Join 10,000 journalists from NAHJ, the National
Association of Black Journalists, the Native American Journalists
Association and the Asian American Journalists Association as they combine
their annual conventions for the fourth time in history.
The largest convention of journalists in the United States will feature dozens of professional development
workshops, plenary sessions, and the largest Media Showcase and Career Expo in the
industry — including over 400 recruiting and exhibiting booths — as well as the best networking events around. Don't miss out!
NAHJ Special Events @ UNITY
THE TOP TEN REASONS YOU SHOULDN’T MISS UNITY ‘08!
10. Keeping up with the times means keeping your job. Three day-long multimedia training sessions on Wednesday, July 23 and other multimedia sessions throughout the rest of the convention will be in high demand. Seats are limited, stay tuned for instructions on how to sign up.
9. Hot talk about immigration, a “new” Cuba, black-brown relations is sure to get you thinking. There is so much to say about all these critical topics, from journalists’ and the community’s point of view, that NAHJ felt it had to set up the dialogue for the UNITY audience.
8. Learn how to do more with less and impress your boss. Pick up tips at the “Investigative Reporting with Shrinking Budgets” session on Friday morning and then stop by “Multimedia Story Telling on the Cheap” on Saturday.
7. Some of the industry’s best and brightest will be there. Among dozens of high-profile speakers and experts: PBS’ Maria Hinojosa, CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon, FOX’s Geraldo Rivera, NPR’s Allison Keyes, ABC’s Nightline’s Martin Bashir, and the list goes on and on.
6. You can pretend you’re in Granada, Spain, and two nights later think about Puerto Rico. Moving your hips at a world-music bash in a spot full of furniture from Egypt, Morocco and Lebanon inspired by the 13th-century Alhambra palace in Spain is a great way to take a break and party with all our UNITY brothers and sisters. Then two nights later, close out the convention with the “Vamos Pa’ Puerto Rico!” party looking ahead to NAHJ’s 2009 convention in San Juan.
5. Get tips on how to draw in your audience. Knowing the difference between a “cholo” and a “mocha-chino” could determine whether you write a truly-valuable feature or just make the readers cringe. At 11 sessions, journalists will gain a deeper understanding of new faces and issues.
4. Join in fighting media consolidation. We know it has cost jobs, decimated the ranks of media owners of color, and done a real number on the amount and sometimes the quality of local news that can be covered. Former NAHJ president Juan Gonzalez and others will discuss what Congress is doing about it and how UNITY and journalists can stay involved.
3. Honor NAHJ founders and celebrate the bicentennial of Spanish-language media in U.S. NAHJ founders Juan Gonzalez, Maggie Rivas-Rodriguez and 19th-century pioneering newspaper editor Francisco Ramirez will be inducted into the NAHJ Hall of Fame this year, which also marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of El Misisipi, the country’s first Spanish-language newspaper.
2. It’s simply the best networking around. The 400-booth UNITY Media Showcase and Career Expo and the plethora of receptions, sessions, and other ways to meet thousands of executives and colleagues are a must to stay employed and develop your career in these challenging times.
1. The presidential candidates will be there. Well, they’ve been invited. And since they came to UNITY 2004 in Washington, D.C., there is strong possibility they will accept the invitation to answer questions WE want to ask – questions they don’t usually get on the campaign trail. The presidential forums, set for the afternoon of July 24 will be aired on CNN.
NAHJ held its 25th Anniversary Convention and Media & Career Expo on June 13-16, 2007.
NAHJ's 25th Anniversary Book: 25 Years of Taking the Lead
