Media arts and entertainment major selected for NABJ Student Multimedia Project

As a participant in the National Association of Black Journalists’ Student Multimedia Project program, Zora Stephenson ’15 will attend the organization’s national convention and career fair in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[/caption]​​Elon University media arts and entertainment major Zora Stephenson ’15 was selected to participate in the National Association of Black Journalists’ Student Multimedia Project program. NABJ offers the expenses-paid fellowship to outstanding students to report on its annual convention and career fair, and chronicle local stories in the convention’s host city.

This year’s event will be held Aug. 5-9 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Stephenson initially learned about the fellowship opportunity through Nagatha Tonkins, director of internships and external relations for the School of Communications, and applied for the program during the fall 2014 semester.

“I made it my goal to figure out a way to attend the NABJ National Conference,” said Stephenson. “I wanted to explore my options with scholarships and other opportunities that help students with the costs.”

NABJ has offered the fellowship for more than two decades, and the student program has become highly competitive. As part of the fellowship, selected participants will work alongside professional journalists and educators on platform projects such as broadcast, graphic design, print, public relations and more.

Participants will also help produce daily television newscasts and newspapers, as well as create and manage the official convention website.

Stephenson will be a part of the program’s broadcast team, and she hopes the experience will sharpen her reporting skills.

“It will be a week to remember, and I can’t wait for everything it will encompass,” Stephenson said.

Stephenson is actively involved on Elon’s campus as a university diversity ambassador, a member of the women’s basketball team, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Additionally, she is a reporter for Elon Local News and is currently interning at WNCN News in Raleigh.

By Cassidy Stratton ’16