For the first time since becoming an organization on campus, Winthrop University’s chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists was nationally recognized as the Student Chapter of the Year.
Winthrop’s chapter of the association, commonly referred to as WU ABJ, was founded in 2009 and became the first student chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists in South Carolina.
Brooke Frierson, president of WU ABJ and a mass communication major, had a few things to state about the overall success of the organization and what this accomplishment meant to the group as a whole.
“It was a proud moment because we had worked so hard for the past few years to make sure our chapter got recognition on campus and nationally,” Frierson said when asked how it felt to win Student Chapter of the Year.
“I was extremely happy,” Nathaniel Frederick, associate professor of mass communication and faculty advisor to WU ABJ, said about the award for Student Chapter of the Year.
Frederick has served as faculty advisor to WU ABJ for eight years. “For me, it was a culmination of all the work that those students have put in over the years from the inception of this chapter,” Frederick said. “I know how hard these students work, and I’m just so happy that they were recognized.”
Frierson said that all of the major events that WU ABJ hosted helped them continue to represent themselves on campus, create a bigger name for the organization and promote professional development.
“We had an etiquette dinner where we taught guests about table etiquette, business etiquette and street etiquette. The second event featured money management. Both events included a catered dinner. We had a website workshop, a panel event featuring student athletes and sports journalists discussing topics about prominent journalists’ comments such as, ‘athletes like Lebron James should shut up and dribble,’” Frierson said. “We had a [mass communication] boot camp where professionals came and taught mini workshops to students. We also partnered with Collegiate Curls to host an event called ‘Nappy but Qualified’ which discussed about natural hair in the workplace.”
Considering the accomplishments of WU ABJ, Frierson offered advice to other student organizations on how to be successful with hosting and facilitating great events.
“I would tell other organizations to not worry about who attends events and who doesn’t because at the end of the day, if you have a quality event, that’s an accomplishment for your [organization],” Frierson said. “People at Winthrop tend to only go to events that are held by [organizations] with people who can do things for them, not because they actually want to learn something. So do what’s best for your [organization].”
Frierson said that WU ABJ’s “big sister” organization helped the group to accomplish their feat.
“We are most grateful for Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists. They were super supportive and encouraging and are always willing to help us out with a panel event and mentor us. They come to our events and even sponsored us to go to the Regional Conference,” Frierson said.
Frederick said that the local chapter of the NABJ have played a major role in supporting WU ABJ and that the local chapters often work closely with the student chapters.
“We really could not have achieved as much as we did without the participation of the local chapter,” Frederick said, regarding the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists.
“I think we will continue having events that are helpful for students and where they can learn professional skill building and potentially help them get a job or internship in the future. We also plan to continue to have similar events but to take student feedback about current events to bring quality events to campus,” Frierson said when asked about WU ABJ’s future goals.
The overall mission of the organization is being dedicated to teaching students’ professional skill building and networking skills. Winthrop’s chapter is often overshadowed by schools such as North Carolina A&T and Howard University, so now that Winthrop’s ABJ has won national Student Chapter of the Year, more avenues are opened for the organization, such as entering competitions.
