Telegram Goes to Tennessee - Tales From the NNPA Conference

The NNPA is a nation wide network of black owned newspaper publishers. For over a hundred years, the black press has been instrumental in telling the stories of black people. Fighting the good fight with a pen not a pistol.

Every year the NNPA hosts a conference to allow publishers to share information that will better their papers, and their organizations as a whole. The Nashville JW Marriott was packed to the brim with publishers, writers, politicians, and media connoisseurs to exchange information. Telegram editor and publisher Gina Wilson Steward regularly attends the NNPA conference. This time around, her staff reporters had the privilege of attending.

The crew waited in the Delta Airline terminal. After patiently waiting a five hours, four delays and an eventual flight cancellation, the team was forced to rent a SUV and burn the midnight oil from Romulus to Nashville. Upon arrival there was only time for a catnap before getting to business.

Thursday sessions started off with breakfast and NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr formally introducing himself and welcoming the publishers. Attendees were also blessed with a serenade from a beautiful choir, and a prayer from Reverend Howard E. Jones, Jr. Information spread like wildfire after breakfast. The topic was focused on how to engage the next generation through culture. Jarren Small, CEO of Educational Entertainment of Reading with a Rapper took the stage with his team. The Texas organization specializes in teaching phonics and literacy with the help of rap lyrics. Reading with a Rapper has support from artists like Bun B and Meek Mill and is steadily spreading across the country. Thursday panels also included a Google News Initiative presentation where Tina Xiao explained how to best use the Google system to a publisher's advantage.

Thursday also hosted the NNPA Fund 2023 Messenger Awards Dinner. Where the NNPA Fund presented their scholarship award winners, and honored publishers who submitted pieces that were eligible for award.

Categories ranged from sports, people, healthcare, and environmental. Almost anything that can be published in print media had its own category. The Sacramento Observer walked away with top honors and it's Publisher, Larry Lee, was selected as Publisher of the Year by the fellow publishers. Our own publisher, Gina Wilson Steward was elected to serve on the NNPA Fund Board for the next two years representing Region 3 publishers.

Friday Panels included Tyrone Law, Senior Public Relations Specialist for Zillow. Where he explained housing trends in black America, disparities in the market, and how his organization offers resources to even the playing field. Friday's keynote speaker was the Honorable Keith Ellison, Mr. Ellison is the Attorney General for the state of Minneapolis. The Honorable Keith Ellison, a Detroit native lead the persecution team of Derek Chauvin, The police officer that murdered George Floyd in 2020. Mr. Ellison also detailed his first-hand account of leading that team. Mr. Ellison also took the stage to explain police violence in America. He explained the statistics, the money, and how it affects just more than the victim.

Friday night was a celebration as guests adorned themselves in their Sunday best. The spirit of giving accolades continued from the night before with the NNPA National Awards Legacy Gala Dinner. The NNPA honored Justin J. Pearson and Justin B. Jones, two Tennessee State Representatives with the NNPA Legacy Award. The two joined a gun control protest group after the Covenant School shooting. The house casted their vote and expelled 'The Justins', but both of them were quickly voted back in by their respective communities. The Honorable Keith Ellison received the last award for the night. The NNPA awarded him with the Courage and Leadership award. The Gala was more than an event to present awards. It was also a changing of the guard. Mr. Bobby Henry of the Westside Gazette was voted in as the new NNPA Chairman of the Board.

The morning after some publishers stayed for breakfast, the Publishers' Think Tank and the General Jackson Lunch boat cruise. Others checked out of the JW Marriott to take the information learned, and relationships earned back to their respective land. The next four years of the NNPA Conference are already mapped out, Baltimore, Savannah, potentially Huntsville, and Washington DC. The black press has been a necessity to this country, and will only continue to evolve. The 200th year of the Black Press will be celebrated in Washington DC in 2027. I would like to thank the NNPA and the Telegram Newspaper for allowing me to be a part of such an illustrious event.