From

Richard Prince's Journal-isms™

Some 60 African journalists working in the United States took advantage of the Unity convention's timing to inaugurate their own organization in Washington Saturday, the National Association of African Journalists.

The president, Eyobong Ita, a reporter for the Kansas City Star, told Journal-isms that many Africans in the States "find it difficult to make that transition from African journalism to American journalism." Some drop out of journalism, and end up driving cabs or working as financial consultants, he said. The organization will offer guidance and give some "a second chance on pursuing journalism here."

Ita, 40, a native of Nigeria, is also secretary of the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists and a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. He said he had been asked why the organization did not simply work within NABJ, and that he had pointed out that not all African journalists are black and that they would identify more with this kind of organization.

According to a report by the Panafrican News Agency, Jerome Mendouga, Cameroonian ambassador to the U.S., told the group Saturday that African journalists had a leading role to play in giving the continent a new image and political direction.

"Presently, the only news you hear about Africa is crisis, diseases, poverty, corruption and other ugly events," he said, adding: "This is what you should strive to reverse," according to the story.

"The head of Voice of America's English-to-Africa Service, Shaka Ssali, enjoined African journalists to help enlighten the international community so as to end the negative stereotyping of Africa," the story continued.

Others on the interim executive committee elected Saturday are Adam Ouologuem of Mali, who covers the U.N. for radio and television stations there, vice president, print; Segun Aderiye of Nigeria, of African Independent Television, vice president, broadcast; Tai Balofin of Nigeria, owner of an African publication, secretary; Laolu Akande of Nigeria, North American bureau chief of the Guardian in Nigeria, treasurer; Paul Ndiho of Uganda, and Femi Odere, publisher of Esteem magazine in Chicago, media owners' representatives.

An African Correspondents Association was formed in Washington in 1995, but that organization is primarily for those reporting for the African media, Ita explained. Some are members of both groups.