Conference Commits to Assess the Direction of the Public Relations Sector and Trends in the Industry for PR Practitioners of Color

WASHINGTON, March 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) will present its Conference for Media Related Professionals on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the Associated Press Headquarters in New York City.

The day-long conference organized by NABJ's Associate Members delegation begins with an insightful dialogue with Terrie Williams, a critically acclaimed public relations guru and author who will deliver the keynote address. Other attendees include: Wynona Redmond, President of the National Black Public Relations Society; Marvet Britto, celebrity publicist and frequent CNN contributor; PR Expert Karen Taylor Bass; Crystal Howard, Director of Public Relations for ESPN; Myorr Janha, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Russell Simmons Design Group/Rush Communications; Malcolm Berkley, Public Relations Manager for UPS; Mario Armstrong, on-air tech expert for NPR's Morning Edition; and Errol Cockfield, Press Secretary for Gov. David Patterson (NY-D).

"This is the first time NABJ is committing to hosting a program entirely focused on public relations professionals," said NABJ President Barbara Ciara. "This conference is an excellent opportunity for public-relations professionals and journalists to engage in discussions on the common ground that these two industries share."

Conference workshop topics include: The Changing Face of Public Relations: What is Next on the Horizon?; Using PR to Give Back to Our Communities: Where Corporate Responsibility and PR Meet; PR in the Matrix: How Advances in Social Media Can Catapult Your PR Efforts to New Heights; Corporate vs. Agency vs. Entrepreneurship - Which is Best for Media Professionals of Color?; and Moving on Up - Getting to the C-Suite.

"We are gathering the best and brightest public relations professionals in the country to discuss how we all can enhance our crafts," said NABJ Associate Representative Aprill O. Turner. "At a changing time in the media landscape, creating the opportunity to engage in dialogue on our experiences in this sector is more important now than ever before. "

This conference is hosted by NABJ's Media Institute. The Institute seeks to teach, compile, disseminate and chronicle information about African Americans in the field of journalism and news media, and acts as a clearinghouse for information to entities interested in the media and establishing a connection with black journalists. The NABJ Media Institute offers professional development opportunities, technical training, historical documentation, educational programs, conferences, workshops, entrepreneurial guidance, as well as web seminars, which consist of quality content and provides resources for students, journalists, and public relations practitioners of color, relating to the media industry.

For full registration information, the schedule and workshops, please visit: www.nabj.org.

An advocacy group established in 1975 in Washington, D.C., NABJ is the largest organization of journalists of color in the nation, with more than 4,100 members, and provides educational, career development and support to black journalists worldwide.