FOUR weeks until the 2010 Griot Drum Awards

We are a little more than four weeks away from the only locally-produced journalism awards program, the 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet!

On Nov. 18, at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center in Tampa, the nationally-recognized Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists will highlight the best coverage of people of color and honor tomorrow's multimedia communicators.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a reception featuring local saxophonist Jonathan Milton. ESPN’s Jemele Hill, one of the few women of color serving as a national sports columnist and TV personality, will headline the 7 p.m. dinner and awards presentation. Since joining ESPN in November 2006, Hill has made regular appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN First Take, Jim Rome is Burning, and Outside the Lines.

More than 200 guests are expected to attend this year’s ceremony, which will be hosted by WFLA-Ch. 8 morning anchor Rod Carter and include performances by the Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts (formerly the Soulful Arts Dance Academy) and Tampa musical prodigy Caleb E. Sanders.

The best part is that all of this only costs a mere $20 for TBABJ members, $25 for non-members and $200 for a table of 10.

So go to tbabj.com, click on the 'Donate' tab and get your tickets today!

TBABJ appreciates your support!

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rodney Thrash
Co-chair, 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet
Cell: 813.610.1268
E-mail: rthrash@sptimes.com or TampaBayABJ@gmail.com

Bay News 9 Opening for Senior Producer!

Bay News 9 is looking for a senior producer for its enhanced programming department. The producer will create content for Bay News 9, Tampa Bay on Demand, Bay News 9 on Demand and Baynews9.com.

The producer will also work on our weekly political show, news franchises, live and live to tape long form specials and special event coverage. The is the ideal position for a creative person who wants to do news and more.

The ideal candidate will combine strong writing and producing skills with the ability to coordinate production. If you have two or more years of experience as a writer/producer, have live show experience, can work as a team player and solo, and have a proven record of meeting tight deadlines while producing excellent work, then don't hesitate to upload your resume to www.baynews9.com.

Knowledge of ENPS, Pinnacle Vortex and Liquid Edition non linear systems is a plus. This is not an entry level position.

Bay News 9 Job Opening!

Bay News 9 is looking for a web content editor who would translate broadcast news content onto traditional print format for Bay News 9's web site. Other duties include, but are not limited to, adding additional information, images, graphics, and video clips to the web site.

This position will not be writing for TV news, but there is constant deadline pressure with the job, because the web site updates when news breaks. Bay News 9 is looking for writers who want to stay on the online career track.

Candidates must have experience with non linear editing, HTML and broad based computer applications. Must work independently, be organized and be flexible.

Go to www.baynews9.com to apply!

And the 2010 Griot Drum finalists are ...

Congratulations to the following broadcast, new media and print professionals whose coverage of people of color earned them spots as finalists in the 2010 Griot Drum Awards contest!

The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists (TBABJ) will announce winners on Nov. 18 at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center, 11606 McKinley Drive, Tampa.

Tickets, which can be purchased at www.tbabj.com, are $20 for TBABJ members, $25 for non-members and $200 for a table of 10.

Look what that amount will get you: an opportunity to hobnob with bay area media influencers, a pre-banquet reception, a dinner, a keynote address by ESPN's Jemele Hill as well as performances by the Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts (formerly the Soulful Arts Dance Academy), Tampa musical prodigy Caleb E. Sanders and local saxophonist Jonathan Milton!

The master of ceremonies will be WFLA-Ch. 8 morning anchor Rod Carter.

So what are you waiting for? Click on the 'Donate' tab on the top right of the tbabj.com and get your tickets today!

THE FINALISTS

Shoshana Walter, The Ledger, Lakeland, one category

Starla Vaughns Cherin, The Florida Courier, Tampa, three categories

Merissa Green, The Ledger, Lakeland, one category

Jenise Morgan, The Florida Courier, Tampa, one category

Charles W. Cherry II, The Florida Courier, Tampa, two categories

Joyce Nanette Johnson, Citilife Magazine, St. Petersburg, one category

Demorris A. Lee, St. Petersburg Times, Clearwater, two categories

Colleen Jenkins, St. Petersburg Times, Tampa, one category

Stephanie Hayes, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, one category

Michael Kruse, St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, one category

Justin George, St. Petersburg Times, Tampa, one category

Michael Wilson, The Ledger, Lakeland, one category

Scott Wheeler, The Ledger, Lakeland, one category

Mark L. Schreiner, WUSF, Tampa, two categories

Lissette Campos, Randy Wright, Frank Barrera and Jennifer McVan, WFTS-Ch. 28, Tampa, one category

Jackie Callaway and Matt McGlashen, WFTS-Ch. 28, Tampa, one category

Staff, WEDU-Ch. 3, Tampa, one category

Jennifer McVan, Felicia Burton, Gregg Wyckoff, WFTS-Ch. 28, Tampa, one category

Nancy Ryan, Chris Smith and Peter Masa, WFLA-Ch. 8, Tampa, one category

Fred Bellet, Tampa Tribune, Tampa, one category

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Rodney Thrash
Co-chair, 2010 Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet
Cell: 813.610.1268
E-mail: rthrash@sptimes.com

TBABJ thanks the sponsors of its 2010 Griot Drum Awards and Scholarship Banquet

Our fifth Griot Drum Awards and Scholarship Banquet is only made possible by generous donations from an amazing array of sponsors.

Even amid the challenges of today's economy, these companies stepped forward to help the TBABJ's mission of spreading diversity in media and improving coverage of people color. Please use the links below to learn more about these important corporate citizens.

Platinum level sponsors
The New York Times Regional Media Group



The Nielsen Company




Bright House Networks


ValpakDirect Marketing Systems


The St. Petersburg Times/Times Publishing Co.



The United Way of Tampa Bay



The Scripps Howard Foundation



Gold Level Sponsors


Clear Channel Radio

Tucker/Hall

The News Service of Florida

WUSF Public Media

Silver Level Sponsors

Publix

Fox 13/WTVT-Ch. 13

TBABJ meeting on Nov. 6! (refreshments will be served)

TBABJ will hold its next meeting on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 11am at Candy Lowe's Team Time, 904 E. Henry Avenue in Tampa. Refreshments will be served.

Come out to meet new members, learn about upcoming events and purchase your ticket to the Griot Drum awards, which will be held on Thursday, Nov. 18. (Contact Rodney Thrash at rthrash@sptimes.com to purchase tickets or get more information about Griot Drum).

Got questions? Send an email to membership chair Nicole Hutcheson at TampaBayABJ@gmail.com.

See you there!

Job Openings from WPTV-TV in Palm Beach!

The following jobs are open at WPTV Newschannel 5 in Palm Beach. Contact Anne O'Mara, Human Resources Manager, for more information. Go to www.wptv.com to complet a profile and apply for the openings listed below:

Traffic Assistant
Assistant Chief Engineer
Promotions Writer/Producer
Weekend Meterologist
Managing Editor
Executive Producer
News Producer
Breaking News Anchor/Multimedia Journalist
Account Executive
Maintenance Engineer

View the official Griot Drum Awards promo and buy your tickets!

ESPN's Jemele Hill to keynote Griot Drum Awards

ESPN national columnist Jemele Hill has been confirmed as keynote speaker for the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists' fifth annual Griot Drum Awards and Scholarship Banquet.

Hill will headline the event, scheduled at 6 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center, 11606 McKinley Drive in Tampa. The TBABJ will award $5,000 in scholarships along with honors to area journalists who have excelled in covering people of color.

As one of the few women of color serving as a national sports columnist and TV personality, Hill serves as a powerful example of media diversity. She joined ESPN in November 2006 as a national columnist, making regular appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN First Take, Jim Rome is Burning, and Outside the Lines.

Before joining ESPN, Hill worked as a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel and covered sports for Detroit Free Press and Raleigh News & Observer.

In 2007, Hill won the first annual McKenzie Cup, in tribute to groundbreaking sports editor Van McKenzie, at the annual Poynter Media Summit. She also received an honorable mention in the 2007 edition of Best American Sports Writing.

Griot Drum sponsors include the St. Petersburg Times, The Nielsen Co., Bright House Networks, WTVT-Ch. 13, Tucker/Hall public relations, and the New York Times Regional Media Group.

Tickets are $20 for TBABJ members and $25 for non members or $200 for a table of ten, and can be purchased online at TBABJ.com.

Contact: Eric Deggans (727) 893-8521; deggans@sptimes.com

2010 Griot Drum Awards tickets now available online!

Tickets are now on sale for the Griot Drum Awards & Scholarship Banquet, the signature event of the nationally-recognized Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists!

Held each November, it is the only locally-produced journalism awards program that honors coverage of people of color.

The 2010 installment of Griot Drum will be held Nov. 18 at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center, 11606 McKinley Drive, Tampa.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with a reception featuring local saxophonist Jonathan Milton. ESPN’s Jemele Hill, one of the few women of color serving as a national sports columnist and TV personality, will headline the 7 p.m. dinner and awards presentation. Since joining ESPN in November 2006, Hill has made regular appearances on SportsCenter, ESPN First Take, Jim Rome is Burning, and Outside the Lines.

More than 200 guests are expected to attend this year’s ceremony, which will include performances by the Gulfcoast Academy of Performing Arts (formerly the Soulful Arts Dance Academy) and Tampa musical prodigy Caleb E. Sanders. Area high school seniors and college students will be given financial support to pursue their education in the field of journalism.

Proceeds from ticket sales will help TBABJ fund those scholarships. Tickets are $20 for TBABJ members, $25 for non-members and $200 for a table of ten.

Click on the 'Donate' tab on the top right of the tbabj.com and get your tickets today!

See you Nov. 18!

Best,

Rodney Thrash
Staff writer, St. Petersburg Times
Co-chair, 2010 TBABJ Griot Drum Awards
Office: 727.445.4167
Cell: 813.610.1268
E-mail: rthrash@sptimes.com

Griot Drum Scholarship deadline extended to Oct. 10

Do you know a journalism student of color with a tie to the Tampa Bay area?

Might they want some serious $$ for school this year?

They now have until October 10 to do something about it.
...
The Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists have extended our Griot Drum Scholarship deadline to Oct. 10. We are giving away $5,000 in scholarships, including one award for graduate students.

Because of growing demand, TBABJ will give away its first scholarship to a graduate journalism student this year for $1,000. In addition, two undergraduate students will each receive a $1,000 scholarship and one undergraduate student will receive a $2,000 scholarship.

Our goal: to help young journalists of color join the ranks of the working press. Please encourage all high school seniors, undergraduate and graduate students of color (African American, Hispanic, Asian, etc.) to apply for this contest by OCT. 10, 2010.

Applications must be postmarked by this date to be considered. Scholarship winners will be announced this year during TBABJ’s Griot Drum Awards ceremony, taking place in Tampa Nov. 18, at the Dr. Blaise F. Alfano Conference & Banquet Center,
11606 McKinley Drive.

To learn more about Griot Drum, visit www.tbabj.com. Students currently enrolled in college or graduating high school seniors are encouraged to apply. Previous grand prize winners are NOT eligible.

Applicants MUST have a connection to the Tampa Bay area, which includes Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota, among other communities in the region. We expect our winners to attend a reception before the Griot Drum ceremony and stay for the banquet.

Questions? Contact Kevin Graham, TBABJ’s Scholarship Coordinator, at 813-857-4096 or contactkevingraham@gmail.com.

Sunset Social for Members and Friends!

Want to learn more about the chapter and re-connect with TBABJ members and friends?

The chapter will host a Sunset Social at Kona Grill, 4134 W. Boy Scout Blvd. in Tampa. The event will be held on Friday, Oct. 15 from 5-8pm.

You can also purchase tickets for the Griot Drum awards on Nov. 18, which honors media coverage of people of color.

For more information, email the chapter at TampaBayABJ@gmail.com.

See you there!