Class of 2020 Commencement events to be held Sept. 17-19

Syracuse University will host a Commencement ceremony—delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic—and other celebratory events for the Class of 2020 during the weekend of Sept. 17–19.  

Commencement will be held Sept. 19 at 10 a.m. at the Stadium. This University-wide ceremony, where Syracuse University Chancellor and President Kent Syverud will formally confer degrees, is for all undergraduate, graduate and doctoral candidates. Doors open at 8 a.m.

Following Commencement, all 2020 Newhouse graduates and their families are invited to join Dean Mark J. Lodato and the faculty and staff for a celebratory reception. The event will include a dean’s welcome, recognition of participating graduates and an opportunity to reconnect with faculty. A precise time and location will be announced soon; stay tuned for details.

For more information about Commencement activities for the Class of 2020, see the event listing.

Real-World Ready: Inside Newhouse’s NYC, D.C. and LA Study Away Programs

Spending a semester away from campus is an invaluable experience for Newhouse School students. Students can study abroad; they can also study away. Newhouse’s study away programs offer students the opportunity to earn credits and complete an internship while living in some of the most exciting cities in the world, which also happen to be in the United States.

Students can choose between Newhouse NYC, the communications capital of the world; Newhouse DC, the nerve center of American democracy; and Newhouse LA, the entertainment capital of the world. Each program can be completed by a junior or senior with good academic standing during a fall or spring semester. Newhouse NYC and LA also offer summer semesters.

Newhouse students Diamonte Giacovelli, Anjana Dasam and Jessie DiMatteo reflect on their study away experiences in the three programs during the Spring 2025 semester.

Newhouse NYC

Like many students, Giacovelli chose the study away program because he wanted an “abroad” experience, but studying internationally wouldn’t work for him as a dual major in creative advertising and strategic marketing. He didn’t want to fall behind academically, so he headed to the Big Apple.

“This program perfectly aligns with my curriculum while still giving me that study away experience,” Giacovelli said.

The NYC program offers students a chance to live and learn what it’s like to succeed in the one of the most electrifying, busiest cities in the world, where communications industry opportunities are plentiful. While there, Giacovelli interned at the New York Post writing branded content articles; appeared on the “Today” show, getting a shoutout from NBC sportscaster and Newhouse alumnus Mike Tirico ’88; and experienced an NBA game at Madison Square Garden.

Giacovelli said his favorite experiences were living in the heart of midtown Manhattan, visiting different media and advertising agencies in his ADV/PRL 400 class, attending a live taping of “The View,” working at the Post and even meeting rapper and singer Ja Rule.

His biggest takeaways were the people he met along the way who helped him navigate the complexities of professional city life. 

“This experience has prepared me not just as a young professional, but also as a young man learning how to treat people, work hard and push forward no matter what,” Giacovelli said. “This program is truly the best of both worlds—you get that study abroad feel in one of the biggest and most diverse cities in the world, while also gaining real-world internship experience to prepare for life after college.”

“If I could go back, I’d tell myself that things aren’t as scary as they seem—especially coming from a small city,” Giacovelli added. “Everything works out, and there’s no need to stress over every little thing.” 

Newhouse DC

Majoring in broadcast and digital journalism and policy studies, rising senior Anjana Dasam chose Newhouse DC to pursue her interest in human rights reporting. The opportunities have been endless, she said, including a chance to cover President Trump’s inauguration and the People’s March.

“Attending both of those events made me realize how strong the political divide is, because I had seen it right in front of me,” she said.

“Another highlight was attending the Toner Awards Celebration,” Dasam added. “We heard from many talented, award-winning journalists and being able to tell them one on one was truly a dream come true.”

During the Newhouse DC program, students gain hands-on professional experience as interns at media companies, take classes, meet with mentors and build their network by engaging with accomplished Newhouse alumni. Dasam interned for local station DC News Now, where she helped reporters interviewing subjects out in the field, filmed standups for her reels and more.

For Dasam, all the trips, site visits and lunches emphasized networking and making connections with Syracuse University alumni who are experts in their chosen field. She visited the D.C. headquarters of CBS and NBC, Lockheed Martin and even New York City for a day, visiting the United Nations.

Dasam appreciated the networking skills she learned and said that being in the nation’s capital made her feel like she’s a part of something bigger.

“I think seeing the changes happen in front of you, hearing the breaking news as it breaks, learning how to comprehend what’s happened and share that with your audience is a powerful skill to have and I’m grateful to have that experience and continue to learn.”

Dasam’s advice for students interested in the program? Apply now and trust the process, which is something she wishes she would have done.

“Taking advantage of the time you have being a student is so important because the real world is right at our heels so choosing opportunities to enrich your background and resume is so important to not only who you are now but who you will grow to be later,” she said.

Newhouse LA

Television, radio and film rising senior Jessie DiMatteo chose Newhouse LA for one reason and one reason only: how much her peers loved it. The stellar reputation of the Los Angeles professors also fueled her desire to go to the West Coast for a semester.

While in the City of Angels, students get to intern at Los Angeles-based companies, take courses taught by entertainment industry professionals, work on once-in-a-lifetime projects, attend special industry events and more. DiMatteo took advantage of all the opportunities, including attending the “Live with Kelly and Mark After the Oscars Show,” going on-air at KROQ radio station and being the camera operator for the Orange Television Network game show “Two Truths and a Lie.”

Some of her favorite LA experiences were the screening opportunities that the students got through classes with Bob Boden, an adjunct professor also known as “TV Bob.” The students attended live tapings of “America’s Got Talent,” “The Price is Right,” “Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney,” “After Midnight,” and even “America’s Funniest Home Videos.”

For DiMatteo, Newhouse LA taught her the true importance of maintaining connections.

“The word ‘networking ‘ is thrown around a lot, but LA gave it a whole new meaning to me,” DiMatteo said. “Seeing how coworkers, classmates and friends depend on each other throughout decades of their careers really emphasized the importance of maintaining my relationships.”

For students out there thinking about the program, this is the closest you can get to preparing for post-grad, DiMatteo said.

“Being in a new city and starting with a new company is a bit intimidating, but it is exactly what we’ll all have to do when we inevitably leave Syracuse,” she said. “The hands-on work experiences I’ve been getting at my internship cannot be replicated.”

7 New Representatives Added to the Board of Trustees

Chancellor Kent Syverud has appointed Dean Mark Lodato of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications as academic dean representative to the Board of Trustees. In addition, Andrea Rose Persin, assistant dean of budget, finance and administration in the College of Arts and Sciences, was appointed the new staff representative.

Tula Goenka, professor of television, radio and film in the Newhouse School, was named faculty representative to the board by Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost Lois Agnew, in consultation with the University Senate Academic Affairs Committee. Lodato, Persin and Goenka will all serve two-year terms.

In addition, four new student representatives to the board have also been named: German Nolivos ’26 and Anna Mirer ’26, undergraduate student representatives; Alexia Chatzitheodorou, graduate student representative; and Ryleigh Peterson L’26, law student representative.

The diverse backgrounds and experiences of these newly named representatives will bring fresh insights to the board and its various committees, and contribute greatly to the implementation of strategic objectives in support of the University’s mission and vision. All representatives will report to the Board at Executive Committee and full board meetings.

Dean, Faculty and Staff Appointments

Mark Lodato, Academic Dean Representative, 2025-27

Appointed dean of the Newhouse School in 2020, Lodato came to Syracuse University from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. He serves on the Carnegie-Knight Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education and represents the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication on the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Ensuring Newhouse students are job-ready, Lodato expanded professional partnerships that boost experiential learning opportunities with industry leaders, including BuzzFeed, Edelman, ESPN, the New York Post and PBS. He added the school’s first-ever executive director of instructional technology position to lead plans to design and implement technology strategies that prepare students for a rapidly evolving field and is committed to Newhouse taking a leading role in the responsible use of artificial intelligence in communications.

Under Lodato’s leadership, Newhouse partnered with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs to launch the Syracuse University Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship in Washington, D.C. He spearheaded plans to launch a new esports communications and management bachelor’s program in partnership with the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. He also led Newhouse as the school formulated a five-year strategic plan that focuses on how engaged digital citizenship will drive the future of journalism and mass communications.

Before his academic career, Lodato spent 16 years as an award-winning television reporter and anchor for network affiliate television stations in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Phoenix and Fort Myers, Florida.

As academic dean representative, he participates, ex officio, on the board’s Academic Affairs Committee.

Tula Goenka, Faculty Representative, 2025-27

Goenka is a professor of television, radio and film and the graduate program director for her department in the Newhouse School. Goenka is an author, human rights activist and filmmaker who produces and edits documentaries. The common thread in all her pursuits is an interest in women’s rights, equity, resilience and the use of art and music to build awareness and preserve heritage.

Born and raised in India, Goenka first came to Syracuse University as an international graduate student in 1984, and received a master of science in television-radio from Newhouse in 1986. Ten years later, she joined the Newhouse faculty. She created the SU Bollywood program offered through Syracuse University Abroad, and has taken more than 50 Newhouse students to Mumbai for the monthlong immersion.

She served on the Chancellor’s Task Force on Sexual and Relationship Violence and founded and co-directed the annual Syracuse University Human Rights Film Festival and Digital Witness Symposium.

In 2009, Goenka received the Chancellor’s Award of Excellence for Engaging the World, and the Chancellor’s Awards for Public Engagement and Scholarship, 2014 Inspiration Award, partly because of her social justice work. She was the Newhouse Endowed Chair of Public Communications from 2016-19, and the Newhouse Dean’s inaugural Leadership Fellow from 2022-25.

Goenka was a member of the Senate Agenda Committee from 2022-25 and has been a member of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate since 2017. As faculty representative, she participates, ex officio, on the board’s Academic Affairs Committee.

German Nolivos ’26, Undergraduate Student Representative, 2025-26

Coming to Syracuse from Miami, Nolivos is a first-generation college student and a rising senior at the University. He is pursuing a dual major in political science and public relations through the College of Arts and Sciences, the Maxwell School and the Newhouse School.

A recipient of the prestigious Posse Foundation Full-Tuition Leadership Scholarship and a Remembrance Scholar, Nolivos currently serves his second term as president of the Student Government Association. He also represents the student body as a senator in the University Senate and as the undergraduate student representative on the Syracuse University Alumni Association Board of Directors. In 2023, Nolivos pioneered and spearheaded the first Latino Music Festival at the University.

Nolivos is a member of the provisional chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha. His professional experiences include internships with Telemundo, NBCUniversal, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. He received the 44 Stars of Excellence Award from the Office of Student Engagement in spring 2024, and was named an outstanding student in 2021 by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.

As undergraduate representative, he participates, ex officio, on the Student Experience Committee.

Ian ’90 and Noah Eagle ’19 Share a Love of Sportscasting and Storytelling

There’s a new father-son sportscasting team on the national scene, one with a decidedly Orange background: Ian ’90 and Noah Eagle ’19.

Ian finished his second year as the lead announcer for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament and has crafted an award-winning career calling NFL, NBA and college basketball games on a variety of national broadcast networks. He’s also the longtime Brooklyn Nets TV announcer for the YES Network.

Noah is a rising star, working the Super Bowl and serving as the voice of Team USA basketball at the Olympics, the radio voice of the Los Angeles Clippers, and broadcasting French Open tennis and countless primetime college football and basketball games.

“When Noah was calling Team USA basketball games at the Summer Olympics, I was watching as a fan but also as a proud father and as a broadcaster who studies what the broadcaster is saying and what information they’re using in the moment,” Ian says. “I was blown away by Noah’s calls, his coverage and his choice of words in the moment. He crushed it, and he’ll always have that moment for the rest of his life.”

Growing up, Noah always saw how excited his dad was calling games and thought it could be a fun career option to pursue.

“I see it’s possible and knew what to expect with this job and what comes with it, but I didn’t do anything with that until I got to Syracuse,” Noah says. “By the time I got there as a freshman, I was singularly focused and really had a feeling of what I wanted to do so I could attack it.”

The Eagles were both nominated for a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Personality/Play-by-Play, and on June 30, Ian will receive the National Sportscaster of the Year Award from the National Sports Media Association.

Sportscasting and a love for Syracuse University runs in the Eagle family. Ian earned a broadcast journalism degree and Noah earned a broadcast and digital journalism degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. Ian’s wife, Alisa (Terry) Eagle ’90, earned a retailing degree from what is now the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, and his daughter, Erin ’21, earned an advertising degree from Newhouse.

In honor of Father’s Day, the Eagles stopped by the “’Cuse Conversations” podcast to discuss their special bond and reflect on the important role Syracuse University has played in their lives.

Newhouse Creative Advertising Students Win an Impressive 18 Awards at Addy Competition

On Feb. 22, Newhouse creative advertising students triumphed at the 2025 Addy competition in Rochester, New York, snagging 18 of the 22 student awards, including all three Best in Show scholarships worth $500, $750 and $1,250.

By winning three Best in Show scholarships, eight Golds, six Silvers and a Mosaic Award, Newhouse creative advertising students demonstrated they have their creativity down to an art.

Sixteen of the 18 awards came from campaigns created in professor of practice Mel White‘s Portfolio I and III courses taught to creative advertising majors at the Newhouse School. Two awards originated from a campaign created in adjunct instructor Dan Lombardi’s Portfolio I course.

“The work clearly demonstrates how much our creative advertising students have grown creatively through their coursework. It was a privilege to see them take the Addy 2025 stage as winners,” said White.

Through their comprehensive education at Newhouse, these students have sharpened their conceptual thinking and refined their craft, whether training as art directors or copywriters in the program. All their award-winning work was displayed in the 2025 Addy Awards Showbook.

“My Opia” for 21Grams Wins Best in Show and Two Gold Addys

“My Opia” won a Best in Show $1,250 scholarship and first Gold Addy in the Student Elements of Advertising Art Direction category. It won a second Gold Addy in the Student Online Interactive App Mobile category.

This campaign addresses a growing problem: Generation Z’s screen addiction that is increasingly worsening their vision, sometimes even leading to an eye condition called myopia, where vision is permanently worsened due to screen time.

Art director Remi Tsunoda and copywriter Avery Schildhaus came up with an ultra-creative fix to this problem: a digital pet named Opia. The catch? Opia thrives when the phone is off. The less screen time, the happier your pet and your eyes.

Each user’s Opia has a juice bar that decreases the more time they spend on their phone. If the juice runs out, the Opia literally leaves to go fishing, rod in hand. With a quirky widget friend that rewards users for cutting back on their screen time, this Best in Show and two-time Gold-winning campaign deserves its accolades, successfully addressing a serious issue with levity. This was created in Portfolio III taught by White.

“Buzz Off!” for Off Wins Best in Show, Gold and Silver Addy

“Buzz Off!” won a Best in Show $500 scholarship and a Gold Addy in the Student Elements of Advertising Art Direction category. It also won a Silver Addy in the Student Print Ad Campaign Magazine category.

“Buzz Off!” by art director Daniel Arougheti sends mosquitoes packing, with suitcase in hand, as they leave the campsite, woods and dock in defeat. It shows that Off bug spray doesn’t just repel bugs, it sends them packing. This was created in Portfolio I taught by White.

“Thoughtify” for Spotify Wins Best in Show and Two Gold Addys

“Thoughtify” won a Best in Show $750 scholarship and first Gold Addy in the Student Elements of Advertising Copywriting category. It won a second Gold Addy in the Online Interactive App Mobile category.

Memorizing exam material is a nightmare for most students. By tapping into music’s ability to cue active recall of information in the brain, studying can now be as easy as do-re-mi. Art director Tsunoda and copywriter Schildhaus created “Thoughtify,” a machine learning tool that turns students’ lecture notes into lyrics, for Spotify.

With the power of music and AI, this campaign helps students remember their study materials by transforming their notes into catchy tunes. Scan notes, pick a genre, a study playlist is conjured up by the AI gods. This was created in Portfolio III taught by White.

“Break the Sound Barrier” for Spotify Wins Mosaic and Silver Addy

“Break the Sound Barrier” won a Mosaic Addy Award because it promoted systemic change through equity and inclusion. It also won a Silver Addy in the Student Online Interactive App Mobile category.

Student art director Marlana Bianchi and copywriter Molly Egan’s artificial intelligence-powered idea, titled “Break the Sound Barrier,” takes inclusivity to a whole new level. Their idea takes an experience that has been exclusive to the hearing community and made it, for the first time ever, inclusive to people across the full spectrum of hearing. It makes music streaming inclusive to the deaf community by integrating deaf sign language performances directly into the Spotify platform. Deaf sign language performances are when members of the deaf community sign the lyrics of songs while dancing to the beats of music.

Their idea uses AI to scale deaf sign language performances into over 300 sign languages on the platform, making music streaming accessible to the deaf community. Musicians would also have the choice to opt into “Break the Sound Barrier” to generate themselves signing using deepfake technology for social good. This was created in Portfolio III taught by White.

“Ones Eagles Nation” for Duolingo Wins Gold Addy

“One Eagles Nation” won a Gold Addy in the Student Cross Platform Integrated Advertising Campaign category.

Who says Eagles fans need to be in Philly to cheer? Through their research, art director Jack Wojtowicz and copywriter Micaela Kraker found that Philadelphia Eagles fans are fiercely passionate, but with 34% living outside the U.S., their chants don’t always reach the Philly stadium. Their “One Eagles Nation” campaign uses Duolingo’s platform to connect international Eagles fans with fans in Philadelphia.  

To bring this concept to life, they thought of the idea to livestream for the first time ever, directly from the stadium tailgates to new Eagle bars around the world using Eagle Ambassadors. To become an Eagle Ambassador, the most active learners on the Duolingo app will be chosen.

Using their Duolingo international language skills, Eagle Ambassadors will initiate chants back and forth in different languages with captions below it, which will also be featured on the Jumbotron at the Lincoln Financial Stadium.

Posters with playful messaging like “Learn how to say ‘Screw the Niners’ in Portuguese” will spread the word. This campaign was created in Portfolio III taught by White.

“Spotify FM” for Spotify Wins Gold Addy

“Spotify FM” won a Gold Addy in the Student Cross Platform Integrated Advertising Campaign category.

Remember when radio was king? Art director Lara Molinari and copywriter Brooke Hirsch created a campaign, “Spotify FM,” that brings music back the magic of airwaves. Molinari and Hirsch’s campaign connects younger generations to the magic of music history, as local radio used to connect older generations to music.

This would launch on World Radio Day with Spotify going old-school with a throwback to AM and FM radio, ditching playlists and daylists for the good old-fashioned radio experience to play uninterrupted audio from archived local radio stations. This was created in Portfolio III taught by White.

“AI vs. AI” for The New York Times Wins Gold Addy

“AI vs. AI” won a Gold Addy in the Student Online Interactive App Mobile category.

What’s the best way to curb AI-driven misinformation? Copywriter Hirsch thought: use AI.

Hirsch came up with a digital AI idea, titled “AI vs. AI” for The New York Times, which uses AI to find deceptive AI, detecting and notifying people of false AI content in real-time.

Hirsch’s tool scans content for signs of manipulation, alerting users to misleading content they see in real-time. To get the word out, Hirsch created ads to get people to question the “news” they see. One example reads, “How do you know that AI didn’t write this article? Now you can find out. Spot AI using AI.”

Banner ads would be placed on YouTube, where deepfakes circulate. These ads would read, “There’s no way to tell what you’re watching is a deepfake. Until now. Spot AI using AI.”

Hirsch’s idea is rooted in one essential goal: preserving human truth. This was also created in Portfolio III taught by White.

From digital AI to sharp print, Newhouse students’ award-winning ideas and campaigns took the cake at the Rochester Addys, and now advances to the district level of the Addy competition. The district winners will move on to the final stage of the competition: the Addy AAF National Student Competition.

Newhouse Creative Advertising Addy Award Winners

Best in Show / Scholarship Addy Winners

Remi Tsunoda and Avery Schildhaus
• $1,250 Best in Show Scholarship: Elements of Advertising, Art Direction Category: 21Grams, “My Opia”
• $750 Best in Show Scholarship: Elements of Advertising, Copywriting Category: Spotify, “Thoughtify”

Daniel Arougheti
• $500 Best in Show Scholarship: Elements of Advertising, Art Direction Category: Off Bug Spray, “Buzz Off!”

Mosaic Award Addy Winner

Marlana Bianchi and Molly Egan
• Spotify, “Break the Sound Barrier”

Gold Addy Winners

Lara Molinari and Brooke Hirsch
• Cross Platform, Integrated Advertising Campaign Category: Spotify, “Spotify FM”

Jack Wojtowicz and Micaela Kraker
• Cross Platform, Integrated Advertising Campaign Category: Duolingo, “One Eagles Nation”

Daniel Arougheti
• Elements of Advertising, Art Direction Category: Off Bug Spray, “Buzz Off”

Remi Tsunoda and Avery Schildhaus
• Elements of Advertising, Art Direction Category: 21Grams, “My Opia”
• Online Interactive App Mobile Category: 21Grams, “My Opia”
• Online Interactive App Mobile Category: Spotify, “Thoughtify”
• Elements of Advertising, Copywriting Category: Spotify, “Thoughtify”

Brooke Hirsch
• Online Interactive App Mobile Category: The New York Times, “AI vs. AI”

Silver Addy Winners

Jack Wojtowicz and Micaela Kraker
• Cross Platform, Integrated Advertising Campaign Category: Spotify, “Spotify Duets”

Daniel Arougheti
• Print Ad Campaign, Magazine Category: Off Bug Spray: “Buzz Off”

Cole Meredith
• Print Ad Campaign, Magazine Category: Peloton, “This is My Happy Face”

Marlana Bianchi and Molly Egan
• Online Interactive App Mobile Category: Spotify, “Break the Sound Barrier”

Hanna LaBerge
• Elements of Advertising, Art Direction Category: WWF + NFL, “Don’t Be a Spectator”
• Print Ad Campaign, Magazine Category: WWF + NFL, “Don’t Be a Spectator”

Blackstone LaunchPad Founders Circle Welcomes New Members

Syracuse University Libraries’ Blackstone LaunchPad welcomed 34 graduates of the Class of 2025 as new members of the Founders Circle. They were selected in recognition of launching or leading ventures at the University while students, as well as contributing to building the Blackstone LaunchPad. The Founders Circle is a group of dedicated LaunchPad alumni entrepreneurs and innovation professionals, who plan to continue to be mentors and role models for current students. They exemplify the University’s spirit of entrepreneurship.

“This group of LaunchPad graduates were unbelievably driven and proactively looked for and leveraged every opportunity and connection to move the needle forward with their respective ventures,” says Traci Geisler, director of the LaunchPad. “By the time they graduated, some of these students had ventures in market generating revenue, some started their next venture, some raised thousands of dollars in capital and some have hired employees. We’re excited to see what’s next for them and how they will continue to change their communities for the better.”

• Adam Thomson, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
• Anthony Smith, Newhouse School
• Asha Breedlove, Newhouse School
• Bryson Carter, Newhouse School
• Kathryn Kelley, Newhouse School
• Megan Kane, Newhouse School
• Skylar Takac, Whitman School and Newhouse School
• Stacy Collier, Newhouse School
• Tyler Marma G’25, Newhouse School

Newhouse School Announces Winners of 2025 Mirror Awards

Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications announced the winners of the 2025 Mirror Awards at a ceremony Monday in New York City. The awards recognize excellence in media industry reporting.

Chosen by a group of journalists and journalism educators, the winners are:

Best Single Article/Story 

Katie Thornton
Rolling Stone

• “Jesus, Take The Dial” 

Best Profile

Jack Herrera
Columbia Journalism Review

• “La Periodista de Iowa” 

Best Commentary 

Clare Malone
The New Yorker (subscription required)

• “The Meme-ificiation of American Politics” 
• “Is the Media Prepared for an Extinction-Level Event?” 
• “Is Hunterbrook Media a News Outlet or a Hedge Fund?” 

John M. Higgins Award for Best In-Depth/Enterprise Reporting

Manuel Roig-Franzia and Hope Hodge Seck
The Washington Post (subscription required)

• “A Taliban revenge killing prompts questions, removal of an acclaimed documentary” 
• “Murrow Award rescinded for acclaimed ‘Retrograde’ documentary” 

Mary Calvi ’90, anchor of Inside Edition Weekend and morning news anchor at WCBS-TV in New York City, served as master of ceremonies. Also, these previously announced honorees received their featured awards:

Fred Dressler Leadership Award

Bob Costas H’15
Sportscaster

Lorraine Branham Award

ICT (formerly known as Indian Country Today)
Accepting the award:
Jourdan Bennett-Begaye G’16
Managing Editor

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About the Mirror Awards

Established by the Newhouse School in 2006, the Mirror Awards honor the writers, reporters and editors who hold a mirror to their own industry for the public’s benefit. The competition is open to anyone who conducts reporting, commentary or criticism of the media industries in a format intended for a mass audience. Eligible work includes print, broadcast and online editorial content focusing on the development or distribution of news and entertainment. Winners are chosen by a group of journalists and journalism educators.

Newhouse Professor Robert Thompson Featured on ‘NBC Nightly News’ for Pop Culture Lecture Series

Newhouse School and University Professor Bob Thompson was recently featured on “NBC Nightly News” for his long-running lecture series that uses classic television to bridge generational divides and spark important conversation. The segment, produced by NBC’s Brian Cheung ’15—a University alumnus and University Scholar—highlights Thompson’s “Tuesdays with Bleier.”

For 18 years, this weekly gathering has brought together students, faculty and staff to watch and discuss unedited television broadcasts from decades past—from “Howdy Doody,” “The Flying Nun” and “The Brady Bunch,” to early YouTube clips. The weekly luncheon discussion explores how television has shaped and reflected American culture, while fostering intergenerational dialogue through shared media experiences.

NBC’s coverage emphasized the emotional and educational impact of the class. One student shared how a clip from “Howdy Doody” helped him connect with his grandmother, who was in the late stages of dementia. Another noted how the class gave her new ways to relate to her parents through pop culture references, while another brought his mom and dad to one of Thompson’s discussions.

Thompson told NBC, “If you want to understand the country we live in, you have to understand its presidencies, the wars its fought, its political parties. But you also have to understand its lawn ornaments, its love songs, and its sitcoms.”

Tuesday’s at Bleier take place in Thompson’s office in Newhouse 3, every Tuesday at noon, and are open to all.

Newhouse in the News

Bill Werde, Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries

• ‘Gatekeepers Are Dead’: Kanye West’s Antisemitic Song Plays On Despite Takedowns (The Wall Street Journal-subscription required)
• After lengthy feud, Taylor Swift buys back masters for first six albums (The Washington Post-subscription required)

Joel Kaplan, Magazine, News and Digital Journalism

• B’ville student to face consequences for damaging Chromebook amid online (CNY Central)

Robert Thompson, Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture

• Why ‘Suits LA’ got disbarred (Yahoo Entertainment)
• Netflix, Rivals Bet Big on Live Events: Can the Technology Deliver? (The Wrap)
• Syracuse professor shows how bygone pop culture references can bridge generations (NBC News)

Joey Gawrysiak, Esports Communications and Management

• Esports in Higher Ed (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

Adam Peruta, Advanced Media Management

• Lawmakers push app store age verification to protect kids online (The National News Desk)

Austin Kocher, Office of Research and Creative Activity

• The revival of an old program delegates Trump immigration enforcement to local police (Associated Press)
• Gov. Jeff Landry urges Louisiana polic to partner with ICE on immigration operations (The Times-Picayune-subscription required)

Master’s Alumni Profile: Sharmistha Chatterjee G’03

Newhouse Master’s Program: Public Relations
Current Position: Director of Social Media and Audience Development, Hallmark Media

How did you land your current position and what positions did you hold before it? 

I was looking for a job change, and I applied directly on Hallmark Media’s website.  I was previously a director of marketing and social media for Variety, manager of marketing for Warner Bros., and senior account executive for Hill & Knowlton.

What is an average day like for you on the job? 

My day-to-day tasks consist of strategic planning, content creation and curation, community engagement, performance analysis and team management. The goal is to elevate Hallmark Media’s social media presence, achieve business goals of driving tune in for Hallmark Channel shows and gaining new subscribers to Hallmark Plus.  

How do you feel Newhouse prepared you for your current position? 

Newhouse provided me with an understanding of the importance and role of public relations/communications for any corporation, writing skills, design and corporate law, all of which helped prepare me for my positions. 

Did Newhouse open your eyes to new professions or aspects of your field you may have not considered when applying?  

Photoshop and design skills, which are still helpful in my career today.

Did you take advantage of the Newhouse Career Development Center?

Yes! My internship was obtained through a Newhouse alumni reference in PMK *BNC, a celebrity agency in Los Angeles which then resulted in my first full-time job.

What are the moments of your career so far that have been the most important? 

I served as a key member of the Variety marketing team to ring the closing bell at NASDAQ’s MarketSite in Times Square on April 30, 2015, to commemorate the arrival of Variety’s Entertainment and Technology Summit in New York City.  

I was also a keynote speaker that spoke on diversity and inclusion at Ragan Daily’s Social Media Conference 2024, specifically focused on a Hallmark Channel movie that I collaborated on: “Make Me A Match.” The movie featured the first Indian diverse wedding seen on the network. With this, I was recognized in Cynopsis’ Top Women in Media’s Directors Who Do It All list in 2018 along with their Social Media Groundbreakers list in 2021. 

What unique features encouraged you to apply to your graduate program? 

The curriculum and also the school ranking.  

What are some of the obstacles and misconceptions that students should be aware of when it comes to your field?

In entering a competitive job market post-graduation, students need to understand the application of artificial intelligence and how that would change communications-related jobs. I also recommend enhancing skill sets by taking up additional courses in communications, video editing, learning tools such as Photoshop, Canva, etc.  

What advice do you have for current or incoming students? 

I would recommend they actively take up internships and network with alumni as much as possible to learn more about the job market. Also, I would recommend joining networking clubs such as PRSA, Social Media Club (based in several cities) and any others as it applies to their jobs. 

Snapshots From Route 66: One Student’s Journey to Newhouse LA

“If you ever plan to travel west, travel my way, take the highway that’s the best.” It’s been nearly 80 years since Nat King Cole uttered the now famous lyrics, “Get your kicks on Route 66,” but still to this day long distance drivers are enjoying the ride along this historic byway. The trip was recently (and safely) completed by Newhouse student Malcolm Taylor ’26, a rising senior majoring in photography with a minor in art photography from Chicago, the terminus of Route 66.

Taylor is in Los Angeles this summer taking part in the Newhouse LA program and decided to take the 2,000 mile drive in his silver 2018 Buick Regal to get there. Taylor’s field of study created a great photographic opportunity, and he shared some of the images with Syracuse University News.

“This trip was much more than transportation to LA,” says Taylor, who comes from a family of road trippers. “My dad is a self-described nomad. We’ve driven to Maine, Florida, New Orleans, there and back again, and I loved every minute of it. I’ve always dreamed of completing the Route 66 drive, Chicago to LA, solo. It’s been my goal ever since I was a kid. This trip is the culmination of all of those hours spent in the car watching my dad not just transport us, but show me the real America.”

During his journey, Taylor made a stop in New Mexico to visit his high school art teacher who is building a home in the desert.

The side trip allowed him to capture incredible photos of the other worldly landscape.

His trip overall was “filled with trials and tribulations,” including a needed tire repair on day one and a slight wrong way turn on day two, but overall Taylor described the drive and stops along the way as an incredibly rewarding experience.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t change a thing,” he says, adding that “I’m proud of overcoming these obstacles and learning from them.” A true sign that this trip was about the journey as much as the destination.