Black
Press Business/Economic
Feature
Week of October 14, 2013
BUSINESS EXCHANGE
By William Reed
Take Note of this Black Institution
"We wish to plead our own cause.
Too long have others spoken for us." – Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm
That’s the
sentiment of individuals at Morgan State University's
(MSU) School of Global Journalism and Communication. When Cornish and Russwurm
wrote these words nearly two centuries ago in Freedom's Journal, they started America’s Black Press. Founded as a New York City
weekly on March 16, 1827, Freedom's
Journal was established the same year that slavery was abolished in the
state of New York. The paper served to counter the mainstream press on racial
issues and interests. Cornish and Russwurm worked as senior and junior editors,
respectively.
Richard Prince’s online news on journalism diversity issues, Journal-isms,
was first to report that DeWayne Wickham, USA
Today and Gannett Company columnist “was set to create a school of
communications at Morgan State University.” Nowadays, Wickham is saying: “Morgan has given me the honor of
conceptualizing this school and serving as its founding dean.” Kweisi Mfume,
chairman of the Morgan State University Board of Regents recently introduced
its new School of Global Journalism and Communication, located at 4905 Perring
Parkway in Baltimore, during a ribbon cutting ceremony and Civil Rights and Media
Symposium.
For Blacks seeking success and
advancement in journalism, Wickham is well-suited to be dean of MSU’s School of
Global Journalism and Communication to prepare Black students. A National
Association of Black Journalists’ Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Wickham is a visionary in
the field. His reach and ability to “conceptualize” were evident in the
school’s recent presentation. Having ABC News Anchor and Chief National
Correspondent Byron Pitts
moderate the symposium on the Media and
the Civil Rights Struggle in 1963, the most tumultuous year of the Civil
Rights Movement was Wickham’s doing. Pitts led a panel of distinguished
journalists analyzing coverage of events such as the March on Washington, the
assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Medgar Evers, the Birmingham
Children’s Crusade and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing.
There are some among contemporary
African Americans of the “white is right” mentality and who seek “mainstream
institutional” education. They should go elsewhere, but in reality, Wickham
plans to help students “plead our own cause” and ensure that they receive the
education, skills and experiences needed to become successful journalists in
the 21st century. The opening of MSU’s School of Global Journalism
and Communication makes that institution the nation’s only historically Black
College with a primary mission to train the next generation of journalists and
mass communicators to compete in a global environment.
During the 180 years since the
appearance of Freedom’s Journal, the Black Press
has chronicled and commented upon events as they have occurred and affected
African Americans. Throughout his distinguished career, Wickham has stayed true to
our culture. Wickham has already left an indelible mark on the Black
Press and made arrangements for some MSU students to intern with the Afro newspapers. He’s co-founder of The Trotter
Group, an organization of Black columnists, and a National Association of Black
Journalists founding member and former president. Wickham’s
contributions in public policy, politics and civic
engagement are unparalleled. He has also worked for Black
Enterprise magazine and as executive editor of BlackAmericaWeb.com.
At the symposium, Paul Delaney, a retired New York
Times editor and national correspondent, chronicled the role of the Black
Press in the Civil Rights Movement as a reporter for the Atlanta Daily World.
The symposium provided a platform for Black reporters like Delaney to recount
the outstanding coverage that the Black Press provided during the Civil Rights
Movement’s most important events. The
symposium special included video interviews with Simeon Booker who led JET magazine’s Civil Rights coverage
and Moses Newson who risked his
life covering major events such as the Till murder trial, and Freedom Rides in
1963.
Wickham’s influence on students can
be significant. His venture with MSU can set the standard for Blacks. Wickham
can become a beacon for Blacks in journalism going forward.
William
Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America” and available for
projects via the BaileyGroup.org.
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