(Press Release from BABJ – Birmingham, AL) Birmingham journalists’ group brings subject of one of the year’s most controversial news stories to town for a conversation with the public. The Birmingham Association of Black Journalists is bringing wrongly fired U.S. Department of Agriculture official Shirley Sherrod to the Magic City for the “BABJ Newsmaker Event: A Conversation with Shirley Sherrod.
Mrs. Sherrod was in the middle of a media firestorm in 2010 after comments she made about race and her feelings on the subject were taken out of context by a conservative blogger. She was quickly fired from her job as an Agriculture Department official after an edited video of her comments was posted on the Internet; only to be offered her job back after it was determined that what she actually said was just the opposite of what she was purported to have said.
What actually happened? How did she deal with the unfairness of the situation? What has she learned and what does she think the nation has learned from what happened to her? Those questions will be answered in a unique question-and-answer format that will include audience participation.
This event is open to the public. Tickets are $30 for the main program. There will also be the opportunity to attend a VIP reception prior to the program where attendees can meet Mrs. Sherrod. Ticket information can be found at BABJ’s website, www.babj.net.
The Birmingham Association of Black Journalists is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to promoting the employment and retention of media professionals while seeking to provide opportunities for professional growth and development. Proceeds from the event will go to the BABJ Scholarship Fund, which helps provide college tuition to deserving students interested in careers in journalism, media and communications,
This is the latest in a series of Newsmaker events hosted by BABJ. Previous guests have included We have hosted Newsmaker Awards Banquets with such outstanding speakers as astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison , former Iraq war POW Shoshana Johnson, real-life “Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and CNN commentator Roland Martin.
WHAT: BABJ Newsmaker Event: A Conversation with Shirley Sherrod
WHEN: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Birmingham Museum of Art
For More Information Contact:
Ronda Robinson
205-602-2123
Sharifa Wip
334-663-0838
