 "Photo: Isaac Elster")
Detroit’s first lady and Wayne State graduate Kimberly Cockrel fulfilled her first speaking engagement since the start of Mayor Ken Cockrel’s administration, at the Journalism Day Luncheon held Oct. 15 in St. Andrew’s Hall.
Cockrel, a graduate of WSU’s journalism program and former member of Journalism Institute for Minorities, expressed her appreciation for the power of the news media.
“Journalists have the power to shape destinies,” said Cockrel, referencing — but not naming – the news reporters at the Detroit Free Press who revealed text messages suggesting former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his chief of staff Christine Beatty lied under oath about having an affair.
Cockrel also criticized journalists for not contacting her when she would have been an ideal source for their stories, going instead to other sources for quotes.
She then stated how her previous career and education in journalism with WSU's Journalism Institute for Media Diversity (JIM) helped prepare her for being Detroit’s first lady.
“Through JIM, I was taught how to have heart,” Cockrel said.
She also spoke of her absent husband Mayor Ken Cockrel Jr., stating that he was a thoughtful man, although he might have sometimes appeared quiet and reserved. She then told of how he shaved his head to make him less recognizable so that he could spend more time with her at social events.
Journalism Day began hours earlier with the Internship Fair at 9 a.m. in Manoogian Hall. Representatives from 18 television, radio, print and public relation agencies were there, including WJBK Fox 2, The Detroit News, the Detroit Free Press and Marx Layne. There, students were given an opportunity to meet with professionals from these organizations to network and apply for internships.
Ben Burns, professor and director of the journalism program, said this event was different from others because the organizations here had histories of hiring WSU students. Burns said that the fair was moved from winter to fall to give students more time to meet with the representatives and submit their applications.
Journalism major Tracy Nwapa said she enjoyed the fair, but said she would have liked to see more broadcast organizations.
“There was plenty of print and PR, but only a handful of broadcast organizations,” Nwapa said.
The luncheon, which Burns said gave journalists, alum and select students opportunities to socialize, commenced with Cockrel’s address. Next, W. Sprague Holden Memorial Scholarships were given to WSU students Cymone Allwood, Chidinma Ogbuaku and Elaine Burnett. Editor in Chief of The South End Carolyn Chin became one of five in the nation to receive a Flip Wilson Scholarship.
The event concluded with Detroit Free Press Columnist and Deputy Editorial Page Editor Stephen Henderson receiving a Service to Journalism Award and WCHB’s Mildred Gaddis receiving a Community Service Award.
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