By Chardaé Davis
Monitor Staff

I’ve been nervous for the last two days. As a broadcast journalism student, I’m very concerned about my presentation on camera and am always looking for feedback.

Knowing NABJ would be able to assist me, I signed up for a voice coaching session at the career fair with the Radio-Television News Directors Association before coming to Las Vegas.

Walking over to the booth Friday morning, I was confident, yet terrified at the same time. I kept asking myself, “What if I’m horrible?” I played my first package for the coach and anxiously watched his facial expressions the entire time (by the way—no frowns).

In the end, I was happy with his recommendations. He didn’t tell me to consider another career. Practice, practice practice, he said. I’m a good writer, and I have a good presence on camera. Leaving the career fair with a big smile, I can finally relax.

Now I just have to get rid of my glasses.

Me with Roland Martin and Don Lemon

It was a star frenzy at the “My Black is Beautiful” reception on Thursday night, and lucky me. I was right in the center of it.

If you’re a media groupie, you certainly were thrilled to see CNN’s Don Lemon & Roland Martin in the house.

If you’re a soap opera queen, I hope you got your photo op with Victoria Rowell. My highlight of the night was spotting Alfre Woodard. You may remember her from Love & Basketball. Woodward is also the only black woman to star on Desperate Housewives from 2005 to 2006.

Comedic giant George Wallace (boy is he ever tall!) was on the scene, too.

Now I truly can say… Our Black is most definitely BEAUTIFUL!!!! Oh, and I got photo bragging rights on facebook .

— Alana Lowe
Next Generation Radio Staff

Are you 20.767 years old? No worries. Las Vegas has a number of things for the youngn’s to do. You can go to Circus Circus and hang out at the Adventuredome Theme Park. There you can also get your face painted and take pictures with Marvin the Martian.

Not interested? We didn’t think so.

Instead you might want to do like the old heads do and have fun (yeah, even if they’re at the slot machine, they’re having a good time). Check out the J-Space lounge tonight, which begins at 10 p.m. There you’ll be able to mix and mingle with the younger set, possibly find your convention boo and make some tangible NABJ RELATED contacts.

You can also call Mashaun Simon to find out where the room parties are. No I’m not giving out his number, but if you’re in the golden bunch, you should have it (I love you Mashaun).

You can also take part in your favorite high school pasttime: Sleeping. (Yeah, I wasn’t very much fun back then). Your illustrious hotel rooms come complete with cable television. Watch those Law & Order reruns until you find yourself in narcoland.

Still not happy? Cruising the mall is always fun. Hit the Fashion Show Mall or the Forum Shops for some retail therapy. Not that you’ll be getting the healing you need, considering the malls are stocked with luxury stores such as Fendi and Hervé Léger. Last I checked us Jno’s weren’t pulling in those mega bucks.

Still you might catch Brit Brit and her tots hanging about way past bed time. And who doesn’t want to see her talking gibberish to a poor Valentino sales girl? I digress.

Anyway, for some real action you can always walk around the strip and watch other people having fun, or catch a show … not that you can afford that (tee-hee).

Sierra Brown
NABJ Convention Online Staff

If you’re an Us Weekly or Young, Black and Fabulous blog enthusiast, you’re probably itching for a celebrity encounter while in Vegas. Perhaps a menacing run in with (insert any celebrity under 30) body guards, or maybe even a distant, slightly obstructed glimpse of Gabrielle Union exiting Pure — Tia Mowry, Dwyane Wade and Toni Braxton in tow.

Ah yes, Vegas attracts three kinds of people: the leaver-happy casino trollops straight off the Downtown LA express bus and of course, those omnipresent celebutantes you love to hate (or secretly call your bff). And then there are the mortals with jobs, maybe with kids, maybe with a spouse, mortgage, $30,000 in college loan debt…you get my drift.

So unless you’re down with catching lung cancer with Aunt Pattie and the chain smokers crew at the pennies machine, I suggest following the coattails of Gabby and the rest of the Hollyhood gaggle.

If you’re going to party, and want a little color in your atmosphere, make OPM your first stop. It’s the only all hip hop club on this strip and has been rated the No. 1 nightclub in Vegas by both AOL and Yahoo. Recent celebrity sightings have included Diddy, Shaquille O’Neal, Lil Jon, Queen Latifah and Tyrese, according to the club’s website.

You may also want to check out Pure, Empire or Icehouse Lounge on Friday and Saturday nights, John Harrison, Marketing Director of BlackinVegas.com said. He also mentioned that the Tao Nightclub is a popular spot. Greg Lee’s party (my bad, the Sports Task Force party) at Rum Jungle on Thursday will probably be a good one, too. Actually, bump all of that. Find Shaun Robinson and stalk her!

Sierra Brown
NABJ Convention Online Staff

“What happens in Vegas ends up on video, and if you act foolish it will be my lead tomorrow.”

“Hey let me tell you something, I’m multi-everything!”

It’s just my luck that just before the opening of the 32nd NABJ Convention and Job Fair, I came down with a cold. In an attempt to nurse myself back to health, I bought a box of 18 Vicks DayQuil liquid caps and a bottle of water at a Bally’s gift shop. Total cost: $17.

I was desperate for relief and certain that I might have passed out if I tried to brave the heat and walk two blocks to find a convenience store, but work on the student projects was already in full swing. I had to choose between sneezing all over my fellow project participants and coordinators or just forking up the cash.

I, like many people who will attend this year’s convention, have come with very limited discretionary funds. Most people know that Las Vegas is not cheap city.

Our online project coordinator, Michelle Johnson, said she spent almost $17 on three bags of chips and a soda at a shop in the convention hotel.

So, before (or after) you get settled in at your hotel, I suggest you take some time to visit one or two of the following stores for cheaper incidentals:

CVS/Pharmacy on S. Las Vegas Boulevard, about two or three blocks from Bally’s

Target, a few blocks east of the strip, on S. Maryland Parkway

Walgreens, a few blocks from Bally’s on S. Las Vegas Boulevard

If you do decide to walk to any of those locations, be sure you stay hydrated.

Aaron Morrison, Online Staff

I spy AKAs on the prowl. The lovely ladies of pink and green are hoping to rev up interest in their centennial celebrations by visiting NABJ’s annual convention as emissaries from their historic organization.

But let it be known, AKAs are not masters of disguise. Their attempts to embed chitchat with mentions of Boule (read: convention) ‘08 ain’t because they ran out of things to say.

Still, I can respect the hustle. And if gallivanting around journalists is a strategic PR move, so be it. “We wield power and money and can help journalists with some of their issues,” Melody McDowell, Chief Information Officer of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated told a student media project reporter. Hmmm, that might cross some ethical lines, but I see the good intention.

AKA has remained an eminent source of service and empowerment in the African American community, aiding everything from the civil rights movement to more recently, addressing issues such as obesity, the Don Imus scandal and hurricane Katrina. Skee wee indeed.

Still, if you find yourself transfixed in a conversation about Alicia Keys, Coretta Scott King or how Natasha Williams is the best news reporter ever, just know what’s up.

Sierra Brown

NABJ Student Projects

Online Staff

We’ll let you know what’s up at NABJ 2007. Check back daily for the latest buzz.

Got a tip? Don’t hold out! Hit the comment link or email us at talkback@nabjconvention.org.