Volume 1, Issue 2/November 2013
Election Day, November 5

TVDM students researched and helped prepare background materials for the NJTV election night broadcast with anchor Mike Schneider. In addition, student crews went out early on election day, shooting candidates voting and doing "man on street" interviews. In the afternoon and evening, students assisted during lighting, rehearsals and live coverage as production assistants.

Student Media Projects

 
On a related front, students from Director of NJ News Commons
Debbie Galant's local media class and English Professor Diane Herbst's public affairs reporting class worked an election night newsroom in Schmitt Hall on Nov. 5, culling numbers from 21 county websites across the state to generate an interactive results map for the 120 senate and assembly races in New Jersey. The spreadsheet and map, created by Colleen O'Dea, was posted on the NJ Spotlight website and shared with media throughout the state.
  

TV legend Sonny Fox, who hosted "Wonderama" from 1959 to 1967, sat down for a recent Carpe Diem interview.  It can be seen here.

 

Students in the Public Relations concentration videotaped interviews with this year's inductees to The Advertising Hall of Fame of New Jersey -- Peter Connolly of St. Peter's Healthcare System; Dennis Bone, Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at MSU's School of Business; and the Star-Ledger's Director of Advertising, Jay Petrie.
  
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) picked up two paying clients: mezzo-soprano Hai-Ting Chinn and the author of "Trinity," Lauren D. Fraser.
  
After a 10 year hiatus from live broadcasts, WMSC, with a team of professionals and students, carried the MSU football team's victory of William Paterson.   

 

Professor Larry Weiner Interviews Warren Littlefield, Former NBC President

 

The man who created "Must See TV,"
Warren Littlefield, gives Larry Weiner an audio interview that provides a unique perspective of the current state of media from a man who was at the top of the media mountain.
  
Littlefield, who is currently in Calgary producing 10 hours of the upcoming TV series, "Fargo," recently recounted his 10 year plus career as NBC Entertainment president in his autobiography, "Top of the Rock."  In the audio interview, Littlefield waxes eloquent on the dynamic state of media today.
  
Catch the audio podcast here.
  

 

 

Beverly Peterson's Transmedia class hosted Scott Webb, the chief creative officer of Worldwide Biggies, a digital entertainment studio, on Friday, November 15.  Webb spent much of the class chronicling his 25 year career at Nickelodeon, first as part of the core team that developed and launched the network and then as its first creative director. 

 

On Sunday, November 17, SCM Director Merrill Brown participated in a panel discussion at the Montclair Public Library titled "Who is a Journalist Now?"  

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  • On Tuesday November 12, South Orange Mayor Alex Torpey visited Todd Kelshaw's Democracy and Communication course. He discussed how today's youth are likely to transform American politics and governance through social media.

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    SCM Director Merrill Brown was quoted in an article on The Deal Pipeline about Jeff Bezos' purchase of The Washington Post and in a story on Reuters about the new Fusion network, which is aimed at young Hispanics and launched with interviews of President Obama and Senator Ted Cruz.

     

    Adjunct Film Instructor Michael J. Meindl is looking for one or two interns to help with his documentary project centered on the history and current state of puppetry in the greater NYC area. You can find more information about the project here.


    On Saturday, November 9, Dr. Harry Haines accompanied a group of students to the Student Communications Career Conference sponsored by the New York Women in Communications, Inc.
      
    Past SCM Events: Colloquium Series

    LANCE GOULD
    Executive Education Director for Huffington Post
    The November 20 colloquium session was hosted by Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey and featured a discussion with Huffington Post Senior Editor Lance Gould. Sacirbey and Gould discussed how new media is changing the way nations interact and how average citizens can now have direct impact in world politics.

     

    DAVID WESTIN
    former ABC News President
    TELEVISION NEWS IN THE DIGITAL ERA 


    David Westin, digital media adviser and former President of ABC News discussed the influence of television news on public engagement in the digital age with Merrill Brown, Director of the School of Communication and Media on November 12.  For more information, click here.

     

    JOE NOCERA
    New York Times columnist
    COVERING MISDEEDS  















    On November 6, the SCM hosted a conversation with New York Times Columnist Joe Nocera who discussed the experience of covering financial scandals involving major corporate and university institutions. 
    For more information, click here. 
     
    BEN KALINA
    Documentary filmmaker
    SMARTER THAN THE STORM

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    On October 30, documentary filmmaker Ben Kalina screened excerpts from his film "Shored Up," which examines coastal development and rising sea levels in the U.S. Speaking to more than 125 students, faculty and staff, Kalina discussed the process of making the documentary and the many challenges associated with it. For more information click here.

     

    In Other News...

     

     
    WMSC was pleased to host a return visit by Ed Helvey, MSU Class of 1967 and the founder of Montclair State's campus radio station ("WVMS" back then, for "the Voice of Montclair State").  Ed, above on the right, with station General Manager Dick Hinchliffe.
     
    On November 19, NJ News Commons hosted its third internship fair. Students had the opportunity to network with news partners and sign up for internships for the Spring 2014 semester.

     

     


    Producer David Picker was the featured speaker at the November 19 Film Forum series.  Picker has worked in the film industry for more than forty years, serving as President and Chief Executive Officer for United Artists, Paramount, Lorimar and Columbia Pictures.  

     

    The Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center hosted its annual fundraising event on November 13. The event was a tribute to baseball managers, with special guests including Buck Showalter, Don Mattingly, Joe Girardi, Jim Leyland and Tony LaRussa. The panel discussion was moderated by Suzyn Waldman, the Yankees' radio analyst.
      
    On November 6,author and artist Andrea Strongwater, spoke at the College of the Arts' Kristallnacht events talked with Jarrett Strenner, host of "Jarrett's Jams" on WMSC 90.3 FM. The two discussed Strongwater's work "The Lost Synagogues of Germany and Austria." Watch the video here. 
      
    On November 5, the School of Communication and Media Film Forum  featured filmmaker Ian Olds, who is a director of both narrative and documentary films.  He directed "Fixer: The Taking of Ajmal Naqshbandi," a feature-length documentary that follows the relationship between an Afghan interpreter and his client, American journalist Christian Parenti.
      
    NJ News Commons recently debuted its OPRA Sherpa service to help coach news partners, and their staffs, through the process of filing an Open Public Records Act request in the state of New Jersey.
      
    Future SCM Events
    Seating at these events is limited. Please call 973-655-3601 to reserve a seat.
    December 6 Colloquium

    KRISTINE JOHNSON
    CBS news anchor
    On Friday, December 6, CBS2 anchor Kristine Johnson will visit Montclair State University to receive the Allen B. DuMont Broadcaster of the Year Award and participate in the SCM colloquium series. She will discuss her career and the state of broadcast journalism, both currently and the outlook for the future.

     

    Newsletter Subtitle Month Year
    Alumni & Friends Supporting the SCM
    School of Communication and Media graduates share a lifelong connection with each other, the School and Montclair State University.  
    We therefore work closely with alumni and friends, faculty and staff, corporations and foundations, and campus development professionals to create fundraising programs and opportunities that help the School continue strengthening its role as a regional leader in developing critical leaders in the evolving fields of communication and media. 

    For more information, please contact:


    Dr. Christine A. Lemesianou
    Associate Director
    973-655-5193
    [email protected]

     

    Spotlight
    Constitution Celebration
    Associate Professor Todd Kelshaw hosted a Carpe Diem episode on MSU's Constitution Day celebration.

    WiredJersey is a news Website project by the students of the School of Communication and Media. 
     
    To learn more visit www.wiredjersey.com 

    NJ News Commons is a School of Communication and Media initiative to strengthen the voice of New Jersey by helping news organizations work cooperatively. 

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    Behind the Screen: Media Careers 101
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    newsletter, please contact:

    Shawn Lockwood
    School of Communication and Media
    973-655-3601
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