Dear colleagues,

As our profession evolves, it is incumbent upon us to keep pace or fall behind. As you probably know, the Internet has changed our industry forever. No longer do we have to wait for the nightly television news or the next day’s papers to read about daily events.
The phenomenon is multimedia. The evolution of our trade now demands many of us to be able to enhance our stories or projects with audio and visual components. The Internet allows our readers or viewers to have instant access to our work, and even add their own two cents.
Today, no credible media outlet thrives without a strong online presence. Reporters, editors and publishers are finding out that identifying multiple media platforms to host their content is the best way to survive. It is now considered poor judgment not to exercise emerging media platforms; actually, it is a death sentence for a media organization not to do this. Hence, we will focus on multimedia at the Oct. 11 NAAJ Conference at the Institute of Conflict Analysis & Resolution at the Arlington campus of George Mason University.
Our one-day conference is free to all members. It will feature three new media sessions as well as a panel discussion on the state of the African media and the continuous persecution of our colleagues in many African countries. Members will also have an opportunity to recognize the African presidents who have done the most to preserve – and to destroy - press freedoms. With your vote, the organization will announce the first recipients of these awards at the end of the conference.
My fellow journalists, considering that free journalism conferences are rare, I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity to attend the NAAJ Conference on Oct. 11.

God bless NAAJ.

Your servant,

Eyobong Ita
NAAJ President