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LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

*] GOOD EVENING WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION".

COMING UP TONIGHT, A CONTROVERSIAL OWNERSHIP CHANGE AT THE BALTIMORE SUN.

WE WILL HAVE THE FIRST INTERVIEW WITH ONE OF THE NEW OWNERS THAT IS AHEAD.

>>> FIRST TONIGHT, THE JANUARY COVID SURGE IS IS IT ENDING?

JOINING US IS TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER AND ASSIST TAN PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AT THE MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT COVID YOU AND I, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

WE HAVE TESTS, WE HAVE DRUGS, WE HAVE TREATMENTS.

YET, IT PERSISTS AND WE JUST HAD A SURGE AGAIN.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN YOUR PRACTICE?

>> I REMEMBER ALMOST AROUND THIS TIME 2020 WE SAT ACROSS FROM EACH OTHER TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST FEW CASES.

YOU KNOW, A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THOSE EARLY DAYS.

WE ARE NO LONGER SEEING HOSPITALS OVERWHELMED BY COVID ADMISSION AFTER ADMISSION.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR IS A BIT MORE OF THAT TRANSITION INTO WHAT WE'RE CALLING AN ENDEMIC STATE OF COVID.

MEANING THAT IT IS ANOTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUS THAT CERTAINLY HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SEVERE DISEASE LIKE FLU, LIKE RSV AND OTHER VICES IN VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND WE'RE SEEING IT LAYERED INTO A LARGER RESPIRATORY VIRAL SEASON THAT WE EXPERIENCED IN DECEMBER AND EARLY JANUARY.

BUT DESPITE HIGH LEVELS OF COVID CIRCULATING IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE'VE BEEN DETECTING THROUGH SURVEILLANCE METHODS DIDN'T SEE THAT RISE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SOMETHING MUCH MORE MODEST AND IN LINE WITH OTHER VIRUSES.

>> Jeff: IS SOUNDS LIKE A HOPEFUL TREND AS THE VIE ARE US EVOLVED OR MUTATED HAS IT GOTTEN LESS SEVERE?

>> I KNOW IT'S NOT THE DISCOUNT THE POTENTIAL THAT COVID HAS FOR PEOPLE ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH CHRONIC MEDICAL CAN CONDITIONS AND THOSE THAT ARE OLDER THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SEVERE DISEASE AND I SAW SOME THIS WINTER.

AND YEARS INTO THE PANDEMIC, AND AFTER MULTIPLE DOSES OF VACCINATIONS OR PRIOR INFECTIONS PEOPLE STILL REMAIN VULNERABLE.

BUT IT IS HOPEFUL AS WE'VE SEEN WITH BUILDING OF IMMUNITY, BOTH WITHIN EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON AND ACROSS OUR CUTES THE IMPACT OF IT ON US IS GOING FURTHER AND FURTHER DOWN.

>> Jeff: SOME PROTECTION FROM HAVING HAD IT PREVIOUSLY OR HAVING SOME NUMBER OF VACCINE DOSES, DOES THAT HELP?

EVEN THOUGH THE THING CONTINUES TO EVOLVE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I THINK WITH THE UPDATED VACCINE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAME OUT IN THE FALL, YOU KNOW, WHAT THAT IS INTENDING TO DO IS CATCH UP OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM BRING IT UP TO SPEED, REFRESH IT A BIT SO THAT TOES OF US WHO WOULD BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO BEING HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID-19, HAVE A BETTER SHOT AT HAVING A MUCH MORE MILD ILLNESS.

AND MORE MILD COURSE WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS AND STAYING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL.

>> Jeff: TRUTH BE TOLD, I CAUGHT IT ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO.

I HAD HAD FOUR PREVIOUS SHOTS OF THE VACCINE.

BUT DIDN'T GET ONE IN THE LAST YEAR.

SO MY FOURTH DOSE WAS WERE A YEAR AGO.

RELATIVELY MILD COURSE.

IT WAS SORT OF LIKE HAVING A COLD THAT LINGERED FOR TWO WEEKS.

BUT I KNOW PEOPLE WHO HAD THEIR FIFTH DOSE OR SIXTH OR WHATEVER IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WHO STILL CAUGHT IT.

>> YES.

I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE DOING WELL AND IN STUDIO AGAIN.

I THINK WITH EACH SUCCESSIVE PEAK IN COVID CASES THAT WE'RE SEEING AND WITH AVAILABILITY OF VACCINES, WE'RE UNDERSTANDING MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIANCES THAT EMERGE AND OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.

WHEN THE VARIANTS COME OUT IT'S USUALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE ABLE TO INFECT PEOPLE MAYBE THEY ARE MORE ADAPTIVE AT INFECTING THE BODY ONCE THEY SOMEONE IS EXPOSED TO IT OR LIKELY THEY HAVE CHANGED TO BETTER EVADE OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM.

BUT WHAT CONTINUED TO REMAIN IS THAT FOR THOSE OF US THAT ARE NOT SEVERELY IMMUNOCOMPROMISED AND ARE ABLE TO MOUNT AN IMMUNE RESPONSE WE HAVE A BASE MINE LEVEL OF IMMUNITY THAT IS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE COVID AND JUMP INTO ACTION WHEN WE GET INEFFECTED AND PREVENT US FROM DEVELOPING THE SEVERE CASES LIKE WE SAW EARLY ON IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> Jeff: HOW DOES SOMEBODY KNOW, AND WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IF THEY COME DOWN WITH COLD SYMPTOMS AND IT COULD BE COULD IT BE RSV OR COVID OR COULD BE A COLD, DO YOU HAVE UNDERLYING CONDITIONS?

HOW DO YOU WHEN TO CALL A DOCTOR?

WHEN TO GO TO URGENT CARE?

THERE IS A TIME LIMIT IF YOU ARE PRESCRIBED THE ANTIVIRAL PAXLOVID IT HAS TO BE QUICKLY?

>> I THINK SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND AS WELL, IS THAT THERE'S DATA THAT SUGGESTS THAT THE WAY IN WHICH WE SHOULD INTERPRET THE AT HOME TESTS HAS CHANGED AS WELL.

IT'S MORE LIKELY ESPECIALLY SOMEBODY WHO RECEIVED DOSES OF VACCINE IN THE PAST OR HAS BEEN INFECTED IN THE PAST MIGHT DEVELOP SYMPTOMS EARLIER THAN THEIR COVID TEST WILL TURN POSITIVE.

THERE MIGHT BE A LAG AND THAT IS IN PART BECAUSE OF OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS STARTING TO RAMP UP IN CAUSING SYMPTOMS AND KEEPING THE VIRUS BEFORE WE TEST POSITIVE.

IF YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AND YOU'VE HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH A PROVIDER OR CAREGIVER, YOU THINK OF YOURSELF AT HIGH-RISK HE WITH YOU DEVELOP DIFFICULTY BREATHING, HIGH FEVER, INABILITY TO DRINK, COUGH THAT IS KEEPING YOU UP AT NIGHT CALL INTO YOUR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER OR CAREGIVER IS A GOOD WAY TO DO A CHECK IN AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU NEED TO BE SEEN TO HAVE ADDITIONAL TESTING PERFORMED.

>> Jeff: I LOOKED AT THE STATE DATA WEBSITE WHICH IS STILL UPDATING AND EARLY JANUARY AND FOUR YEARS IN A ROW, THE NUMBER OF NEW COVID CASES HAS PEAKED, I GUESS LIKE 10 DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS.

WE'RE NOT OUTLAWING CHRISTMAS.

EVERYBODY NEXT CHRISTMAS IS GOING TO GET TOGETHER THEY WILL HAVE PARTIES AND EARLY JANUARY 25 IS THERE ANY REASON TO THINK WE WON'T SEE THE SAME OUTBREAK AND THEN HOPEFULLY IT RECEDES?

>> NO, I THINK WE ARE SEEING AN AMOUNT OF SEASONALITY START TO DEVELOPMENT IT APPEARS LOOKING BACK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS ABOUT THE WEEK AFTER NOVEMBER OR SO IS WHEN WE START -- EXCUSE ME THE WEEK AFTER THANKSGIVING IN LATE NOVEMBER WE START TO SEE COVID INCREASE AND IT PEAKS AFTER THE HOLIDAYS IN DECEMBER.

AND FLU WE'RE SEEING IF YOU LOOK AT THE CURVE THIS YEAR AND OVERLAY IT WITH PREPANDEMIC FLU SEASONS WE ARE SEEING IT START TO NORMALIZE.

I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN EXPECT YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

>> Jeff: A PHONE CALL THIS IS SHELLY THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> YES, I'M CONCERNED BECAUSE I'M ELDERLY AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT THE VACCINES WILL THERE BE ANY VACCINES AVAILABLE TO US AND THOSE WHO ARE IMMUNOCOMPROMISED IN THE NEAR FUTURE?

BECAUSE IN THE PAST, WE HEARD THAT THE VACCINES ARE NO LONGER EFFECTIVE AFTER ABOUT FIVE TO SIX MONTHS.

>> Jeff: SHELLY LET'S GET YOU AN ANSWER AND WE APPRECIATE THE PHONE CALL.

>> I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE OF CONSIDERATIONS THERE.

ONE IS THAT IT IS TRUE THAT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PROTECTION THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM A VACCINE IN MOST PEOPLE STARTS TO WANE AFTER A FEW MONTHS.

THAT IS THE PROTECTION THAT COULD PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING INFECTED AND DEVELOPING SYMPTOMS AT ALL.

BUT THE DATA HAS DEMONSTRATED IS THAT IT DOES VACCINES DO CONTINUE TO PROTECT YOU FOR LONG AFTER THAT.

AGAINST DEVELOPING SEVERE SYMPTOMS.

AND HOPEFULLY RESEARCH WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE BETTER WAYS OF DEVELOPING STRONG IMMUNE RESPONSES, COVERING FUTURE VARIANTS.

WE'RE SEEING THAT WITH RESEARCH IN INFLUENZA AND OTHER RESPIRATORY VIRUSES.

TOO.

>> Jeff: AN INFECTIOUS DISEASES PHYSICIAN, HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER DOCTOR WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU NEXT JANUARY.

>> I HOPE SO, THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> NOW, TO THE NEW AND CONTROVERSIAL OWNERS OF THE BALTIMORE SUN NEWSPAPER, THE PAPER IS NOW MAJORITY OWN I HAD BY DAVID SMITH CHAIRMAN OF CONSERVATIVE SINCLAIR BROADCASTING.

HIS PARTNER IS TALK SHOW HOST COLUMNIST AND HIMSELF A TV STATION OWNER ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH HIM TODAY.

>> ABOUT A YEAR AGO WE STARTED TALKING TO THE SELLERS AND OBVIOUSLY THEY RARELY SELL NEWSPAPERS THEY ONLY BUY THEM.

BUT I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING IN THE FACT OF THE LOCALISM AND THE FACT WE HAVE STATIONS IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. AND THE BALTIMORE MARKET.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, UNLIKE THEM, WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN SLASHING REPORTERS AND CUTTING DOWN ON STAFF.

TO GET MORE BANG FOR THE DOLLAR.

WE'RE ACTUALLY INTERESTED IN BUILDING A NEWSROOM.

SHOWING AMERICA HOW TO MAKE DAILY PRINT MEDIA WORK.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THOUSANDS OF NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS THAT HAVE GONE OUT OF BUSINESS AND SO MANY PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS.

WE REALLY THINK THAT PRINT MEDIA IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE MY PHILOSOPHY IS TV IS JUST SOMEBODY READING THE IMPORTANT ARTICLES FROM NEWSPAPERS.

AND SO I AM A STRONG PERSON IF YOU SEE MY BACKGROUND YOU SEE I HAVE AMOUNT THE NEWSPAPERS I READ THEM EVERYDAY, "THE NEW YORK TIMES", THE WASHINGTON POST, THE BALTIMORE SUN, THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL".

IT'S WHERE I GET MY BEST INFORMATION FROM.

WHEN WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY AROUND CHRISTMAS WHEN THEY BECAME SERIOUS ABOUT SELLING US THE PAPER AND WE HAD TO KEEP IT HUSH, HUSH, WE WASTED NO TIME.

WE GOT THE CALL WHEN OUR FAMILIES WERE IN THE BAHAMAS AFTER CHRISTMAS THAT WE HAD A DEAL.

AND I THINK WE CLOSED IT AROUND JANUARY FOURTH AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

>> Jeff: FROM THE REACTION TO SOME OF THE LONG TIME EMPLOYEES AT THE SUN, THIS TO THEM SEEMS LIKE A BARBARIANS AT THE GATE MOMENT.

CONSERVATIVE BUYERS GROUP TAKING OVER THE PAPER.

HOW DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

HOW DO YOU SEE THE NEWS COVERAGE CHANGING AND THE EDITORIAL PAGE CHANGING?

>> LISTEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED AT THE "LOS ANGELES TIMES", THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED", SHUTTERING THE SERVICES, SHUTTING DOWN, IT SHOULD BE A MOMENT OF CELEBRATION THAT WE'RE WILLING TO STEP IN AND USE OUR PERSONAL FUNDS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH SIN COLLAR BROADCAST GROUP, THE BUY IS PAPER.

AND OBVIOUSLY WE DON'T WANT TO REMOVE ANY OF THE WRITERS THAT THEY'VE HAD ON THEIR PAGES.

WE WANT TO ADD MORE.

WE WANT THE PAPER TO REFLECT BALTIMORE AND THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THEIR NEWS NOW COMES FROM "THE NEW YORK TIMES" AND THE AP AND RARELY ARE THE STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THEY DO THAT A COOKIE CUTTER TO SAVE MONEY.

WE ARE LIKE IN TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN, EDWIN WHO RUNS THIS ACADEMY FOR BLACK BOYS WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THE BEST IN MATH AND ENGLISH AND SCIENCE, HE IS ON THE EDITORIAL WITH THAT PICTURE OF THE KIDS ALL DRESSED UP.

THOSE ARE THE STORIES PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TELLING THEIR STORIES HOW TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE, DIFFERENT VOICES.

LIKE MY COLUMN IS SYNDICATED AND WE CARRY IN THE PAPER BUT ADVICES THAT CELEBRATE DIFFERENT OPINIONS, CELEBRATE THE DIVERGENT VOICES IN OUR SOCIETY.

AND THE ONE THING I'VE FOUND AS A CO-OWNER IS VERY EASY TO WORK WITH TRISH BISHOP OUR EDITORIAL EDITOR AND EASY TO WORK WITH SAM DAVIS OUR MANAGING EDITOR AND TRISH OUR PUBLISHING EDITOR.

I DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE PERSON'S IDEOLOGY LEFT OR RIGHT.

PEOPLE ACCUSE OF BEING TO THE RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TO EXTEND YOUR HAND I'M ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS LET'S SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN COMMON TO MAKE THIS PAPER THE STAND UP FOR THE COUNTRY AND MOVE IT FORWARD TO RESTORE THE INTEGRITY AND HONOR TO THE NEWSROOM WHERE PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE FACTS, THEY CARE ABOUT THE TRUTH NOT WHETHER YOU ARE LEFT, RIGHT OR CENTER.

>> Mr. SMITH WAS QUOTED AFTER HIS NEWSROOM VISIT AS SAYING THAT THE PRICE TAG FOR BUYING THE PAPER WAS NINE FIGURES, MEANING 100 MILLION PLUS.

YOU MENTIONED ALL THE LAYOFFS AT THE LA PAPER, THE WASHINGTON POST AND SO MANY OTHER PLACES.

IT IS A TOUGH BUSINESS.

IT IS A LITTLE BIT OF A WASTING ASET.

IT GETS SMALLER EVERY YEAR.

YOU ARE AN EXPERIENCED MEDIA EXECUTIVE.

WHEN YOU HEARD THAT PRICE TAG FOR THE FIRST TIME, WHAT DID YOU THINK?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU BUY TELEVISION STATIONS AT THE PRICE TAG WE BUY THEM FOR IS JUST ANOTHER NUMBER.

WE DIDN'T DO IT FOR YEARS AND DECADES IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT -- >> Jeff: NUMBER ACCURATE THE 100 MILLION?

>> MY BROTHER SAYS IT THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

>> Jeff: AND ARE THERE OTHER MINORITY PARTNERS?

ANY BANKS IN IT?

WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE STRUCTURE?

>> WE DON'T DO WELL WITH PARTNERS.

IN FACT, I NORMALLY BUY SOLO.

IN THIS VENTURE, ACTUALLY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT TAFD AND I HAVE EVER BEEN IN AN ADVENTURE TOGETHER AND WE WERE BOTH NECESSARY TO THE EQUATION HE IS THE BUSINESSMAN AND I AM THE NEWSROOM GUY.

OUR EXPERIENCES ON OUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES CAN MAKE THIS WORK AND THE PAPER'S ALREADY PROFITABLE.

I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE KNOW THIS AND WE WILL CONTINUE IN THAT TRADITION.

AND INCREASE AND ENHANCE THE SALARIES OF THE PEOPLE IN THE NEWSROOM AND EDITORIAL SPACE THAT WILL TAKE THIS EXPERIMENT AND WHETHER IT IS A SUCCESS OR NOT, THE MARKETPLACE HAS ITS OWN MIND AND IT CAN BE VICIOUS AND IT CAN BE KIND IT WILL FURTHER TEST WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THE PAST WITH OTHER TELEVISION STATIONS AND TURN IT AROUND AND I WILL TELL YOU THIS, DAVID KNOWS HOW TO MAKE MONEY AND ALSO CREATE A GOOD PRODUCT FOR THE PUBLIC TO READ.

>> Jeff: YOU KNOW, Mr. SMITH HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SLANTING THE COVERAGE AT HIS AFFILIATE TV STATIONS CHANNEL 45.

A LOT OF ATTENTION THEY HAVE GREAT REPORTERS THEY DO AND GREAT PHOTOGRAPHERS THEY HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF GOING OVERBOARD ON COVERING A LAWSUIT ABOUT THE CITY SCHOOLS, THAT Mr. SMITH WAS BEHIND WITHOUT DISCLOSING THAT HE WAS BEHIND IT.

HOW DOES THAT FIT WITH YOUR PLANS FOR JOURNALISTIC STANDARDS GOING FORWARD AT THE SUN?

>> PEOPLE ACCUSED THE WASHINGTON POST "THE NEW YORK TIMES" ARE GOING OVERBOARD AND THEIR COVERAGE IN STORIES THEY WON'T PRINT ABOUT BIDEN AND OTHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.

EVERYONE IS ACCUSED OF THIS.

THIS IS NOTHING NEW.

WHAT THEY ARE ACCUSING Mr. SMITH OF NEWSPAPERS LOST CREDIBILITY AND TRUST WE MUST RESTORE THAT TRUST AND THAT CREDIBILITY.

AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, YOU KNOW THAT HAS NO IMPACT ON ME.

PAUSE WHAT MATTERS IS WHEN PEOPLE SEE OUR PRODUCT EVERYDAY, SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, THEY WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT WE SAY IS THAT WE CARE ABOUT JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY, AND FAIRNESS IN THE NEWSROOM, WE CARE ABOUT COMPETING VOICES THEY WILL SEE THAT IN THE PAPER AND IT WILL SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND IT WILL INCREASE OUR SUBSCRIPTIONS AND READERSHIP.

>> Jeff: I DID SEE YOU ARE GOING TO STOP THE LONG TIME PRACTICE OF ENDORSING POLITICAL CANDIDATES WHICH ALWAYS STRUCK ME AS A LITTLE BIT PATERNALISTIC WE'RE GOING TO TELL YOU WHO TO VOTE FOR AND BE BAD BUSINESS.

BECAUSE YOU ARE ALIENATING SOME PERCENTAGE OF YOUR SUBSCRIBERS YOUR POTENTIAL SUBSCRIBERS.

>> PRECISELY.

THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT BENEFIT FROM THIS ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE ENDORSE.

AND SO WE'VE DECIDED THAT'S JUST NOT THE BEST PRACTICE.

THE VOTERS GET TO DECIDE ON ELECTION DAY.

THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE.

AND WHEN THAT PROCESS IS CONCLUDED YOU RESPECT THE WILL OF THE VOTER.

>> Jeff: GIVE ME YOUR MESSAGE TO POTENTIAL SUBSCRIBERS?

WHY SHOULD THEY SUBSCRIBE TO THE PAPER RELATED TO THAT ON THE NEWS OF THE TAKEOVER, DID YOU SEE ANY CANCELLATIONS?

>> IT IS A BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT AMERICA.

AND THE MARKETPLACE.

IF YOU GIVE THE MARKETPLACE A REASON TO TRUST YOU, THE STORIES THAT THEY CANNOT READ ANYWHERE ELSE, THE BREAKING STORIES THAT NO ONE IS BREAKING BUT YOU AND TELL GOOD NEWS.

PEOPLE JUST DON'T WANT THE BLEED HEADLINES THEY WANT SOMETHING TO GIVE THEIR KIDS HOPE FOR TOMORROW.

AND HOPE FOR TODAY.

AND I THINK WHEN PEOPLE BEGIN TO SEE THIS, LISTEN WE ARE THE CAREGIVERS OF THIS PAPER.

THIS IS A PAPER THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 1837.

WHICH THE INCREDIBLE RICH HISTORY.

A TERRIFIC STAFF AND NEWSROOM AT THE SUN ALL WE WANT TO DO IS PARTNER WITH THEM, THE FURTHER ENHANCE TO GIVE THE READNERS BALTIMORE A REASON TO READ US MORE AND TELL SOMEONE THIS IS SOMETHING TO SUBSCRIBE TO.

WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO GIVE US THEIR TRUST.

WE WILL EARN THEIR TRUST.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO Mr. WILLIAMS.

THE BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR EVENT RETURNS TO BALTIMORE IN FEBRUARY.

WE SPOKE WITH THE FOUNDER OF THE EVENT Dr. TYRONE TABORN.

>> Dr. TABORN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TAKE US BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARDS AND HOW DID THIS GET STARTED?

>> LET ME TELL YOU, 38 YEARS AGO, THE DOCTOR THE FIRST DEAN OF ENGINEERING IN MORGAN STATE, HE AND I SAT DOWN AND WE SAID LOOK AT ALL OF THE GREAT TALENT, MORGAN HAD JUST OPENED UP A SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING.

AND WE SAID IT'S ONE THING TO EDUCATE THE KIDS, BUT WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

CAN WE HELP THEM GET JOBS?

CAN WE HELP THEM DESIGN CAREERS?

AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS WHO ARE FIRST GENERATION GOING TO COLLEGE LET ALONE GOING INTO ENGINEERING, RIGHT, WHERE THERE WAS NO HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE THAT HAD AN ENGINEERING PROGRAM.

SO MORGAN, THE STATE CREATED A PROGRAM AT MORGAN STATE.

WE SAID LET'S SHOW THE KIDS WHAT THEY COULD BE.

AND WE CREATED THE BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR CONFERENCE WHICH BROUGHT IN HUNDREDS OF PROFESSIONALS AND THESE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO SHOW STUDENTS WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE.

NOT ONLY WHAT IS ENGINEERING WAS LIKE BUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO WORK IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO WORK IN THE MILITARY, TO WORK IN EDUCATION.

AND OUR VERY FIRST, YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS, OUR FIRST BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR WAS Dr. JOHN SLAUGHTER.

WHO WAS THE CHANCELLOR AT THAT TIME OF THE COLLEGE PARK.

AND UNFORTUNATELY HE DIED THIS YEAR.

SO WHEN WE COME BACK TO BALTIMORE, THIS IS THE YEAR HE DIED.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING US BACK TO BALTIMORE.

IN THOSE FEW YEARS, THERE WERE ONLY THE FIRST CONFERENCE AT MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

THERE WERE MAYBE 300 PEOPLE.

TODAY, OVER 12,000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN THE ANNUAL BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR CONFERENCE.

>> Jeff: AND TELL ME ABOUT THE DECISION TO BRING THAT BACK TO BALTIMORE?

>> WELL, IT WAS A VERY GOOD ONE.

AND I WILL SAY THAT I PLAYED A LOT OF CREDIT TO PEOPLE LIKE MAYOR PEW AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THE CONFERENCE THIS LARGE, IMAGINE A CONFERENCE THIS LARGE REALLY DOES TAKE ABOUT FIVE YEARS OR MORE TO GET ALL OF THE ASSETS IN PLACE AND BALTIMORE IS STILL ONE OF THE FEW MAJOR CITIES IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A TRUE CONVENTION HOTEL.

MEANING THAT YOU CAN TAKE 12-20,000 PEOPLE PUT THEM IN A HOTEL WITH THE EXHIBITS SPACE AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND HOST THAT.

THAT'S NOT TRUE IN BALTIMORE.

YOU HAVE TO USE THE CONVENTION CENTER AND YOU ARE IN MULTIPLE HOTELS.

WE ARE A CITYWIDE CONFERENCE IN OVER FIVE HOTELS.

AND USING THE CONVENTION CENTER AT THE SAME TIME.

SO IT TOOK ABOUT FIVE YEARS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

LET ME TELL YOU WHY WE CAME BACK.

AND I'M HAPPY THAT WE'RE BACK.

ONE IS BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN THE STATE THAT REALLY UNDERSTANDS THE IMPORTANCE OF STEM EDUCATION.

AND THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMPANIES AND FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT SUPPORT THE BLACK ENGINE ABOUTER OF THE YEAR CONFERENCE.

LOCKHEED, MARTIN, NORTHRUP CORPORATION, IBM, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, ALL OF THESE MAJOR COMPANIES AND LEADERS WHO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE EVERY YEAR.

SO THERE IS A PLUS SIDE.

SO WE'RE JUST NOT IN A CONFERENCE, WE ARE ACTUALLY IN A EVENT THAT HAS AN IMPACT ON BALTIMORE WELL AFTER FEBRUARY.

>> Jeff: YOU TOLD US HOW IN THE BEGINNING THIS WAS INTENDED TO CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE WHAT THEIR CAREERS COULD BECOME.

THAT IS STILL A BIG FOCUS FOR IT.

SO FOR ANYBODY WATCHING WHO IS A STUDENT, RELATED TO A STUDENT WHO WANTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENT AND THE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT AND WHERE THEY CAN FIND OUT MORE?

>> YOU CAN ANYONE LISTENING TO MY VOICE, LOOKING AT US, YOU CAN EASILY GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

BEYA.ORG TO GET A FULL SCHEDULE.

WE'RE REALLY PROUD THAT MANY OF THE PROGRAMS AT THE BEYA CONFERENCE ARE FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

AND ONE OF THE MAJOR ACTIVITIES WILL BE ON SATURDAY FEBRUARY THE 17TH THE JOB FAIR.

WHERE MORE THAN 100 PLUS COMPANIES AND FEDERAL AGENCIES FROM THE C.I.A.

TO IBM WILL BE THERE ACTUALLY HIRING ON THE SPOT AND OFFERING INTERNSHIPS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO AND I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, WE BRING TALENT AND OPPORTUNITY TOGETHER.

WE ARE THE BRIDGE.

SO YOU CAN HAVE AS MANY SMART PEOPLE AS YOU WANT, BUT IF THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

AND SO YOU HAVE PEOPLE LIKE CALVIN BUTLER, A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY, A STEPHANIE HL HILL, A LEADER IN OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WHO LEAD THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY FIGHT FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR TALENTED PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF CULTURE, RACE OR GENDER, TO HAVE AT LEAST A SHOT AT THAT OPPORTUNITY.

BEYA GIVES THEM THAT PLATFORM WHERE THEY CAN HAVE RECRUITING, THEY CAN HAVE SEMINARS, AND WORK WITH THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT OPPORTUNITY IS OPEN.

>> Jeff: Dr. TABORN, BEST OF LUCK WITH THE EVENT WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME THANK YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE THIS SHOW.

KEEP IT UP.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" AND THE LATEST ON MARYLAND POLITICS.

JOIN US FOR MATT FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING "DIRECT CONNECTION".

AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

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