March 6, 2014
Journalists shared their impressions and memories of Nelson Mandela on Feb. 26 at a forum at California State University, Northridge, hosted by the campus chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
The forum, titled “Covering Greatness: The Life and Death of Nelson Mandela,” featured Los Angeles Times video journalist Ann Simmons, KCBS (San Francisco) radio reporter Bob Butler and travel journalist and publicist Darlene Donloe.
The reporters described their connections to Mandela before a packed house.
Simmons shared her encounter with Mandela at a meeting of Jewish businessmen.
“He entered the room and ignored all the journalists,” Simmons said. The people who counted in Mandela’s eyes where the attendees. “We [press] were secondary.”
Yet, with pride, Simmons recalled the treasured moment when she shook his hand, “He said to me, ‘My goodness, you’re tall,’ so I challenged him to a game of basketball,” she said.
Donloe, who acted as Mandela’s publicist while he visited Los Angeles[OU1] , also shared unforgettable moments with him.
At the Biltmore Hotel, Donloe had the opportunity to simply sit with Mandela, and his wife, Winnie. She said she did her best to take in the historic moment.
“It was unbelievable,” Donloe said. “I was trying to be very present in that moment because you can miss it.”
Butler happened to be in Johannesburg when the death of Mandela was announced and jumped into action to report on it.
“I always travel with my reporter’s bag,” he said. “I went out and got reactions from people.”
After the panelists shared their experiences, they held a question and answer session with students. They provided professional advice and the attendees mingled and met the speakers.
Janae Franklin, NABJ’s CSUN chapter president, explained the importance of the event.
“I consider him [Mandela] one of our heroes,” Franklin said. “We wanted people who were actually there and had these experiences with him.”
This panel was also intended to open student minds to international leaders and news.
“For journalism majors, it is critical to know about the world,” said Dr. Marcella De Veaux, associate professor and NABJ faculty adviser. “It’s important we have an international perspective.”