered for those who pre-registered.
Participants said the workshops exposed them to new concepts and different ways to handle situations that could arise in their careers.
“Hearing the personal stories of the panelists really stuck with me,” Hernandez, who attended a session on race and ethnicity, said. “I realized that there has to be an ongoing conversation about diversity in the newsroom.”
Pre-conference workshops “allow for a more intimate, classroom style environment and are conducive to hands-on training,” conference planners said in a written announcement.
In some instances, workshop attendees said they got a whole lot more.
“Meeting all of these people of color in leadership positions is inspiring,” said Daarel Burnette, a Hampton University journalism student who attended an investigative reporting workshop. “Seeing all of these journalists of color that made it really exciting. … It makes me feel like I can do it.”
With all of its available work stations filled, a non-linear editing workshop was well attended. The seminar focused on teaching “Final Cut Pro HD,” an audio/visual editing program for people in all facets of broadcast and new media. This type of editing program would have cost more than $100,000 in the past, workshop facilitator Valentin Sapcariu said. Now, newsrooms with modest budgets can afford to produce high quality work by using Final Cut Pro.
“This is important for minority journalists,” Sapcariu said. “With this program, they can compete with production from major markets.”
Additional workshops will be daily until Saturday. The convention ends Sunday with a gospel brunch.