(Birmingham, AL) — As the Birmingham commemorates the 50th anniversary of its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists is recognizing the news media’s equally important role in covering the Movement.
BABJ will host “Standing On Their Shoulders, a the two-day event honoring the pioneers who helped cover the events of Birmingham 1963. It will also examine the coverage of civil and human rights issues today and in the future.
Friday, September 6
WHAT: Mountaintop Awards Ceremony
WHEN: Reception 6:00pm, Dinner 7:00pm
WHERE: The Harbert Center, 2019 4th Ave. North, Birmingham
EVENT INFO: CNN’s Don Lemon, a former Birmingham anchor, is the featured speaker. Our honorees include Emory O. Jackson, crusading editor of the Birmingham World newspaper, Shelley Stewart, entrepreneur and radio personality and Jessie Lewis, Sr., publisher of The Birmingham Times. The three will receive special recognition for their heroics in covering events that affected the black community during a period when other media outlets did not.
PRICE: $75 per person, $1,000 per table*
Register online HERE
Saturday, September 7
WHAT: “Standing on their Shoulders” Conference
WHEN: 8:00am – 1:00pm
WHERE: The Birmingham News, 2201 4th Ave North, Birmingham
EVENT INFO: The conference features Pulitzer Prize winning author Hank Klibanoff, whose book, “The Race Beat,” chronicles how the media covered the civil rights movement from Brown vs. the Board of Education to the Selma-to-Montgomery march. Also former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones will discuss the role the media played in bringing the 16th Street Baptist Church bombers to justice.
PRICE: Admission is free, but registration is required. An optional $10 box lunch will also be available.
*Proceeds go to the BABJ Scholarship Fund.
Register online HERE
For more information, contact:
Linda White, BABJ Chapter President
lwhite@wvtm.com
(205) 410-3406
Willie Chriesman, Event Committee Chair
willie@chriesman.com
(205) 223-3010
