UNCF Featured on NABJ Panel

by Marlena Chertock |

Roy Betts, communications manager, media relations, UNCF, spoke on a panel at the National Association of Black Journalists’ Media-Related Media Institute on March 14, 2026.
Roy Betts, communications manager, media relations, UNCF, spoke on a panel at the National Association of Black Journalists’ Media-Related Media Institute on March 14, 2026.

UNCF participated in and sponsored the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)’s Media-Related Media Institute on March 14, 2026 at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland. Other sponsors included: Black Public Defender Association (BPDA), City First Bank, fwd.us and National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA.

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)’s Media-Related Media Institute took place on March 14, 2026 at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, focusing on The Pivot: From Disruption to Opportunity and Leading Change in Communications, AI and Public Trust.The institute’s theme was The Pivot: From Disruption to Opportunity and Leading Change in Communications, AI and Public Trust.

Roy Betts, communications manager, media relations, UNCF, spoke on a panel at the institute focused on “From Newsroom to Comms: Transitioning from Journalism to Public Relations”. As the media landscape continues to shift, many journalists are making strategic pivots into public relations and communications roles. Panelists discussed how core newsroom skills translate into communications work, the required shift in perspective and how to navigate ethical questions tied to credibility and public trust. Betts highlighted UNCF’s legacy as a trusted source of information in the higher education space.