PROFILE: Publisher protects future of the Black Press with media ownership training program
Congratulations to Dr. Lawrence Kaggwa - the Black Press All Stars Awards 2007 Publisher of the Year
 | "Meet the Black Press" Breakfast at the Washington Post |
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| 3rd Annual Black Press All Awards Winners presentation |
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"I try to help anyone that comes through my door.”
As I entered his office, I wondered why a young girl who couldn't have been much older than a middle school student was on Howard University’s campus in the middle of the day instead of in school. I soon found out that the girl was excited because Dr. Lawrence Kaggwa was doing what he does best: Helping. During my visit, Kaggwa stopped our interview to introduce another student who entered.
"This is one of my success stories," he said. "She will be heading to the Associated Press for a six month internship. That's what they call it when they want to train you to work for them permanently," said Kaggwa.
AP is the nation's largest wire service and is considered the leading authority on current events.
"I worked for a wire service once," Kaggwa shared. "The pressure is real intense and sometimes you have 30 minutes to turn a story around. AP is no joke."
Known around the country as a well-respected authority in the field of journalism, Kaggwa is also a journalism professor at Howard University. When he talks, people listen. With a laundry list of successful mentorees, students know that when it comes to Kaggwa, it is to their benefit to keep their ears peeled. Yet, Kaggwa is very humble and rarely takes credit for anything he does. In fact, it's his role as publisher of Washington, DC-based District Chronicles that makes him most proud.
“You should be the example,” Kaggwa emphasizes.
Kaggwa feels that learning goes beyond the classroom and stresses the importance of internships and volunteering ones’ time to gain experience in their field. According to Kaggwa, involvement in student newspapers and broadcasting outlets is a key element to succeeding in the industry. He places great emphasize on the importance of any type of experience, exposure, or education that one can acquire to better their chances for success.
This also includes mentoring. He stresses to his students the importance of reaching out to the community around their college campus to teach and lead by example for children who may feel hopeless about their future.
According to widely published statistics, Black men seem to be an endangered species in the American college setting. Kaggwa addressed the ratio of Black men to Black women in college and stated that it is a disheartening disproportion.
"If I have five Black men in my class, I consider myself lucky,” Kaggwa said. "We must reach out to Black men in these destitute communities who feel like they have no choice in life but to turn to drugs and violence. There is a lot of intelligence and talent within these ghettos that we must extricate and cultivate within the classroom to benefit, not only the individual themselves, but the Black community as whole," he said.
Media Ethics in the Black Press
When it comes to Blacks in the media, Kaggwa points out that many prominent Black figures often feel that when they are speaking with the Black Press there is a sense of security or confidentiality of words. Kaggwa, who is a longtime member of Society of Professional Journalists, begs to differ.
“Black journalists are still reporters,” he said. "To this day, people still debate whether the reporter that interviewed Rev. Jesse Jackson during his 1986 presidential campaign should have reported when he allegedly made a slanderous comment about Jews. The journalists reported the development, but the other Black journalists crucified him."
Kaggwa is known for being fair but he takes a hard, no-nonsense approach when it comes to his reporters. Come hell, high-water, or in one student’s case, hangover, "When I assign a story, I want my story," Kaggwa said. "There will be no excuses. A deadline is a deadline, point blank."
Although he will be the last person to baby-sit or hand-hold, he will be the first to help you improve as a journalist. "When I see talent, I will do anything within my power to make sure that talent is placed where it can be utilized," said Kaggwa.
Dashira A. Harris was a summer editorial intern for the Historical Black Press Foundation. After the internship, she spent a semester abroad in London to study journalism.
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Black Press All Star Awards Update: Dr. Lawrence Kaggwa was named Black Publisher of the Year the 3rd Annual Black Press All Star Awards in Washington, DC on Sept. 14, 2007.
The late great Gordon Parks, Sr., who was famous for co-founding Essence Magazine and authoring the book, The Learning Tree, which was an autobiographical sketch of a young boy coming of age, was honored with the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD as part of the 3rd Annual Black Press All Star Awards Luncheon held at Jordan's 8 Restaurant near Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. It is the highest honor that the event gives. Previous winners included the late John H. Johnson (2005) and Earl Graves, Sr (2006). Gordon Parks died on March 7, 2006 and he would have been 95 years old on November 30, 2007.
David Parks, 63, the son of the late legendary photographer, accepted the honor on behalf of his dad during a moving acceptance speech at the "Meet the Black Press" breakfast hosted by the Washington Post. The event, which honors Black-owned media professionals, executives and companies committed to media diversity, took place during the 180th Anniversary of America’s Black Press.
"We need the Historical Black Press Foundation because it's important that our voices get heard," Parks told the breakfast attendees. "I know that if my dad were alive he would be supporting [the organization] and DC [Livers] so I am, too," he said.
The event, which was presented by the Historical Black Press Foundation, also remembered Chauncey Bailey, the fallen Black Press hero who lost his life earlier this year after writing a controversial article. He worked for the Oakland Post newspaper.
"We've known for years how dangerous it is to tell Black America's story. Newspapers like the Birmingham Times were fire bombed, journalists have been tortured and worse. In 1827, even before slaves were freed, they somehow learned to read, write, publish and distribute a newspaper - the Freedom's Journal," said Livers. "It's clear that to some, nothing is more dangerous than giving Black people the truth. That's why Chauncey Bailey was killed and many more before him. We have to remember our fallen heroes because their story - like all stories - must be told," said Livers.
Other winners included Black Enterprise Magazine for "Best Black Magazine, K'wan Foye for Black Author of the Year and Drahma Magazine for "Best New Black Publication," among others. The LEGACY AWARD was presented to the late Van McCoy and the CENTENNIAL AWARD went to the Pittsburgh Courier. The award to Philadelphia Tribune for "Best Black Newspaper" accepted by Philadelphia native and reality TV star Darra "Like Dat" Boyd. Urban American Outdoors for "Best Black TV Show," The Africa Channel for "Best TV Network."
The Girls Empowerment Brunch, which was held as part of the Black Press All Stars Awards Weekend, was so well received that another has been scheduled as part of the Black Academic Olympics on February 16, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in Washington, DC as part of our Black Press Week celebration. To learn more about previous events see the Girls Empowerment Brunch pdf.
To hear interviews with writers and editors for the new book, Being a Black Man including editor Keith Merida and writer Hamil Harris, visit http://www.blackpressradio.com and enter keyword: Who's Who.
WINNER CEREMONIES: View photos, and hear podcasts from Black Press. Learn more Register to attend the next Black Press All Stars Award Ceremony on Friday, December 8, 2007 in New York City. Register to attend: https://www.acteva.com/go/blackpress. Hear a previous All Stars Awards Winner Ceremony right now. To listen to a podcast, visit http://www.blackpressradio.com. Use keywords to search your desired topics in the archives.
Participate in the Black Academic Olympics: Join schools systems across the United States in competing in the 1st Annual Black Academic Olympics to be held on Sat., February 16, 2008 in Washington, DC presented by the Historical Black Press Foundation.
Start your own Hip Hop blog or podcast: Registration is underway for the "Start your own Hip Hop Publication Workshop on Dec. 8, 2007 in NYC. $25.00 per person up to 30 people. To be considered send resume, cover letter, work samples, web links and goals to [email protected]. To register visit https://www.acteva.com/go/blackpress.
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