Emmanuel Morgan ’19 participates in NABJ multimedia workshop

Before assuming the top role in the student-run Elon News Network, Emmanuel Morgan ’19 strengthened his broadcast journalism skills at the 2018 National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Multimedia Short Course, held March 14-17 at N.C. A&T State University.

The Elon journalism major, who was recently appointed ENN’s executive director, was one of 30 student journalists­ who participated in the intensive four-day workshop, receiving instruction from experienced media professionals. As part of their training, the students used industry standard equipment and software to create a 30-minute newscast. Additionally, students produced webcasts, podcasts, video slideshows and related social media sites. 

The students compiled their work on a WordPress blog with links to their articles and multimedia content.

“The short course was a great experience because it got me out of my comfort zone,” Morgan said. “I was at a campus I wasn’t too familiar with and they told us to come back with a story and have it done by a very hard deadline. It benefitted me because I was pushed in the classroom and in the field and saw the results when the short course was over.”

During the workshop, the students were advised by mentors who are currently working as news directors, producers, writers, assignment editors and directors at several of the top television stations in the country. The mentors facilitated workshops on news writing, reporting, producing, politics in the newsroom and leadership.

Morgan worked closely with Ken Lemon, an award-winning reporter for WSOC-TV, an ABC affiliate in Charlotte. Lemon accompanied Morgan while the student journalist was on assignment, offering advice and insight for creating his broadcast package.

“He helped me think about my story visually,” Morgan said. “He helped me write my script, which is incredibly different from a print story.”

Morgan also singled out Brittny McGraw, an anchor for WSLS-TV in Roanoke, Virginia, and Anzio Williams, vice president of news for NBC 10-WCAU in Philadelphia, for their professional insights and mentorship during the seminar. Williams provided a unique perspective because of his managerial experience, noted Morgan.

“His advice was to keep expanding your skillset, and that stuck with me because one of my goals is to be as versatile as possible,” said Morgan. 

According to Morgan, who interned at the Charlotte Observer last summer, the short course increased his confidence in his broadcast journalism skills.

“Most of the professionals and students there were broadcast journalists, so I was in the minority,” he said. “By spending a few days immersed in that, along with reporting and shooting my first broadcast package on a deadline, it showed me how fun broadcast can be. I want to dip my foot in it a little bit more.” 

Morgan’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed as he earned the workshop’s Best Hustle award. He set himself apart by volunteering to shoot to a spot news event on campus.

“When they asked if any of the students could go shoot it, I was the first one to raise my hand,” he said. “I spend a lot of my time in ENN at the assignment desk editing stories, so it was really fun to get back to my roots and go into the field and report.” 

This year’s student participants hailed from Elon, N.C. A&T, Arizona State University, Columbia University, Texas Southern University, Clark Atlanta University, Xavier University of Louisiana, Morgan State University, Georgia State University, Kent State University, Tennessee State University, Queens College CUNY, San Jose State University, Middle Tennessee State University, Valdosta State University, Jacksonville State University, High Point University, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

The four-day journalism boot camp is the longest running workshop of its kind in association with NABJ. Since 1992, the course has educated more than 800 journalism and mass communication students from approximately 70 colleges across the U.S. and Canada.

Nagatha Tonkins, Elon’s director of internships and alumni relations, is credited with establishing the short course program. Prior to joining the School of Communications, Tonkins served as a journalism professor and internship director for N.C. A&T’s Journalism and Mass Communication Department.