By MAYA CARPENTER
The UNITY News

More than 6,500 journalists, exhibitors and sponsors registered for UNITY ’08, according to event organizers.

The exact number of attendees will not be determined until Sunday, said Don Williams, media liaison for the UNITY staff.

The numbers reflect slightly fewer registrants compared to UNITY ‘04. That year, the projected goal was 10,000, and actual attendance topped 8,000.

Attendance figures are calculated with sponsored events, officials said. Registered events include workshops, plenary sessions, festivities, job fairs and luncheons.

While some events are not advertised in the UNITY brochure, figures do not represent full attendance, said Onica Makwakwa, UNITY executive staff director.

Makwakwa said exact attendance figures will be tallied at the convention’s end.
Also, no figures on food service will be available until later.

It’s hard to tell what UNITY will look like in 2012.
“We are always going to strive for growth,” Makwakwa said.

By WESLEY LOWERY
The UNITY News

For those not on the job hunt, a convention serves as an opportunity to stock up on much more than business cards, and UNITY ’08 is no exception.

From the moment they register, conference attendees are greeted with goodies. This year’s convention bag includes the first edition of Rise Up, a weekly newsmagazine, and one of eight collector’s editions of Ebony magazine featuring prominent African-American male celebrities such as Grammy-winning singer Marvin Gaye and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Conference-goers pleased with the registration table giveaways can find more. Walk a few feet into the convention job fair and discover a large room full of handouts.
Amid a sea of pens and brochures is also an assortment of practical perks, including Black Enterprise checkbooks, Time Warner Cable business card holders, and Media General CD opener/cleaners.

More than a dozen exhibit booths display reporters’ notebooks. A three-table McGraw-Hill setup offers a wide selection of office supplies, including paperclip dispensers, three-color highlighters, pens, mints and lip balm.

For those feeling overwhelmed by the week’s busy schedule of events, Bloomberg offers hand-held fans with orange lights that display the words “Bloomberg,” “finance,” “technology” and “news.” The Journal Broadcast Group boasts a purple stress toy that could come in handy for late-night deadlines.

For those who might doze off during one of the convention sessions, The Washington Post’s Zeebee could be an entertainment fix. A drowsy convention-goer could simply extend his or her arm, release the ball and watch as it hits the ground and springs back up to the waiting hand.

Although the Zeebee is arguably the most entertaining of the convention perks, the award for the unique giveaway idea goes to Maryland-based Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which, along with a pocket light keychain, provides booth visitors with light-blue ice cream scoops.

Vykas Reid, chief meteorologist with WBFF-TV in Baltimore, said those stopping by his booth will get much more than the kitchen utensil.

“What I’m giving out is advice,” Reid said. “We can equip anyone with the tools to make them more marketable.”