The State of Media

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

Moderator:

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.

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.

Leon Bibb
Leon Bibb is a popular newscaster in Cleveland with five decades of experience.

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.

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.