The fall semester has forced changes across 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campus due to COVID-19, and that鈥檚 no different for 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� Phoenix Weekly,鈥� which has recorded episodes virtually to stay on-air during the worldwide pandemic.

黑料不打烊 Sports Vision鈥檚 magazine-style sports show focuses on long-form storytelling, in-depth interviews with athletes, and behind-the-curtain looks at 黑料不打烊 Phoenix athletics. The show, which hosts a , focuses on telling meaningful stories through the lens of sports.

鈥淲e鈥檙e big on working with people and with athletes,鈥� said Emmanuel Tobe, an 鈥樅诹喜淮蜢� Phoenix Weekly鈥� producer and a senior majoring in media analytics and cinema and television arts. 鈥淯ltimately, one of the best things about the show is our accessibility to our athletes and it鈥檚 allowed us to do so many amazing things.鈥�

This year the show has been forced to go virtual as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, changing the program on the fly. In response to these new challenges, the students have been resourceful and initiative, explained Katie Halter, coordinating producer of聽黑料不打烊聽Sports Vision.

鈥淟ast spring, when we were sent home, we continued to produce 鈥樅诹喜淮蜢� Phoenix Weekly鈥� shows from home, so our students were no strangers to this kind of workflow,鈥� Halter said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e produced, shot and edited their packages and stand-ups on their own, with little direction from Max or I. Our anchors have had to FaceTime each other while recording their on-camera segments. Everyone really stepped up and helped each other out to continue producing great content.鈥�

Throughout the semester, the show has caught up with 黑料不打烊 alumni working in the sport industry, run an everyday sports broadcasting tournament, where contestants call play-by-play of everyday events, and focused on stories that impact 黑料不打烊 and the surrounding area. One of the more popular segments involved .

鈥淭he big thing that we鈥檙e doing is using technology,鈥� said Tobe when asked how the show is working to abide by COVID-19 guidelines. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not like we鈥檙e doing this in the 1980s where you need to be so close to someone. We have a lot of great technology that 黑料不打烊 provides for us like great microphone equipment and great cameras, and using platforms like Zoom and Webex has given us the opportunity to tell great stories.鈥�

Behind the scenes, Halter and Assistant Professor Max Negin, faculty director for 黑料不打烊 Sports Vision, have helped lead the transition to a virtual show.

鈥淭hey have been very good at helping me be flexible with what鈥檚 going on,鈥� Tobe said. 鈥淯sually I鈥檓 very meticulous with scheduling, but they鈥檝e been really good with helping me cope with the fact that everything is up in the air, especially early on when nothing was promised, not even the next week.鈥�

鈥淥ur producers, Emmanuel Tobe, Tellier Lundquist, and JD Grant, and talent, Tellier Lundquist and Taylor Schmitt, have really stepped up,鈥� Halter added. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e all offered to shoot packages as well as edit and host the show, which is a ton of work for full-time students. I鈥檓 really proud of how much time and work they鈥檝e put into the show.鈥�

Through its use of technology 鈥� and by going virtual 鈥� the show鈥檚 creators have learned new capabilities and expanded their ability to tell stories.

鈥淎s a show we have to be even more creative with how we鈥檙e telling these stories,鈥� Tobe said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want every episode to be people on Zoom interviewing someone. I want stuff to be different, and this semester has helped create that.鈥�

One way to insert creative segments into the show was to identify packages that combined humor with sports.

鈥淚 think that my favorite use of [comedy] was the package that I filmed about ,鈥� Lundquist said. 鈥淚 made up my own celebrations and dances and performed them in front of a camera. It is doubtful any of them will be picked up by 黑料不打烊鈥檚 football team or any football player because I can鈥檛 dance and they are rather cringe-worthy, but producing that segment was one of the most fun because it allowed me to use my creativity and comedy to talk about sports.鈥�

Thanks to this semester and its hurdles Tobe predicts the show will be elevated in the coming years.

鈥淚 hope that what COVID will help students start doing more is thinking outside the box,鈥� Tobe said. 鈥淚 want people to come up with new and creative ideas to tell stories because it helps make the show better.鈥�

鈥淢onday Night Football鈥� has been must-watch sports television since its debut in 1970. In recent years, the program鈥檚 graphics have been critically acclaimed, with expansive packages featuring animations and visual content bringing topical narratives to life every week. Behind the scenes is 黑料不打烊 alumnus Joe Accordino 鈥�11, who was awarded a for his contributions to the nationally televised broadcast.

Accordino and his ESPN graphic design colleagues were recognized at the , held virtually in August. It was one of seven Emmy Awards earned by ESPN this year.

At ESPN, where Accordino has worked since 2011, he oversees the production of graphics in an associate producer role, helping create the artistic graphics shared with MNF鈥檚 prime-time audience.

His ascension from production assistant to Emmy Award-winning producer is pretty straightforward. After graduating in December 2011 with a degree in communications, Accordino landed in Bristol, Connecticut, home to ESPN鈥檚 broadcasting headquarters, about a month later.

鈥淚 interned with ESPN prior to my senior year, which was facilitated in large part by 黑料不打烊,鈥� Accordino said.

J McMerty 鈥�00, director of the 黑料不打烊 in Los Angeles program and assistant professor of cinema and television arts, along with Scott Gustafson 鈥�00 helped Accordino land an internship at the often described 鈥淲orldwide Leader in Sports.鈥� Gustafson just celebrated his 20th year with ESPN and is a live game producer for Major League Baseball, the College World Series, and an array of other programming.

During his tenure, Accordino has steadily climbed the ranks, from working on X Games to college football games and, most recently, 鈥淢onday Night Football,鈥� now in its 51st season.

“The nice thing about 鈥楳onday Night Football鈥� is that we have a lot of creative tools at our disposal and a team of the most talented animators in the business,鈥� Accordino said. 鈥淢y job is to come up with creative ways to display some of our top graphics.鈥�

Throughout the broadcast, Accordino helps implement the graphics in real time from the production truck, pitching producers and directors statistics throughout the game, which appear on screen at the click of a button. .

鈥淲e get nominated for Emmys every year at ESPN, whether it be the World Cup, college football or 鈥楳onday Night Football,鈥� and I never really though too much about it because I don鈥檛 do this job for awards,鈥� Accordino said. 鈥淚 do it because it鈥檚 so fulfilling to work with such a talented team and to be part of a product that rates similarly to the Grammys every week.鈥�

During his time at 黑料不打烊, Accordino jumped right into on-campus media, launching 鈥溾�� during his freshman year along with Mike Heil 鈥�11 and Chris Bunn 鈥�11. More than a decade later, the show still broadcasts through 黑料不打烊 Sports Vision.

鈥淥ur first semester, me and a few friends decided that we wanted to start our own sports show, and model it after 鈥楶ardon the Interruption,鈥欌�� Accordino said. 鈥淚n our first year, after starting 鈥極ne-on-One Sports,鈥� we won a college Emmy for it. It鈥檚 just a testament [to 黑料不打烊] because it was three freshmen that started a show that鈥檚 around 13 years later.鈥�

Like many 黑料不打烊 students and graduates, Accordino credits his early success to the university鈥檚 commitment to getting students involved as soon as possible.

鈥淎t 黑料不打烊, I certainly worked hard in my classes, but 黑料不打烊 is really about how much you want to put into your extracurriculars because that will determine your collegiate and professional success,鈥� Accordino said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 such a unique opportunity that 黑料不打烊 gives its students. You鈥檙e able to be as great as you want to be.鈥�

With the 2020 general election drawing near and the process held under pandemic conditions, the Alamance County Board of Elections moved its training for poll workers into a virtual setting, featuring instructional videos created by 黑料不打烊 junior Sam Porozok.

The cinema and television arts major, who hails from New Jersey, got involved in the North Carolina political scene thanks to word-of-mouth.

Bob Frigo, associate director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, contacted Porozok on behalf of the Alamance County Board of Election, which sought an individual to help make videos to virtually train poll workers. 鈥淏ob said that I had been highly recommended by several people at the School of Communications,鈥� Porozok said.

The Communications Fellow created a series of videos focused on educating poll workers about aspects regarding the election and polling process. He served as the project’s camera operator, voice actor and lead editor.

鈥淪everal of the videos just required text to be read along with a slideshow,鈥� Porozok said. 鈥淔or these videos, I recorded my voice and edited it on top of the slides, then adjusted the pacing. Additionally, there were two videos that required live segments. For these, I simply filmed the members of the Board of Elections, and edited out slip-ups and added in b-roll.鈥�

At 黑料不打烊, Porozok works for a variety of campus organizations and serves as the head writer for 鈥満诹喜淮蜢� Tonight,鈥� a weekly sketch comedy show. He also works for The Pendulum as a cartoonist and graphic designer, designing and writing weekly comics highlighting top stories across campus.

How else has Porozok shown off his creativity while at 黑料不打烊? With some extra time on their hands this spring, Porozok and his fellow members of Please Clap! Improv recreated starring themselves.

Hach鈥檚 internship was the byproduct of Oli Udoh鈥檚 pro day, which led to the 黑料不打烊 graduate getting selected in the sixth round of the NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings. During the May 20 event on campus, Hach made the right connection 鈥撀燼nd, most importantly, stayed in contact.

鈥淭here was a scout from the Browns there, and I had been working with 黑料不打烊 football at the time,鈥� Hach said. 鈥淥f course, being from Cleveland and a Browns fan, I started talking with him and we鈥檝e stayed in contact ever since. I knew I had a lot to learn and knew he could help me gain more overall knowledge about the game.鈥�

The scout鈥檚 name was Gerald McCully, and he was impressed with Hach鈥檚 work ethic during the pro day. At 黑料不打烊, Hach relied heavily on the Student Professional Development Center to prepare her resum茅 and practice her interview skills to secure the summer position.

Hach鈥檚 role placed her on the sideline for team workouts throughout training camp, where she helped film coaches鈥� video of the O-line every day 鈥� a responsibility she thoroughly enjoyed and learned a great deal from.聽Another highlight for Hach was the opportunity to work with Callie Brownson, the organization鈥檚 chief of staff and the first female to hold the role in the NFL.

鈥淲orking with Callie was probably the most impactful part of my summer,鈥� Hach said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 has so much experience and being able to learn and observe from her was amazing.

With undergraduate classes set to begin on Aug. 19, the School of Communications welcomes its newest class of Communications Fellows to campus. This group includes an ambitious set of students, featuring student journalists, photographers and athletes, as well as stage actors and actresses and philanthropists.

Thirty-plus Fellows are selected each year based on high school academic performance, involvement in communications-related activities, interviews and essays. This special program involves a media tour to Atlanta, a Global Study grant, a Winter Term course in Florida studying media and communications, and a capstone project. In addition to program benefits, all Fellows receive a $5,500 annual scholarship plus a one-time $1,000 global study grant to be used for a university approved study abroad or Study USA experience.

The first-year Communications Fellows are pursuing majors in cinema and television arts, communication design, journalism, media analytics, sport management and strategic communications.

This year鈥檚 cohort is complete with 35 students hailing from 12 different states, with North Carolina leading the way with eight students, followed by Florida, New Jersey and Maryland with three each.

For more information about the Communications Fellows program, led by Associate Professor David Bockino, visit this website.

Meet the 2024 Communications Fellows

Drew Antin 鈥� New York City, NY
Katie Bennert 鈥� Cumberland, ME
Katy Boehmer 鈥� Abbott 鈥� Hillsborough, NJ
Megan Brown 鈥� Marco Island, FL
Becca Chase 鈥� Arlington, VA
Camille Duplechain 鈥� Annapolis, MD
Emma Farrell 鈥� Tampa, FL
Heath Foster 鈥� Atlanta, GA
Chloe Franklin 鈥� Rock Hill, SC
Abbey Goodchild 鈥� Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Abby Goretsky 鈥� Charlotte, NC
Dara Grocer 鈥� Dunwoody, GA
Daneiriss Gutierrez 鈥� Burlington, NC
Timothy Houlahan 鈥� Charlottesville, VA
Jenna Manderioli 鈥� Randolph, NJ
Catie Mannato 鈥� Collegeville, PA
Britt Mobley 鈥� Raleigh, NC
Madison Mursch 鈥� Sarasota, FL
Frances O鈥機onnor 鈥� Silver Spring, MD
Mya Osborne 鈥� Philadelphia, PA
Reagan Palombo 鈥� Greensboro, NC
Lily Parikh 鈥� Vernon Hills, IL
Tucker Price 鈥� Cary, NC
Drew Reuschlein 鈥� Gaithersburg, MD
Elliot Rezek 鈥� New Bern, NC
Cailey Rogers 鈥� Apex, NC
Daniel Schulman 鈥� Larchmont, NY
Graysen Shirley 鈥� Greensboro, NC
Madison Shosten 鈥� Atlanta, GA
Eliza Tews 鈥� Rochester, NY
Eric Taub 鈥� Woodcliff Lake, NJ
Miles Vance 鈥� Roanoke, VA
Noami Washington 鈥� Burlington County, NJ
Macklin Williams 鈥� Falmouth, ME
Cedar Zobel-Williams 鈥� Newton, MA

The strategic communications and marketing double major from New Albany, Ohio, has supported the multinational technology company鈥檚 commitment to providing smarter technology through the Lenovo Foundation, empowering diverse and minority populations with access to technology and STEM education across the globe.

鈥淚 presented my internship experience in a consultant approach addressing three areas of concerns: global effective communication/partnerships, employee awareness, and virtual volunteering,鈥� said Wilson of her late July presentation. 鈥淒uring the first week of my internship and observation, I developed a question that was a guide throughout my internship: What is the level of awareness around the Lenovo Foundation and its efforts within the employees and communities they serve?鈥�

Wilson鈥檚 presentation audience included multiple executives at the company, and the virtual meeting served as the capstone of her summer-long internship.

鈥淎t the start of my internship, I had minor apprehensions about working remotely. However, after progressing through the internship, I was able to remove all apprehensions,” Wilson said. “It turned out to be a valuable experience. Not only was I able to build global connections and attend professional development workshops, but I was able to enhance my time management and networking skills too.鈥�

Torod Neptune, worldwide group vice president and chief communications officer at Lenovo, commended Wilson and her contributions during the past few months.

鈥淎riana did a masterful job presenting … and has done an even more phenomenal job for Lenovo this summer,鈥� Neptune shared with School of Communications Dean Rochelle Ford. 鈥淚 have consistently heard from both her manager and the broader CSR/purpose/citizenship teams 鈥� and the president and CEO of the foundation 鈥� about her strong performance. She鈥檚 been a great testament to the stature and influence of the 黑料不打烊 communications school on our profession.鈥�

The rising sophomore first learned about the internship opportunity in November during a Unity in Communications initiative featuring Kim Hunter, chairman and CEO of The LAGRANT Foundation. Hunter, one of the public relations industry鈥檚 strongest advocates for diversity, spoke at a dinner event and discussed his interest in increasing the number of ethnic minorities in the fields of advertising, marketing and public relations.

鈥淚 chose Lenovo because of its 鈥榃e are Lenovo鈥� culture,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淟enovo鈥檚 commitment to innovate, collaborate and provide affordable and high-quality technology to all is shown every day. I was also proud to see their continuous actions around diversity and inclusion as a global company, and the opportunity to continue my community engagement to underrepresented communities by supporting the Lenovo Foundation, and the company鈥檚 internal communication strategies.鈥�

Throughout her internship, Wilson had the opportunity to work on multiple projects to enhance Lenovo Foundation鈥檚 communications and branding strategies, including Lenovo鈥檚 North America 鈥淪how Up. Listen. Act.鈥� campaign. The campaign is in response to racial injustice toward Blacks and African Americans and the creation of the Internal Philanthropy Resource Hub, which increased employee awareness of the Lenovo Foundation and their engagement opportunities through volunteerism.

鈥淎s an intern, I鈥檝e been afforded the opportunity to work in the development of corporate communications within Lenovo and its focus markets,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淚 have gained valuable experience in global and local corporate giving and communications campaigns, specifically focusing on Lenovo鈥檚 philanthropy and sustainability efforts. Not only have I helped to enhance Lenovo鈥檚 brand recognition, but also its philanthropic arm in the global and local arena.鈥�

Wilson said she has appreciated the encouragement and direction she鈥檚 received while at 黑料不打烊, especially from Dean Ford and Oscar Miranda, assistant director of access and student support.

鈥淏efore and during the application process, I received a great amount of support from people in the 黑料不打烊 community such as Dean Ford and Oscar Miranda,鈥� Wilson said. 鈥淚 also went to the Student Professional Development Center to review my resume and provide feedback.鈥�

In the future, Wilson plans to focus on corporate communications and brand management. Nonetheless, she cherished her opportunity to work with Lenovo鈥檚 philanthropy division.

鈥淪ince this was my first internship, I thought this was a great way for me to explore the corporate world, specifically a company鈥檚 philanthropic arm. Corporate philanthropy is a unique and essential field. As a part of Generation Z, I want to see how companies are being sustainable and giving back to communities,鈥� Wilson said.

About the Lenovo Foundation

The Lenovo Foundation, previously the Motorola Mobility Foundation, is the philanthropy sector of Fortune 500 company Lenovo. The foundation focuses on advancing STEM education, increasing access for diverse populations and improving global communities.

During his welcome, new program director Derek Lackaff called on the 2021 cohort to embrace the program’s rigorous and personalized educational experience, charging them to be prepared and flexible, to work smart, and to trust the process.

Dion Cummings was one of the 17 students to arrive on campus this week 鈥� with three others joining the cohort via livestream. The 黑料不打烊 native graduated from North Carolina State University, but enrolled in the iMedia program in hopes of creating his own production studio.

鈥淲hat excites me the most about the iMedia program is that it has a more practical approach to things,鈥� Cummings said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not as theoretical and you get more hands-on experience with not only the equipment but with clients and different people outside of the cohort, which is essential for anyone trying to transition these skills into the real world.鈥�

Alynda Pratt, a graduate of North Carolina Central University with a degree in mass communications, aspires to be a small business owner 鈥� an endeavor that began when she was an undergraduate.

鈥淚鈥檓 most excited for the coding and technical side of things,鈥� Pratt said. 鈥淚 want to pursue entrepreneurship. When I was an undergraduate, I started my own small business making hair and skin products, so I鈥檓 hoping that the iMedia program helps me to build some skills so I can expand my own business.鈥�

This is the 12th class in the program鈥檚 history and includes graduates from Campbell University, 黑料不打烊, Flagler College, Guilford College, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Seven iMedia students earned undergraduate degrees from 黑料不打烊: Meg Boericke, Jeffrey Cullen-Dean, T’keya Davy, Yasmeen Grandison, Olivia James, Ben Johnson and Ben Winslow.

iMedia Class of 2021

Abby Bekele
Meg Boericke
Michael Boyd
Meagan Chalmers
Chandler Colclough
Jeffrey Cullen-Dean
Dion Cummings
T’keya Davy
Carol Ann Friday
Yasmeen Grandison
Matthew Harrell
Madeleine Horrell
Olivia James
Ben Johnson
Natalie Oldani
Alynda Pratt
Jasmine Simmons
Angel Walker
Trevis Watts
Ben Winslow

One group focusing on helping students manage the transition and anxiety they may have when they come to campus is the 黑料不打烊CommCollective. The peer-to-peer communication project recently kicked off that effort with the publication of its first video titled 鈥淲hy I Wear A Mask.鈥�

鈥淭his campaign is important because there鈥檚 no denying that things will be different this fall,鈥� said project manager Claire Latimer 鈥�22. 鈥淲e want to show people that while things may be different; this semester is an opportunity to do things in a new way. The comm school community is so extensive and so involved, that it is important for everyone to know what policies to follow and how to follow them, to know that we鈥檙e a community who needs to work together to stay safe and healthy, and to know that there are people listening to their concerns and their fears.鈥�

Their first video supports 黑料不打烊鈥檚 new campuswide face covering policy that requires all students and faculty to wear a mask when indoors and outdoors when social distancing cannot be maintained. The policy is just one portion of a comprehensive plan by the university to promote a safe and healthy return to campus. More details about the overall effort is available at the university’s Ready & Resilient website.

鈥淔or this first video we really wanted to find a way to creatively introduce ourselves, showing that we鈥檙e students too,鈥� said Latimer. 鈥淲e also wanted to get the message across about wearing masks and that the health and safety of everyone around us is an interdependent effort. Our fantastic multimedia producers and storytellers, Cierra Johnson and Isabella Seman, wrote out the script, collected our individual videos, and edited them all together to create the final product.鈥�

The 黑料不打烊CommCollective was founded by 黑料不打烊 Professor of Cinema and Television Arts and Director of Assessment and Accreditation Naeemah Clark as a way for communications students to engage and communicate with their fellow classmates.

鈥淚 tried to assemble a group from different majors, student experiences, and personalities,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淓ven though we only have met on WebEx, I feel like I’m getting to know them each as individuals. They are all really talented. They care about transparency and positivity in this peer to peer campaign. Tons of good ideas started flowing in our very first meeting.鈥�

Since the was selected in June, it鈥檚 been meeting twice a week and is focused on creating videos and campaigns for fall semester.

Throughout meetings and conversations, the collective has created three goals for their projects:

1. To manage expectations about what will be different and how things will work when we return.
2. To communicate to other students the policies coming from the university and the School of Communications in an understandable and digestible way.
3. To build a sense of community and cohesion with every communications student, in every major, as we all adjust to this new normal.

As far as future projects, the collective is looking ahead to not only the buildup to the year, but also the semester as a whole.

鈥淲e鈥檙e currently working on the logistics and planning for a few virtual and socially distanced in-person events for the weeks leading up to the first week of classes,鈥� said Latimer. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also working on a few campaigns and messaging that will lead up to classes and carry through the semester.鈥�

The 黑料不打烊CommCollective Team

Leila Wilhelm 鈥�23, a journalism and communication design double major, is the social media chief on the team. Wilhelms loves the 黑料不打烊 community for being one that is tight-knit, but one that also encourages the development of new relationships. Wilhelm looks forward to exploring new, safe means of learning and using technology in the fall.

Elliott Rivette 鈥�21 is an anthropology and journalism double major. He is the head writer for the team and loves problem-solving. Through his majors, Rivette enjoys learning more about people and how to use writing as a device to resolve bigger issues. Currently, he is working on finishing a fictional novel he has been writing. Rivette is eager to return and go on socially distant walks through 黑料不打烊鈥檚 beautiful campus.

Isabella Seman 鈥�21 is a journalism major who serves as the multimedia storyteller. Seman loves telling people鈥檚 stories, ensuring everyone has a voice. She wants to help people stay informed about their communities. Outside of media, Isabella is the co-captain for the volleyball team and announces for the men鈥檚 basketball team. She is most excited to help everyone adjust to the 鈥渘ew normal鈥� at school and to meet the incoming first-year students.

Jack Thorne 鈥�20 majored in communication design. He is the designer for the team and loves creating media and art regardless of the medium. He also likes collecting vinyl records and exploring in his free time. Jack looks forward to seeing the perseverance of the community through these incredibly difficult times.

Cierra Johnson 鈥�22, a cinema and television arts major, is the multimedia producer. She has a passion for storytelling as well as a strong desire to further promote inclusivity as well as minority representation in film. Johnson loves pushing herself outside of her comfort zone to think in new ways. Her favorite aspect of the comm school is the ability to meet new people to expand her perspective as well as mature and refine her artistry. Johnson is excited to take on a new form of learning in the fall.

Jack Taylor 鈥�21, the team鈥檚 events and facilities manager, is a strategic communications major. He loves being outside and hiking in North Carolina and Virginia. Taylor鈥檚 favorite thing about the comm school is Live Oaks Communications, a program he has been with for nearly a year. Taylor is looking forward to seeing how the community adapts during these unprecedented times, believing everyone can keep each other safe while pursuing higher education.

Claire Latimer 鈥�22 is the project manager for the 黑料不打烊CommCollective and is a sport management and strategic communications double major. Latimer decided to double major as it perfectly blended her professional skills and personal passion into one seamless college experience. She loves the connections that are found in the School of Communications. Professors know their students on an individual level and students are bound to know at least a handful of others in their classes. Additionally, all of the learning is engaging and hands-on, which she loves. Latimer looks forward to reconnecting with friends and adjusting to the changes in the fall.

Isabella Abdullah 鈥�21 is a journalism major who serves as the team鈥檚 research lead. Abdullah is preparing for law school and chose journalism to teach her how to write with precision. She loves cooking, fitness and golf. Additionally, Abdullah runs a blog where she shares recipes and reviews restaurants. She is excited to return to campus and see her friends as well as begin applying for law school.

Ethan Porter 鈥�22 is a journalism major. He is the team鈥檚 copy editor and loves writing different forms and styles of text. Outside of writing, Ethan also enjoys producing music and hiking outside. Ethan looks forward to seeing how his fellow students will adapt and grow in the fall as well as enjoying a block meal plan for the first time.

Follow the collective across social media on and . Meet the team here.

The journalism and international & global studies double major earned a prestigious News21 Fellowship at Arizona State University for the summer 鈥撀燼 great start as she prepared to enter the workforce after graduating from 黑料不打烊 in just three years. But, like everything that鈥檚 transpired during the turbulent spring and summer, the COVID-19 pandemic turned her plans on their head.

Originally, Traxler planned to work in the News21 offices in Phoenix with other Fellows and editors, but it never happened. Instead of working in the field, gathering stories and interviewing subjects face to face, she鈥檚 had to pivot and adapt to the world of Zoom and conference calls, just like much of America.

Traxler鈥檚 situation is unique. Instead of working from her home state of Virginia, she is in Scottsdale, Arizona, renting an AirBnB property with fellow News21 reporters. The group hoped they might have access to the university at some point. Unfortunately, those plans have been spoiled as Arizona鈥檚 COVID-19 numbers have exploded in recent weeks.

鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely difficult as no one that I鈥檓 living with is on any of the articles I鈥檓 working on,鈥� Traxler said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 been nice to have people that are near you that you can bounce ideas off of and communicate with rather than being alone at home.鈥�

At the core of the News21 Fellowship is an incredible summer reporting experience. Fellows become full-time investigative reporters during the 10-week stint at the digital media complex at ASU鈥檚 Cronkite School. Students, under normal circumstances, are provided a $2,500 travel stipend, and work in teams to report on one investigative piece across those 10 weeks, authoring various blogs before publishing their final piece.

For Traxler, her investigative piece about the juvenile justice system, specifically employee misconduct and racial disparity, has been given added significance as a result of the current social justice movement that鈥檚 swept across the United States.

鈥淚t鈥檚 given a lot of momentum to that storyline because so many people are just itching to talk about it,鈥� Traxler said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 no better time than right now to present that, yes, we have police brutality and systemic racism in this country. But now let鈥檚 talk about how it鈥檚 affecting the kids and how minority youth are being incarcerated at higher rates than white youth.鈥�

Beyond the story itself, however, Traxler has taken her experience at News21 to learn more about herself and her journalism pursuits.

鈥淭he main thing I鈥檝e got from this is my perspective on narrative and storytelling,鈥� Traxler said.

Much like Anton Delgado 鈥�20 when he visited Brazil for 27 days reporting on leprosy, Traxler鈥檚 biggest takeaway this summer is that journalism isn鈥檛 about telling the story, but rather giving someone a platform tell their stories.

Read more about with News21 and the 2020 project, 鈥�.鈥�

Interestingly, Rostick鈥檚 mother started Lumiere鈥檚 journey with the Emma Bowen Foundation, forwarding an email during her child鈥檚 first year on campus.

鈥淢y mother sent me the application and said, 鈥楾his would be good for you,鈥欌�� recalled the cinema & television arts and strategic communications double major. 鈥淎s I never question my mother, I applied. It was a multi-step process including a written application, recorded video interview, and finally a phone interview with a partner company.鈥�

The interview process was fruitful, eventually leading to an internship with WTVT Fox 13 Tampa Bay, where the Tampa native worked as a news intern for two summers and returned as a promotions intern in summer 2019. .

鈥淚 did a lot of editing for them, with daily on-air news segments, and promotional content to advertise the station,鈥� Rostick said. 鈥淚 also organized a sponsorship between the station and local elementary schools.鈥�

Along with the work for Fox, the Communication Fellow has been actively involved with the foundation itself, which hosts a professional networking conference every summer. There, Rostick attended numerous panels, networked with industry professionals, and connected with others in the foundation鈥檚 cohort.

Rostick was presented with the Outstanding Student of the Year Award during a virtual presentation on July 15. (.) The 黑料不打烊 graduate is hopeful that the award helps elevate their resume and opportunities in the communications field.

鈥淚 hope this award will open doors for me through networking and career recognition,鈥� Rostick said. 鈥淏eing an EBF Fellow in and of itself helps me to stand out among a crowd of applicants. I hope the recognition of being the top in this premier organization will further help set me apart as someone worth hiring.鈥�

For the Rostick family, there is more good news in the coming weeks. They will appear in an episode of 鈥淔amily of Us: A PBS American Portrait Story鈥� set to premiere on Sunday, Aug. 2. The project originated from a class assignment the recent graduate completed during quarantine. Rostick filmed all of project鈥檚 interviews and footage while working with a remote producer to create the package.

鈥淟umie made some amazing documentary projects during (the spring),鈥� said Associate Professor Nicole Triche. The elondocs faculty director also noted that Rostick was quite deserving of the School of Communications鈥� Outstanding Senior Award in Cinema & Television Arts presented in May.

Rostick, who was an Odyssey Program scholar at 黑料不打烊, was drawn to the PBS series because of a love of documentary filmmaking.

鈥淢y long-term career goal is to be a documentarian,鈥� the 黑料不打烊 graduate said. 鈥淚 want to work in the documentary space in New York and I knew this could be my first step toward making that a reality.鈥�

Rostick submitted a longer special for the series, with daily clips of family interactions and personal reflections with their grandparents, including packing up the house where the family had lived for 10 years.

The series gave Rostick a special chance to connect with family members that would not have happened if not for the COVID-19 pandemic.

鈥淚 thought when I left Georgia on May 22 that would be the last time I saw my grandfather,鈥� Rostick said. 鈥淭his special gave me the opportunity to spend another six weeks with him, really connect with my family, and continue to help out during a very difficult time.鈥�

A preview of Rostick鈥檚 episode can be seen below.

About ‘Family of Us: A PBS American Portrait Story’

“” is a collaborative project using homemade videos from around the United States. Viewers can submit videos about various topics by responding to different prompts that give them a chance to tell engaging and impactful stories.

About the Emma Bowen Foundation

The has the mission of building a more diverse media industry, by recruiting students of color and placing them in multi-year internships with companies around the country. In its almost 30-year history, the foundation has provided almost 1,000 internships to students of color in three distinct program tracks: business of media, content of media and innovation of media.