FAMU Journalism students cover Democratic National Convention
Florida A&M University journalism students Courtney Wallace (l) and Lenneia Batiste are providing news coverage of the Democratic National Convention under the leadership of CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor Benjamin Davis.
Submitted by Dorothy Bland Director, Division of Journalism
Charlotte, N.C. – Florida A&M University (FAMU) students Lenneia Batiste and Courtney Wallace will provide daily news updates for FAMU student media outlets during the Democratic National Convention Sept. 4–6, 2012 in Charlotte, N.C.
“We are delighted that our students and the CBS Harold Dow Visiting Professor Benjamin Davis will be on the convention floor to capture this historic convention,” said FAMU School of Journalism and Graphic Communications Dean Ann Wead Kimbrough. “Because of logistical issues we were not able to get students to the Republican National Convention.”
Courtney Wallace, a journalism student from Galesburg, Ill., said, “I’m ecstatic. I never thought I would have this honor. I’m very blessed. We’ll be producing from the field and on the convention floor of the DNC. We’ll be sending packages, articles and pictures back to Professor Horton and the News 20 at Five team, Famuan editors and radio spots.”
Batiste, a former FAMU TV 20 news anchor from Atlanta who is expected to earn her master’s degree in journalism in December, said the multi-media plan “is to really inform our viewers and help them become better informed voters. We’ll highlight some of the key platforms. For example, we’re planning to do stories on immigration, voter ID laws, same sex marriage and the Medicare debate.”
She added, “This is a high-light of my career. This means a lot to me. I’ve never had this opportunity. To be among politicians and to see the president speak will be something I’ll trea-sure for my entire career.”
In 2011, Batiste won a Florida AP award for best light feature for her package titled “Diamond.”
Davis said, “This is a great opportunity for FAMU to send our students into real world journalism. They’ll learn more in three days than they can six months on the job.”
The students’ work will be available online at www.famutvnews.com and www.thefamuanonline.com. Viewers are encouraged to tune in to the live newscast at 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 5 p.m. on FAMU TV 20 via Comcast. FAMU TV 20 reaches more than 80,000 households via Comcast.
