NEW YORK, N.Y.– The National Association of Caribbean-American Journalists will hold its third bi-annual meeting at The New York Times’ headquarters in New York City on May 31 and June 1, 2012. The theme is “Styling Caribbean Identities: Reclaiming the Past, Building the Future.”
The two-day conference includes the John Russworm Excellence Award luncheon June 1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1: 30 p.m., and will convene journalists, scholars, and community advocates from the Caribbean and the United States, especially from New York, Washington D.C., New Jersey and Connecticut.
Confirmed speakers for the June 1 plenary session at the NACAJ conference are: Herman Hall, publisher and editor of Everybody’s Caribbean-American magazine; Elsie Foster-Dublin, council president of Highland Park, New Jersey; Kenton Kirby, Editor-in-Chief of Caribbean Life newspapers; Founding Editor and Publisher of The Hartford Guardian Ann-Marie Adams and Ambassador Denis Antoine. Other invited include journalists from the New York Daily News, Amsterdam News, and The New York Times.
The New York Times Dec. 5th 2011 article “Drop a bomb and wipe them all out” served as a rallying cry for some Caribbean-Americans to voice concerns about the New York Police Department’s conduct in their community. But unfortunately, the story is not new. The luncheon plenary will examine the aftermath of the story and discuss ways to keep the community and the NYPD accountable.
Many Caribbean-American journalists thought it was important to respond to the article.
“I’see it as my duty to stand up and be counted in defense of our community and to demand respect and reciprocity for our contribution to this our adopted homeland,” said Kirby.
Besides the plenary session, the regional conference will hold workshops on watchdogging government at all levels in the Caribbean and the Diaspora in the U.S. and new media. Presenters and attendees include journalists from The New York Times, New York Daily News, The Hartford Guardian, Everybody’s Caribbean-American Magazine, Caribbean Life newspapers and other regional publications. Investigative reporters and editors will conduct the better watchdog workshop.
About 50 local and international journalists are expected to attend the professional workshops, plenary session and Russworm Excellence Award luncheon.
For sponsorship information, please email us at nacaj@nacaj.org.
Founded in June 2007, the National Association of Caribbean-American Journalists is a non-profit organization based in the U.S.A. for Caribbean-American journalists, journalism professors, public relations professionals and students. NACAJ provides ongoing professional educational and networking opportunities for members and advocates visibility for regional and diasporic issues.
