Celebrate Ohio Black Media Week
The State of Media
Presented by
Presented in partnership with
Akron Black Artist Guild • BBB Akron • PBS Western Reserve • The University of Akron College of Business, Marketing
March 16, 2026
5:30–8:00pm
The University of Akron College of Business
The Goodyear Classroom
259 S. Broadway Street
Akron, OH 44325
Parking
GPS for parking lots: 297 S. Broadway St., Akron, Ohio 44325
Park in Lots 61 and 62 located on S. Broadway St. immediately before the UA College of Business building.
These lots are “permit free” during the event (ignore the signage to register your vehicle).
5:30–6:30pm
Networking, light hors d’oeuvres
6:30pm
Presentation begins
Moderated by
Jamir Howerton, Producer, Pro Football Hall of Fame
Emmy nominated dynamic Executive Producer with over 20 years of experience in sports broadcasting, specializing in the NFL. Proven track record of producing award-winning on-trend content for professional sports franchises including the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. Recognized for excellence with multiple Emmy nominations for the Cleveland Brown’s “Browns Rewind,” and a Bronze Telly Award for “Cleveland Browns Report.” Seasoned in all facets of live event production, logistics management, budgeting, executive production, project management, corporate sponsorships, and demonstrated through successful oversight of large-scale events like the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony. Skilled in building strong relationships with key industry stakeholders, including athletes, coaches, and broadcast executives. Committed to leveraging emerging technologies to enhance audience engagement and create compelling content across digital platforms. A forward-thinking leader who bridges traditional television production with innovative digital media strategies, shaping the future of sports content creation and event management.
Panelists
Tawney Beans
Reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal since 2021, Tawney Beans has covered a wide range of topics, especially Akron’s restaurant scene. Tawney also oversees and creates videos for the Beacon Journal’s Instagram and TikTok accounts.
Before coming to the Beacon Journal, she was the trending reporter at The News Record, the University of Cincinnati’s student newspaper. Prior to that she was an intern at the UC’s College of Arts & Sciences marketing and communications department.
In middle school, she learned that she has a passion for words. It wasn’t until her government class at Tallmadge High School that she truly understood the impact journalism can have. She chose journalism because it is a field where she could incorporate her interests and passions into impactful work. She believes it’s the best decision she’s ever made.
She hasn’t been in the journalism field as long as many of her colleagues, but in that short time she’s gotten to be in the same room as the president of the United States and, in the same day, ride electric scooters all over downtown Akron to interview other scooter riders — a feat that could only be achieved through her job.
Honest and accurate information should always be available to the public so they can make decisions about their community with the best possible information. 
Leon Bibb
Leon Bibb is a popular newscaster in Cleveland with five decades of experience. He continues to work as a senior correspondent, commentator and television show host at WKYC-TV where he began his distinguished career in Cleveland. He has worked at WEWS-TV5 in Cleveland as well as television stations in Columbus and Toledo.
Mr. Bibb is a graduate of Bowling Green State University where he studied journalism and broadcasting. Early in his career he was a reporter for the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. Throughout his television news career he has covered stories throughout the United States. He has also covered international stories including the Persian Gulf War. He has interviewed President Barack Obama in a one-on-one interview conducted at the White House. He also interviewed President George H.W. Bush at the White House. Among other notable interviews are those astronaut Neil Armstrong, first man to walk on the moon. Mr. Bibb also conducted a prison interview of James Earl Ray, convicted assassin of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Mr. Bibb has won television’s coveted Emmy award ten times and has been awarded many times by civic organizations and professional journalism groups for his long and distinguished career. In 2022, he entered the Gold Circle of the Central Great Lakes Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his many decades in television. He is a member of several halls of fame including that of the National Association of Black Journalists.
Mr. Bibb is a popular narrator in musical productions including those of the Cleveland Orchestra, the Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra, the Akron Symphony and the Musical Theater Project.
He is a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served the war in Vietnam where he was awarded the Army’s Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service in combat.
He is an accomplished writer, actor, and narrator of audio books. His one-man production of Burning Leaves has been acclaimed. Mr. Bibb has starred in stage productions of Same Time Next Year, Our Town, and The Skin of Our Teeth and has had major acting roles in feature films Made in Cleveland, Lost and Found in Cleveland, and in the radio drama War of the Worlds.
He has authored a book now under consideration for a feature film. Leon Bibb is writing a second book which is a novel. He and his wife, Marguerite, live in the Cleveland suburb of Shaker Heights. 
Marlene Harris-Taylor
Marlene Harris-Taylor is the Director of Community Engagement at the American Press Institute, where she drives organizational and cultural transformation and helps newsrooms build deeper, more authentic connections with the communities they serve.
A veteran journalist, producer, and podcast host, Marlene created and hosted Living for We, a Webby Award–winning podcast developed during her tenure at Ideastream Public Media, Cleveland’s NPR/PBS affiliate. The series grew out of her leadership of the “Connecting the Dots Between Race and Health” project, inspired by a 2020 study that ranked Cleveland as the least livable city for Black women.
Throughout her career, Marlene has championed stories and initiatives that amplify the voices of underserved and marginalized communities. She has led community-centered news coverage, launched innovative journalism projects to engage new audiences, and managed teams of reporters and editors dedicated to public service journalism.
Her journalism journey has spanned public radio, television, and print. She has served as a producer for NPR’s Morning Edition, medical editor at The Toledo Blade, and host of an award-winning public affairs program on WBGU-PBS. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including a Webby, regional Emmy nominations, multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, and Ohio Excellence in Journalism awards.
Beyond the newsroom, Marlene has contributed her expertise as a former board member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and currently serves on the Press Club of Cleveland Board. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Marlene holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and a master’s from Miami University of Ohio.
Abdallah Ndume
Abdallah Ndume is a double major in Sales Management and Marketing with a minor in Risk Management & Insurance at The University of Akron. His professional interests sit at the intersection of business, media, and live sports production.
His journey into sports broadcasting began with curiosity—wondering how games come together both on and off the air, and what happens behind the scenes to make a live broadcast possible. As he attended more Akron basketball games, that curiosity quickly turned into action. After connecting with the right people, Abdallah earned the opportunity to work as a camera operator, where he spent an entire season learning replay operations and production workflows.
Building on that foundation, Abdallah advanced into directing, gaining hands-on experience leading live productions across multiple sports. He has directed Akron Athletics’ women’s and men’s soccer, volleyball, and both women’s and men’s basketball games.
One of his proudest accomplishments was serving as Director for the live ESPN broadcast of the University of Akron Men’s Soccer NCAA Tournament match against Notre Dame—a milestone that reflects both his technical skill and leadership under pressure.
Abdallah continues to blend his marketing and sales background with live sports production, with a passion for storytelling, teamwork, and creating engaging broadcast experiences.
CeeJay Scott
CeeJay is a Cleveland-based Director of Photography and visual storyteller with a background in Digital Media Production. His work spans narrative films, commercial projects, and branded content, with a creative approach rooted in intentional lighting, composition, and visual clarity. Through his work and community involvement, he aims to inspire emerging creatives—especially young Black artists—to see storytelling as both a skill and a pathway to opportunity.
Seating is limited. Free to attend, but registration is required.
***Members, attend and receive 10 points. Earn your way to a free individual membership and more through our Applause Awards program!
GRAPHIC BY CHRIS KONCSICS
Help create a lasting legacy for students. Consider giving to the Susan B. Kosich Charitable Fund. This nonprofit funds the Susan B. Kosich Endowed Scholarship for Marketing Communications of Akron Community Foundation. The scholarship is open to all sophomore, junior and senior college students in Northeast Ohio pursuing a bachelor’s degree in a communications-related field. Applications open in Dec. 2026. All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law. Learn more.
