For the first time in history, two Florida A&M University (FAMU) Rattlers will serve on the board for the National Association of Black Journalists, which represents more than 3,200 journalists across the nation. Kathy Times, an alumna of the FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communication, and Georgia Dawkins, a current broadcast journalism student, have been elected as NABJ president and student representative respectively.
“For Kathy, it’s a tremendous honor,” said Rod Carter, FAMU alum and anchor for NBC 13 in Birmingham, Ala. “For the Rattler nation, we’ve got an incredible advocate for journalists…and students.”
James Hawkins, FAMU SJGC dean, said, “Kathy is simply impressive. Her commitment to journalism and diversity is unwavering. NABJ is in good hands with Kathy as its president.”
During a news conference announcing the election results, Times shared her love for FAMU.
“I was editor of The Famuan, and I got leadership training through that,” said Times. “I learned accuracy counts. If you made one fact error you got an F (grade)…and that made me a better journalist.”
Times said she plans to implement “NABJ 360.”
“It is a great initiative to help our members get online training and entrepreneurial training,” said Times. She also plans to work on an aggressive strategic plan for fundraising and will continue to hold industry leaders accountable.
Times is an Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and co-anchor of Fox 40 News at 9 in Jackson, Miss. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in journalism and computer information systems from FAMU and was the 2008 recipient of the FAMU SJGC Thelma Thurston Gorham Distinguished Alumnus Award. She is the former NABJ vice president of broadcast.
Dawkins, who was named one of the top 100 student journalists in the nation earlier this year by UWire, said, “I’m humbled by this opportunity. I will work to increase student retention and student member activity.”
“Georgia rules!” said FAMU SJGC Dean Hawkins. “Last year, her work led to our chapter’s selection as the NABJ chapter of the year. Now she’s the NABJ student representative.”
Dawkins is a senior broadcast journalism student from Sebring, Fla., and the former FAMU-ABJ chapter president who worked this summer at ABC News in New York City. The FAMU-ABJ chapter was a finalist for the NABJ Student Chapter of the Year.
Caption: (From left to right) Kathy Times and Georgia Dawkins.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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