The Driving Force internship program will introduce HBCU students to career opportunities in the automotive space with a focus on journalism and communications.
Jackson, MS – Known as The Driving Force (TDF), a partnership has been extended for a second year for students interested in exploring multimedia career opportunities within the automotive industry. Through the Black Automotive Media Group (BAMG), minority students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) will participate in a 10-week, field-credit academic program that commingles virtual training, mentoring sessions, and in-person product experiences.
Now in its third year, TDF continues to evolve while enhancing career development for young devotees seeking guidance in the mobility sector. Conversations began with an effort to improve the diversity and inclusion of African American journalists covering the industry and the opportune moment presented itself to help prepare the next generation of automotive media experts hailing from Jackson State University (JSU).
“Our first-year collaboration with Jackson State University and Nissan North America created a diverse program that allowed JSU students to flourish with the extended resources provided,” said BAMG founding member Kimatni D. Rawlins. “TDF will continue providing professional development tools for talented scholars while offering supplementary perspectives on automotive industry opportunities.”
For the Spring 2023 academic session, TDF welcomes 15 students from JSU in Jackson, Mississippi. The program would not be possible without the commitment and support from Nissan North America.
“A personal and professional passion is to empower and mentor youth through learning opportunities,” said Ashli C. Bobo, director, Nissan Corporate Communications. “The Nissan team is proud to continue our partnership with The Driving Force program. We celebrate and support the development of future leaders and their journey to learning about the electrifying and innovative world of automotive and the communications industry.”
TDF is led by respected media specialists Kimatni D. Rawlins of Automotive Rhythms Communications, Marcus Amick, and Greg Morrison from Bumper2Bumpertv, with additional support from an array of Black automotive journalists and publishers.
“The Department of Journalism and Media Studies is pleased to be a part of TDF with BAMG and Nissan North America,” said Dr. Elayne Hayes Anthony, Chairman of the JSU Department of Journalism and Media Studies. “Our students will gain relevant skills to open new doors in the automotive industry. In addition, we are honored that our students can engage in an industry that will continue to hone their skills in writing, interviewing, public relations, and social media. We appreciate the team at Nissan for supporting the partnership.”
About Jackson State University
The mission of Jackson State University, an HBCU and comprehensive urban research university, is to provide quality teaching, research, and service at the baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral levels to diverse populations of students and communities using various modalities to ensure that they are technologically-advanced, ethical, global leaders who think critically and can address societal problems and compete effectively.
About Nissan North America
Nissan is a global automotive manufacturer dedicated to driving innovation to enrich people’s lives. In the U.S., Nissan’s operations include more than 21,000 employees who work in automotive design, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is in the midst of a global transformation, changing its business, products and culture to build a quality, sustainable business for employees, dealers, suppliers and customers. For more information, visit NissanUSA.com.
About the Black Automotive Media Group
The Black Automotive Media Group is a distinguished group of African American reporters and writers representing over 200 years of combined experience in automotive journalism within radio, television, print, experiential marketing, and social media. BAMG members either work for or own various automotive media platforms to bring equity to Black professionals who work within the automotive industry. For additional details regarding The Driving Force HBCU program, please visit AutomotiveRhythms.com.
