- Association actively partners with prestigious HBCU Mass Media Arts Department -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – ATLANTA -- The Mass Media Arts Department at Clark Atlanta University (CAU) has formally adopted an academic internship program facilitated by the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) to train future journalists in the film and entertainment industry. Beginning this fall 2013 semester, the program, available only to junior and senior level students, represents the first academic partnership between AAFCA and an institution of higher learning.

“We are excited about this collaboration with AAFCA and our campus,” says Dr. Kandace Harris, associate professor and chair of the Department of Mass Media Arts at CAU. “Members of the association have a long history of engaging our students, so we look forward to the new opportunities that this formal internship partnership will bring.”

Mass Media Arts students Ariana Pyles and Shatondra Caldwell were selected for the program and will earn academic credits for their work over the course of the fall semester. Caldwell said, “I am so excited to be a part of AAFCA’s Internship Program and look forward to the learning opportunities that this experience will bring.” Caldwell will assist the organization’s production team in creating segments to be shown during the annual AAFCA Awards Show on Friday, Jan. 31, at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood, Calif. The two students also will contribute movie reviews on behalf of AAFCA that will be disseminated via the association’s online content relationship with Radio One stations across the country and serve as award show “online ambassadors.”

Edward Adams, AAFCA member, online manager for Creative Loafing magazine and co-supervisor of the program, said, “We are thrilled to begin this program at a historically black institution such as Clark Atlanta University, with its strong Mass Media Arts legacy. Our support of African-American youth interested in careers in the media will give them the training, experience and confidence that will add value as they develop their careers.”

For more information on AAFCA visit: www.aafca.com.

About: Clark Atlanta University’s Department of Mass Media Arts
The Department of Mass Media Arts was formed in 1978 at Clark College (founded in 1863). Upon the 1988 consolidation of Clark College and Atlanta University (founded in 1865), the department became a part of the Division of Communication Arts within the School of Arts and Sciences. The Mass Media Arts program educates approximately 700 students each year for careers in journalism, public relations, radio, television, film and multimedia. Students receive hands-on experience from WCLK-FM radio station, two television production studios, and CAU-TV, a cable television channel serving the metropolitan Atlanta area. Notable alumni include broadcast journalist Jacque Reid, director Bryan Barber and artist Hebru Brantley.

About: African American Film Critics Association
The African American Film Critics Association is one of the world’s premiere film critics groups. Founded in 2003, the group’s membership is comprised of the leading African-descended film critics in America. The organization actively reviews cinema at-large, with a particular emphasis on films that include the Black experience. AAFCA annually creates platforms for the African-descended filmmaker that culminates with the AAFCA Awards, an A-list awards program that takes place in Hollywood, Calif., at the top of each calendar year. AAFCA members are also involved in advocacy work that includes programming for students around the world who are interested in film criticism and journalism. Visit: www.aafca.com Social Media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/theaafca.com Facebook: www.facebook.africanamericanfilmcriticsassociation