BY CHRISTINE WON
Voices Staff Writer
More than 10,000 minority journalists — and perhaps television personality Oprah Winfrey – are expected to attend the Unity convention in Chicago next summer.
Unity’s goal of increasing newsroom diversity and coverage is crucial, especially with consolidation and downsizing roiling the industry, leaders said.
“We need to harness our collective power as journalists of color,” said Onica Makwakwa, Unity’s executive director. “There must be a sense of urgency amongst our groups to work towards our common goals to increase newsroom diversity and improve the media coverage of communities of color.”
First held in Atlanta in 1994, Unity is a gathering of AAJA, the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) and the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA).
“Unity is a shining example of the impact we have as journalists of color when we stand together,” said Jeanne Mariani-Belding, president of AAJA. “We support each other and stand together to call attention to the need to keep diversity in our industry.”
No speakers are confirmed yet. But Makwakwa said Unity is working hard to confirm appearances by the top presidential candidates from each party.
“We’ve also reached out to Oprah Winfrey,” she said. “We can’t be in Chicago and ignore the Oprah factor.”
Chicago won the bid over Boston and Washington, D.C., because of the Windy City’s central location, which makes it an easy point of access from both coasts.
“Chicago’s diverse population represents the diversity of Unity’s partners,” Makwakwa said.
African Americans are Chicago’s largest minority group, making up 34.9 percent of the city’s population, according to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau survey. Hispanics represent 28.8 percent; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, 4.9 percent; and Native Americans, 0.2 percent. Whites make up 38.6 percent.
All Unity activities will be held July 23-27 at the McCormick Place convention center, just south of downtown and east of Chinatown.
The Sheraton Chicago and Hyatt Regency downtown will be the two main Unity hotels. Shuttles will run from the downtown hotels to McCormick Place, a 10-minute ride.
“We expect participants to take the Unity experience beyond the convention to the social gatherings and other activities throughout,” Makwakwa said. “We expect a truly multicultural experience.”
The biggest challenge, Makwakwa said, is fundraising.
“We’re reaching out to former sponsors as well as new-media companies such as Yahoo and Google,” she said.
Registration fees increased from Unity 2004, except for spouses and guests. Early bird fees for members jumped from $250 to $325 and $100 to $150 for students.
The programming committee will unveil a theme that reflects the mood of the changing industry before the end of August.
“We’re looking forward to asking presidential candidates about issues that highlight some of our concerns as people of color,” said Ivan Roman, executive director of NAHJ.
At Unity 2004, President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry, D-Mass., the Democratic presidential nominee that year, addressed issues ranging from affirmative action to immigration reform to national sovereignty for Native Americans.