Black History: A Calling For Journalism, A Champion Of Students

DETROIT (WWJ) - Alicia Nails, director of Wayne State University's Journalism Institute for Media Diversity, is working to ensure diversity in newsrooms across the U.S., one student at a time.

She has a passion for the craft and is a champion of students.

"We really want students to see that they are driving their own train and they have to make choices and decisions ... We focus on mantras or ideas. One that we are focusing on now is that when you are born you look like your parents but when you die you look like your decisions," said Nails.

An Emmy Award-winning journalist, Nails also has a law degree from Wayne State.

She carefully guides the budding young journalists to success:

"You have to be realistic about individual skill sets and what might be their strengths and what it might take for them to reach what they want but always be in a positive, informing way but realistic, as well, so you don't have somebody who is out in the world frustrated."

There are 200 journalism graduates out in newsrooms today thanks to the institute and Nails who helps ensure that they are prepared.

"Journalism is a calling, is a sacred calling, and I make that clear to my students," she said.

WWJ celebrates Black History month this year by highlighting local outstanding African Americans who inspire others. Tune in for the reports throughout the day at: 6:20 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 3:40 p.m. and 7:40 p.m.