NBNA's aim is to serve and improve the broadcast industry through educational and professional programs.

The NBNA began with a meeting of a few journalists and University of Minnesota faculty members who recognized the potential of broadcast news in our society. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota continues to assist the NBNA in its ongoing effort to raise the standards of broadcast journalism in the Upper Midwest.

Each year members gather in Minneapolis-St. Paul for a conference. Workshop sessions on such subjects as broadcast newswriting help to keep skills sharp. In recent years training sessions have included such subjects as investigative reporting, writing, delivery skills, and telling stories with pictures and sound.

Awards are given to radio and television stations for achievements in spot news, general reporting, series, documentary, feature news, sports reporting, newscast, best audio, and best photojournalism. At the banquet a tape is played showing highlights of the award winning news segments.

Students are encouraged to attend, so student conference fees are kept low. Awards are also given in every category for news tapes produced by broadcast journalism students. A scholarship, the Jack Shelley Award, is granted each year.

The culminating event of the annual conference banquet is the presentation of the Mitchell V. Charnley Award for contributions to broadcasting in the Upper Midwest.