Student Writers Received Honors from Black PR Wire for Being the No. 1 HBCU

Matthew Beatty, associate director for Public Affairs for Black PR Wire’s Miami-based company, visited Florida A&M University (FAMU) School of Journalism and Graphic Communication (SJGC) to honor a group of FAMU students who had been actively involved in writing for the company’s HBCU Writers’ Project initiative. FAMU was the No. 1 HBCU to submit the most press releases. FAMU won the honor over Johnson C. Smith University, Savannah State University and Florida Memorial University to name a few. FAMU students submitted 29 press releases and 25 were published.

Black PR Wire, an online news service, launched the new initiative called the HBCU Writers’ Project in August of last year. The project was specifically designed to encourage students at HBCUs to write news stories with national appeal, submit the stories to Black PR Wire for critical editorial review, and, if approved, gain visibility for their work through publication on the Black PR Wire web site.

Beatty, a recent graduate of the FAMU SBI five-year program, stated it felt great to come back to FAMU.

“I am excited to be back at my alma mater to honor the students,” said Beatty. “I am a firm believer in an HBCU education.”

Beatty presented each student with a certification and a flash drive. He also presented HP laptop to Gina Kinchlow’s class. The students honored are students in Kinchlow’s class, who is an assistant professor for the public relations sequence in the Division of Journalism.

“For the past three semesters, students in the public relations sequence have been encouraged to submit examples their writing to the project,” said Gina Kinchlow, assistant professor, FAMU’s SJGC. “I’m very pleased with what the students have accomplished.”

One student, Jeanine James, had five articles published, more than any other HBCU student in the project.

“It is wonderful to be recognized,” said James, a senior from St. Croix, Virgin Islands. “This accomplishment is something I can add to my portfolio.”

You can see photos o Black PR Wire honoring FAMU students at http://www.famu.edu/famcast/photos/

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About Black PR Wire
Black PR Wire is the nation’s first and largest black news distribution wire service. The company’s database holds a comprehensive listing of more than 1,200 black-owned publications and media and includes a comprehensive listing of key black journalists throughout the United States and the Caribbean.

Black PR Wire delivers its clients’ press releases, video and audio news releases, electronic video messages and electronic newsletters to key reporters, writers, and influential grassroots, social and civic community leaders throughout the country.