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Save the Date: May 21 for ‘Everyone Needs a Laugh — the History of African American Comedy’

Notices 5-8-26

From SPJ: How Has FCC Affected Your Work?
May 6–12 and beyond: New York African Film Festival 2026
May 9: D.C. Arab American Culture Festival 2026
May 11: Deadline for Arab American 40 Under 40
May 11-June 7: Combating Disinformation in English, Spanish
May 12: Apply to Report on Equity in Health and Health Care
May 13: AI ‘Enablement’ Across Universities
May 13: Q&A on Women’s Leadership Accelerator

May 15: Military Veterans in Journalism Fellowship Deadline
May 15: How to Get Documents From the Government
May 16: Luther Comic Strip Creator, Activist Brumsic Brandon Jr.
May 19:  WAMU Discussion on Debates Over Religious Liberty
May 20: Stakes and Power of Latino Voters, From Axios
May 23: International Vodou Day in New Orleans
May 26: How to Successfully Apply for J-Fellowships, Grants
May 31: Deadline for Gwen Ifill Award Nominations

June 9: SPJ-DC Honors Its New Hall of Famers
June 26: From the Medill School: First, Do No Harm
June 30: Deadline to Nominate a Student Journalist

JOBS
From these journalist organizations
Rebecca Aguilar’s Journalism Job Openings: The May List”
From Online News Association (May 5)
From the Maynard Institute (May 1)

Upcoming Journal-isms Roundtable: Thursday, May 21, 2026

By Zoom and in person in Washington, D.C., at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Featuring:

  Geoff Bennett, co-anchor, “PBS News Hour” and author of “Black Out Loud: The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy from Vaudeville to ’90s Sitcoms”

   Eric Deggans, NPR critic at large; Knight Professor of Journalism and Media Ethics at Washington and Lee University in Virginia.

Kristal Brent Zook, cultural reporter, professor of journalism and former director, MA Journalism Program @ Hofstra University; author, “Color by Fox.

 Ralph Cooper, who made the pivot from NPR to stand-up comedy. A “self-motivated and deadline-oriented broadcast media professional with a passion for telling unique stories.”

  Mel Watkins, who wrote a 1994 history of African American comedy, “On the Real Side: Laughing, Lying and signifying — the Underground Tradition of African American Humor That Transformed American Culture from Slavery to Richard Pryor,” in 1994; a former editor on the New York Times Book Review and former editor of Black Review, a literary magazine.

]  We will also toast Jahi Chikwendiu, who just won the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography while at the Washington Post. (Credit: Mark Cornelison)

Also “in the room”: Elizabeth Stordeur Pryor, Smith College history professor who has taught a course about her dad, Richard Pryor!

Who’s in?

You can RSVP by hitting “reply” to this message, if you’re receiving this by email, or by messaging jroundtable5 (at) gmail.com

Zoom information and D.C. location come after RSVPs.

From SPJ: How Has FCC Affected Your Work?

TELL US HOW THE FCC HAS AFFECTED YOUR WORK: We’re interested in hearing from you about how the authority of the Federal Communications Commission and its chairman Brendan Carr have affected your work. Please take a minute to fill out this survey to let us know about your experiences and gauge your interest in participating in efforts to challenge censorial FCC policy changes. Your responses will remain confidential. If you have any questions or comments about this survey please email SPJ Press Freedom Counsel Anne Marie Tamburro. [Society of Professional Journalists]

May 6–12 and Beyond: New York African Film Festival 2026

Film at Lincoln Center (FLC) and African Film Festival, Inc. (AFF) present the 33rd edition of the New York African Film Festival (NYAFF), showcasing African and Diaspora filmmakers’ unique storytelling through the moving image since 1993. NYAFF will spotlight 14 contemporary and classic feature films and 25 short films, screening at FLC from May 6 through May 12, with the festival continuing at other esteemed New York City cultural venues throughout the month of May. Many filmmakers will be in attendance for post-screening Q&As.

List of films 

May 9: D.C. Arab American Culture Festival 2026

Date/Time

Date(s) – 05/09/2026 – 05/10/2026
2:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Add This to Your Calendar

Location
The Dew Drop Inn

Cost:
$25.00 (EARLY BIRD- General Admission DONATION); $35.00 (General Admission DONATION); $17.85 (Ages 3 – 12 years old); Free (Children ages 2 and under) USD

Website:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/dc-arab-american-culture-festival-2026-tickets-1984845042954?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Phone:
202-888-4499
Organization:
Quartertonez Music School Washington DC

More here 

 

 

 

 

From New York: Media Watch for May 11

Air date: 11 May 2026 Hosts: Robert Anthony, Raymond Peterson, Alan Singer, PhD, and Eric V Tait, Jr:

Subject: Assessment of how the undergirding/abetting confluence of the 6-3 SCOTUS, tRUMPs SOUTH AFRICAN MAFIA-BROS (Thiel, Musk and Sacks) and an acquiescent GOP Congress has fostered this wave of MAGA-White-Supremacy destruction of the Rule of Law and any Constitutional protections for non-white, non-heterosexual persons in this country: continued bogus targeting of Comey, Powell, the SPLC, et al and gutting the Voting Rights Act in a continuing assault on the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments.

May 11-June 7: Combating Disinformation in English, Spanish

With artificial intelligence transforming the way information circulates and accelerating content creation, how can journalists, fact-checkers, and communicators stay alert to disinformation and work more effectively?

Learn to identify, analyze, and combat AI-generated disinformation in the course “Combating Disinformation in the Age of AI,” produced by the Knight Center in collaboration with Lupa, running from May 11 to June 7, 2026. Instructors Cristina Tardáguila and Raphael Kapa will guide you through theory, real-world examples, and practical exercises to strengthen your skills in fact-checking and producing reliable information.

In this four-week course, you will explore how disinformation and misleading information spread exponentially with the use of generative AI tools, and how leaders, politicians, and journalists see their faces and voices artificially used to spread falsehoods.  . . .  . Sign up for FREE and get ready to face the challenges of disinformation in the age of artificial intelligence.

John Tenerus, a Haitian immigrant who works at Pilgrim’s Pride, discusses his experience at the plant in the parking lot of the Moorefield Speed-Wash laundromat in Moorefield, W.Va.  Story. (Photo by Roger May)

May 12: Apply to Report on Equity in Health and Health Care

From the Center for Health Journalism:

The Impact Fund for Reporting on Equity in Health and Health Care supports ambitious investigative and explanatory projects on inequities in health care and the practice of medicine.

Journalists play a critical role in uncovering the systemic and structural forces that shape health and well-being for individuals, families, and communities. This Fund supports ambitious journalism that exposes chronic inequities in public health and health care systems and identifies pathways for change. From maternal health deserts and rural hospital closures to changing access to reproductive health care and vaccines, we support reporting that brings a strong health equity lens to the most urgent health stories of the day. We are especially interested in projects that investigate the barriers to high-quality care and the policies and conditions in health systems that perpetuate unequal outcomes.

Grantees receive:

  • A $2,000-$10,000 grant to help with reporting costs
  • Five months of professional mentorship from a veteran journalist
  • Monthly online development and brainstorming sessions with other reporters in their class
  • Four webinars devoted to equity in health and health care

Applications are due May 12, 2026

More here

May 13: AI ‘Enablement’ Across Universities

From Adam Powell: You and all of our Journal-isms friends are invited to join us on Wednesday, May 13, at 2 pm EDT, for a forum on artificial intelligence “enablement” across universities, with Joe Yun, Director of AI Enablement at the University of Pittsburgh.  Online only. RSVP: https://annenberg.usc.edu/events/cclp/thoughts-artificial-intelligence-enablement

  • If you missed last month’s forum, with Geoff Garrett, Dean of the USC Marshall School of Business, on “Artificial Intelligence: What Universities Should Consider,” the video is at https://youtu.be/3L4CRct9Wug

Next USC Annenberg Washington forums:

— Mon 6/15 12 noon EDT Richard Wike, director of global attitudes research at the Pew Research Center, presents new data on public opinion of world affairs. On line and in person at George Washington University, 1957 E Street NW, Washington DC. Informal lunch available. In partnership with GW and the Public Diplomacy Council of America. RSVP link available shortly.

— Tue 6/16 2p EDT Human Resilience and Human Agency in the Age of AI, with Lee Rainie on his report https://imaginingthedigitalfuture.org/reports-and-publications/human-resilience-in-the-age-of-ai/ Online only. RSVP to https://annenberg.usc.edu/events/cclp/human-resilience-age-ai

— Wed 6/24 2 pm EDT “The Resurgence of Civic Engagement in Communities across America: A Trend That Rarely Makes National News” with James Fallows and Deborah Fallows. On line and in person at the USC Capital Campus, 1771 N St NW. To attend in person, email Judy Kang, at junghwak@usc.edu. To attend by zoom, go to https://annenberg.usc.edu/events/cclp/resurgence-civic-engagement-communities-across-america-trend-rarely-makes-national-news

We look forward to hearing from you and hope to see you on the 13th.

Regards,

Adam

Adam Clayton Powell III

Executive Director, USC Election Cybersecurity Initiative

USC Annenberg Center on Communication Leadership and Policy

University of Southern California, and

Co-Host, “White House Chronicle” weekly on PBS, SiriusXM and https://whchronicle.com/iv>

email acpowell (at) usc.edu

May 13: Q&A on Women’s Leadership Accelerator 

From Online News Association: The Women‘s Leadership Accelerator program is one of ONA‘s signature training programs. The intensive 4-month program aims to empower women and nonbinary leaders in journalism and journalism-adjacent organizations with applicable skills to boost their careers.

If you’re thinking about applying for the 2026 cohort, start here and read the FAQ.

If you have questions about the program or application process, come to our virtual Q&A on Wednesday, May 13 at 12 p.m. ET/ 11 a.m. CT / 10 a.m. PT.

RSVP

May 14: Integrating Youth Voices into Coverage

API Hosts AMA on Youth, Local News and Civic Resilience
The American Press Institute will host “Youth, Local News and Civic Resilience: AMA for News Leaders” on Thursday, May 14 at 1 p.m. ET.

The virtual discussion will focus on how local news organizations are integrating youth voices into coverage, strengthening civic engagement and building connections with younger audiences.

Topics include community-centered storytelling, cross-generational engagement and strategies for positioning local media as a driver of civic participation and leadership.

REGISTER NOW

May 15: Military Veterans in Journalism Fellowship Deadline

  • Opportunity: Journalism fellowship for a military veteran at Resolve Philly.
  • Role Details: Starts June 15, 2026; in-person only, $23/hour, 40-hour weeks. Please see the role description here for more information.
  • Application Deadline: May 15, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET.
Military Veterans in Journalism has re-opened applications for its 2026 fellowship collaboration with Resolve Philly, designed to employ a veteran as a journalist in Resolve Philly’s Germantown Info Hub newsroom team, after a delay in the fellowship start date.

Thanks to support from the Wyncote Foundation, veterans who are members of Military Veterans in Journalism are now eligible to apply for this paid, in-person, six-month reporting fellowship at Resolve Philly that will start in early May.

The chosen fellow will create community-centered reporting and solutions journalism on the key issues impacting Philadelphia’s Germantown and Overbrook neighborhoods. “The Resolve Philly team is delighted to partner with MJV to bring an emerging journalist into our community-driven work with Philadelphia neighborhoods,” said Sara Shahriari, Executive Director at Resolve Philly.

May 15: How to Get Documents From the Government

Join us on Friday, May 15, at 2 p.m. ET for “We’re working FOIAs: Former FOIA officials help explain how you can still get documents from the government.

”In this live webinar, hosted by Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), we’ll be speaking with an esteemed group of former federal Freedom of Information Act officials. They’ll explain the current transparency landscape, give practical tips for journalists to win documents from agencies, tell you what to do when an agency prioritizes political interests over transparency, and say what they’d like to see happen to ensure FOIA works better in 10 years than it does right now.

See you on May 15

Ryan Rice

Development CoordinatorFreedom of the Press Foundation

May 16: ‘Luther’ Comic Creator/Activist Brumsic Brandon Jr.

Celebrate the life of Brumsic Brandon, Jr through a short documentary funded by HumanitiesDC and DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities!

A screening and discussion about Brumsic Brandon, Jr: A Legacy in Art and Community

Lamond-Riggs/Lillian J. Huff Neighborhood LibraryWashington, DC

Saturday, May 16  •  3:30 PM – 5 PM

May 19:  WAMU Discussion on Debates Over Religious Liberty


Pictured left to right: Niala Boodhoo, Jack Jenkins, Jeffrey Rosen,
Asma T. Uddin, and Mark David Hall

From WAMU in Washington: Join us for a special 1A Live
Come experience 1A in person and join a thoughtful, illuminating discussion about the future of religious freedom in America.

How are debates over religious liberty shaping America today?

1A is heading out of the studio for a live conversation on religious freedom and the Constitution, in partnership with Religion News Service.

Tuesday, May 19, 2026
9:15 am Arrival | 10:00 am Start
Katzen Arts Center
Abramson Family Recital Hall

Guests are welcome to join us for a post‑show reception right outside the hall at 11:00 a.m., with light refreshments.

Hear from leading voices in religion, law, and journalism:

Niala Boodhoo — Host, 1A, Live Events Host/Executive Producer, RNS
Jack Jenkins — National Reporter, RNS
Jeffrey Rosen — CEO Emeritus, National Constitution Center
Asma T. Uddin — Assistant Professor of Law, Michigan State University
Mark David Hall — Professor of Politics, Regent University

REGISTER NOW

May 20: Stakes and Power of Latino Voters, From Axios

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