NABJ, NAHJ Agree on Joint Convention in D.C. for 2016
The National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists announced Tuesday that they had completed arrangements to host a joint convention Aug. 3-7, 2016, in Washington.
The presidents of the two groups announced at each organization’s summer convention that they had signed a memorandum of understanding and would work on details. The prospect of a joint 2016 meeting could attract 3,000 journalists in that election year, the presidents said. “I want a [presidential] debate at NABJ-NAHJ 2016,” NABJ President Bob Butler said then.
Butler said in Tuesday’s announcement, “I made it clear to Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus during his appearance at NABJ in Boston and the Democratic National Committee that we would like their respective parties’ nominees to address our members and answer questions at our convention in 2016.”
Mekhalo Medina, NAHJ president, said, “NAHJ is privileged to be part of what will be a monumental moment in 2016. Two of the country’s largest journalism organizations representing two of the country’s largest groups of color — it will be a must-attend convention for everyone.”
A convention of 3,000 journalists of color would make it the largest such conference since the 2008 Unity: Journalists of Color meeting in Chicago. Some 7,550 attended on its final Sunday, though that figure includes sponsors and others who were not registered. [Added Jan. 13]