The Las Vegas Association of Black Journalists seeks to unite journalists in the various fields of media in Southern Nevada. LVABJ advocates on behalf of and is dedicated to the development of quality programs that promote professional enhancement among its members and associates.

Seven-Point Thrust

Community Affairs Television

With television being an extremely powerful medium, LVABJ has embarked on a mission to establish a community affairs program to be broadcast on a local cable channel. In addition to putting a face to the organization, the program will give LVABJ a broad platform to address a wide range of topics. The program will use members’ strengths in all areas—writing, editing, producing, securing advertisers and sponsors—as well as create an in-house mechanism for LVABJ to award internships and jobs to high school and college students.

Media Access Seminars

These seminars reflect LVABJ’s efforts to bridge the gap between the community and the media; they are intended to help nonprofits, small businesses, community groups, entrepreneurs and citizens become media savvy. Topics include writing press releases, developing story ideas, crafting story pitches, how to contact reporters and more.

Pulse of the Community Forums

Pulse Forums are designed to allow LVABJ to weigh in on pertinent issues of the day, be they local, statewide, regional, national or global in scope. These include but are not limited to: political candidate forums, town hall meetings, roundtable discussions and more.

Journalism Camps/Workshops

 LVABJ camps and workshops are designed to encourage minority youth to pursue careers in journalism and other media-related fields. To effect this, LVABJ is working with various entities: CLASS!, a publication by and for high school students in the Clark County School District; the Andre Agassi Preparatory Academy; UNLV’s Greenspun School of Communications; along with local journalism, marketing and public relations affiliates. LVABJ’s long-term goal is to create a camp similar to that of the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, which runs summer journalism workshops for minority high school students.

Prep & Collegiate Scholarships

LVABJ aims to award scholarships to students pursuing careers in journalism, media or related fields. LVABJ will work with secondary and higher education entities in Clark County as well as with charitable foundations, businesses and other groups and individuals.

Practical Experience/Internships

Experience is the best teacher and LVABJ is working with newspapers, radio and television stations, magazines and Internet outlets to get internships and jobs for high school and college students. In the near future, LVABJ plans on creating its own avenues—television programming, etc.—for awarding job experience and internships.

Speakers’ Bureau/Series

As media leaders, LVABJ members also seek to be community leaders. Toward that end, members volunteer to serve as speakers, panelists, presenters, emcees and resident experts for a wide array of events. LVABJ also partners with journalism, media and public relations/advertising entities on activities designed to educate the community. LVABJ will also periodically invite esteemed individuals to address chapter members on specific topics.