How The Center for Journalism & Democracy is helping shape future Black Journalists
Written by Jayhlin Rodgers on October 15, 2024
By Jayhlin Rodgers
The 2024 Center for Journalism and Democracy (CJD) summit was filled with the distinct chatter of eager HBCU students.
Curiousness drove discussions on how Black journalists can dictate their voices within political reporting.
“HBCUs must cover political issues because, in this country, being Black is political,” said Nikole Hannah-Jones, founder of the CJD and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, “There’s no legislation or policy that won’t have a disproportionate effect—either positively or negatively—on Black people. If we’re not reporting the news, then we don’t have the chance to steer the narrative about our communities.”
Texas Southern University’s KTSU2 was one of nine HBCU newsrooms invited to the summit at Howard University in Washington, D.C., to learn from seasoned journalists and network with their peers.
Students explored the complexities of reporting on politics, a subject many believe HBCU newsrooms must learn to amplify Black voices in their respective communities.
“I think a lot of what’s covered in politics right now has to do with identity and Black people in politics,” said JD Jean-Jacques, editor-in-chief of Howard University’s The Hilltop, “I think for HBCUs in particular, it’s important to give a different perspective on those kinds of stories.”
JD Jean-Jacques
One prominent issue raised during the summit was the underfunding of HBCUs. These financial disparities often limit their ability to cover specific issues thoroughly.
That’s why the CJD prioritizes investing in HBCUs, aiming to remove these barriers and support the success of Black student journalists.
“We work closely with our consortium of HBCUs because we understand they have all the talent, ambition, and drive,” Hannah-Jones added.
Nikole Hannah-Jones
”But what they lack are resources. It’s important for us to provide those to students who feel a passion for journalism or understand the importance of telling our own stories, but they haven’t been invested in the way students at PWIs are.”
This year’s summit’s theme centered on “Oligarchy,” a term that puzzled many.
Oligarchy refers to the wealthy minority using their financial power to influence politics.
“When the very, very rich have so much money, they spend some of it on politicians and the courts, hoping they will act in ways that give them even more money,” explained Andrea Bernstein, journalist and author of American Oligarchs.
Andrea Bernstein
This complex concept opened discussions about the layers of politics that are often misunderstood and the anxiety that comes with reporting on such topics.
The summit equipped students with knowledge and skills to ease these anxieties and prepare them for their journeys of becoming the future voices of their communities.
“Something I gained from the summit is understanding that we have to go backward and move forward,” said Erin Slaughter, multimedia content director of KTSU2.
Erin Slaughter
We want to report and tell stories about politics, but some students don’t even understand the basics. To push our newsroom forward, we need to start with the basics.”
As political issues impact Black communities disproportionately, the role of HBCU student journalists becomes even more crucial.
By receiving the tools, education, and platforms needed to report on these topics, they can contribute meaningfully to shaping narratives and advocating for change.
Summits like CJD provide that foundation, and these future journalists are prepped to be powerful voices in the ever-evolving political landscape.