WSSU hosts record attendance at N.C. student media conference

Winston-Salem State and The News Argus went into  North Carolina College Media Association history book, by bringing in the largest number of conference participants in  the five years of  the Association's existence.

At least 131 students and their advisers were in attendance Feb. 18.

Forty-six colleges and universities competed in the Best of Show competition.

The News Argus won Best of Show Online News.

Schools in attendance included Greensboro College, North Carolina State University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, Shaw,  NC A&T  State, Johnson C. Smith, and Elon University.  

"It was great to see the increase in numbers," said Monica Hill, director of NCCMA.

"We had the largest group we've had to date."

Conference activities were in Thompson Center, The News Argus office and Diggs Gallery.

"Election Coverage" this year's theme was discussed during the opening panel. The panel included Jim Morrill, Charlotte Observer; and Carol Hanner, Winston-Salem Journal.

Philip Jeter, Mass Communications Department chair was the panel moderator.

Some faculty members from the mass communications department led conference sessions.

Thes topics of the sessions included photography, radio, news packages and an update s about  student press law.

"I was extremely impressed with the speakers I got to see at WSSU and how smoothly everything went," said Bradley Wilson, editor of Communication: Journalism Education Today magazine at NC State.

"Five years into the association, [the conference was] full of sessions and speakers, and served all students in all different areas," Hill said.  

Roxanne Jones, co-founder of ESPN The Magazine, was the keynote speaker at the luncheon.

Jones is the current CEO of PUSH Marketing Group, a media strategy and content firm.

During her speech, Jones stressed the importance of being a well-rounded ‘mass communicator'.

She also expressed how networking, and the National Association of Black Journalists helped make her career more rewarding.

"From all the people I spoke with that attended the conference [that were not from Winston-Salem State], they were all impressed with the event that we put on, and indicated that they had a wonderful time and learned valuable information at the sessions," Jeter said.

The News Argus staff assisted in the facilitation of the conference.

"I really appreciated the help the students provided," Wilson said.

"I am proud of our faculty and students who participated, and my hat's off to Dr. [Lona D.] Cobb for pulling the event off," Jeter said.

Provost Brenda Allen and Theo Howard, vice chancellor of Student Affairs, were instrumental in funding for the event.

"I could not have made it [the conference] happen without support from Provost Allen, Academic Affairs and Mr. Howard, and of course  all the members of the Argus staff," Cobb said.