Progressive Black & Journalists (PB&J)

Progressive, Black, & Journalists, Inc. (PB&J) is an African-American journalism organization based at the University of Florida

University of Florida

The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...

. A spin-off from the Association of Black Communicators, PB&J began in an effort to combat the negative minority stereotypes that occur in the media and to sensitize the surrounding community to biased news coverage. However, unlike its predecessor, PB&J strives to achieve this goal through original, student-run programs. Though currently unaffiliated with any national umbrella organization, all PB&J executive-board directors are required to be registered members of the National Association of Black Journalists

National Association of Black Journalists

The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...

(NABJ).

History of PB&J

In 2005, The Independent Florida Alligator

The Independent Florida Alligator

The Independent Florida Alligator is the daily student newspaper of the University of Florida. The Alligator is the largest student-run newspaper in the United States, with a daily circulation of 35,000 and readership of over 52,000...

ran a cartoon drawn by Andy Marlette depicting Condoleezza Rice saying "nigga." African-Americans across campus expressed outrage for the newspaper's use of the racial epithet. It brought to the forefront the reality that black students at UF had no media outlet to turn to fully discuss the racism behind the cartoon.

In response, the Association of Black Communicators agreed to continue Zion, a black magazine that only ran a few issues and had not been published for years. The Black Student Union at UF agreed to help fund the magazine, but as the controversy died down so did interest in the magazine. ABC was forced to abandon the project due to a lack of funding and lack of dedication.

Then members of ABC, Brian Robertson and Faren Humes, attempted to make a radio show called Truth Be Told in November 2005. However, because of lack of support from the organization, it was never completed.

Robertson decided to run for President of ABC in 2006 on the platform that Zion would continue if he were elected. He also wanted to complete the radio show. He lost the election to Maya Carpenter after being accused of voter fraud. He then left the organization taking half of ABC's executive board with him. In the summer of 2006 Robertson, along with Faren Humes, Stefani Saintonge and Shameka Harris created Progressive, Black and Journalists. Robertson served as its first president.

In September 2006 they began creating the magazine naming it BlackListed. They also continued the radio show.

Goals

Strengthen ties among black journalists
To provide a media channel for the UF minority student population
Promote diversity in the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
The College of Journalism and Communications is a college of the University of Florida. It comprises four departments:*Department of Journalism *Department of Telecommunications *Department of Advertising...
Provide workshops that teach the surrounding community how to gain access to the media
Promote career and internship opportunities for students
Promote academic excellence by providing a support group for students with an interest in journalism
To monitor local media outlets for insensitive statements directly targeted at the minority community and to respond accordingly

PB&J Productions

The newest edition to PB&J, PB&J Productions specializes in video editing and script writing. PB&J has created commercials that have received high volume on YouTube

YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

, as well as Itunes

ITunes

iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....

. Intellectual properties include Felix & Treyquan and Detangled.

BlackListed Magazine

BlackListed Magazine is a free publication and is the only University of Florida black student-run magazine. It pledges to explore black issues pertaining to both UF and the nation along with music and fashion as well. It currently has eight staff writers with the editor-in-chief position vacant. It accepts and encourages students and faculty at UF to contribute. Currently, none of the positions are paid.

Debuting on September 10, 2007, PB&J is planning to print 500 copies of the first issue with funding from advertisements and donations. They are hoping to increase the size by the second and third issues. All of the magazine's content plus additional articles will be available on the Web site when the issue is released.

BlackListed Magazine also publishes an online version, which aims to provide more critical, highly researched but opinion based articles on issues pertaining to the African-American and Black experience. The current editor, Hananie Albert, accepts submissions via e-mail or through the forthcoming website.

Truth-Be-Told

Truth Be Told is a 30 minute bi-monthly podcast distributed through Itunes

ITunes

. Plans are currently underway to have it as a syndicated show on Magic 101.3 FM in Gainesville, FL. While covering many of the same topics as BlackListed, it differs in its approach by having a slightly comedic tone. Past stories have included such topics as Lydia Washington's Resignation Scandal and the UF African American Studies Program near closure.

Guests have included:

Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton
Alfred Charles "Al" Sharpton, Jr. is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist, and television/radio talk show host. In 2004, he was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. presidential election...

, Political Activist
Darius Bost, UF IBC Director
Sharon Burney, UF AASP Office Manager
Lydia Washington, Former UF Student Body Vice-President
Scherwin L. Henry, Alachua County Commissioner
Rodney Long, Alachua County Commissioner
The show is currently hosted by Myya Passmore, Zory Speights, Faren Humes, & Brian Robertson.

Community Outreach

EyesOnU Media Watchdog
Eastside High School Mentor/Mentee Program
The TruthBeTold Forum

Sponsors & Funding

PB&J is a non-profit organization that receives a major amount of its of outside funds from private contributors and businesses. Among these businesses are:

Chris Chestnut Lawfirm, LLC
FACES Modeling Troupe, Inc.
Krispy Kreme Donuts

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.