In an age filled with misinformation and artificially generated images, Mass Comm students at Benedict and HBCU campuses across South Carolina learned about career readiness and opportunities to publish content during the inaugural SC HBCU Conference.
Benedict was represented by Mass Comm Professor Dr. Keisa Gunby; Anaja Cotton, sophomore, Conway, SC; Haley Freeman, freshman, Columbia, SC; Kobe Jeffcoat, Columbia, SC and Jaishaun Mardenborough, senior, Virginia Beach, VA.
The media conference was organized by South Carolina State University and organized by Production Director Rolondo Davis and a team of students. Keisa Gunby, Ph.D. says, “The inaugural SC HBCU Conference was a phenomenal experience to not only prepare students for careers in mass communications and journalism but to also network with scholars at other South Carolina schools. I was proud to see Benedict students participating in sessions, responding to workshop leaders and engaging with scholars from other campuses as well as participating in content creation.”
Participating students attended this all-day conference and gained valuable insights from several media professionals including Sierra Artemus. Artemus is a University of South Carolina broadcast journalism graduate with a broad communication background. Artemus discussed her years of work at numerous Columbia television stations, behind and in front of the camera. She is currently with the S.C. Department of Veteran Affairs as a multimedia coordinator.
Other prominent speakers among them were Dr. David Staten, co-founder, CEO and editor-in-chief of HBCU Times magazine, Elizabeth Mosely-Hawkins (2000 graduate of SC State), senior director of strategic communications with SC States University Relations office, and Kiera McGowen (Class of 2025).
The students were able to form lasting connections potentially for future collaborations and partnerships with other college and Universities like Claflin, Voorhees, Morris, and Clinton college. Freeman says, “Attending the South Carolina State HBCU Conference taught me that there aren’t any specifics in mass communication. Every skill that is prioritized in the journalism department is important. There will never be a dull non-learning moment in a business that is everybody’s business.”
The conference is expected to be held annually.