Newhouse LA Student Spotlight: Dalton Deitz
Living in Syracuse, moving into college has always been nothing more than a 20-minute drive for me, so flying across the country for this semester was nerve-wracking. But the vibrant atmosphere and friendly people immediately made me feel welcome here in LA. My days quickly filled up with exciting experiences, from navigating the Metro to my internship at TREND: Music PR, to exploring iconic spots like Universal Studios, Dodger Stadium and even camping in Joshua Tree!
One of the highlights has been a Q&A session with the senior staff at TREND, where I gained invaluable insights about the music industry. I also had the chance to attend a Fredagain.. concert at the LA Memorial Coliseum, which was an electrifying experience. Balancing my classes and internship has been challenging yet rewarding, especially with supportive professors and peers. Days spent at Santa Monica Beach and Warner Bros. Studios with fellow students were moments of community that I’ll cherish forever.
My time here has been a whirlwind of learning, growth and fun, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and friendships I’ve made. I’m excited to see what the rest of my LA journey holds!
Dalton Deitz is a senior studying broadcast and digital journalism at the Newhouse School.
Los Angeles Through the Looking Glass
Lizzy Calvo, a Newhouse senior from Los Angeles, offers a comprehensive guide to exploring Los Angeles during the Newhouse LA program. A magazine, news and digital journalism major, Calvo participated in the program in summer 2024.
Los Angeles is one of the most visited cities in the world, greeting a whopping 50 million visitors a year, according to the Los Angeles County Development Corporation. For students participating in the Newhouse LA program, exploring the new city may be daunting.
This summer I made my way home to participate in the Newhouse LA program. As a native Angeleno, here is my guide to exploring LA and all that it has to offer:
The Map
The first vital thing to understand as a student coming to LA for the first time is its layout. I like to think of LA as having two distinct sections: the Valley, and everything else.
The new Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program campus is located in North Hollywood, where most students will live during the program. Despite “Hollywood” being in the name, NoHo is located in the Valley, which is separated from Central LA by the Hollywood Hills. The Valley also houses Burbank, where you’ll find some of the major studio lots, in addition to several other smaller cities to explore.
Moving west through the Hollywood Hills is the part of LA that most people imagine. Griffith Observatory sits high on the hill, overlooking the city below it, the Hollywood Sign a few miles over. Down below is West Hollywood, a neighborhood with a vibrant nightlife culture and great for lovers of comedy clubs. Moving further west, you pass Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, and then The Getty, eventually hitting the ocean and arriving at the famous Santa Monica Pier at the end of Route 66. Further east lies Dodgers stadium, Downtown LA, and a little further out, concert venues including The Forum and Sofi Stadium.
Now that you have a little understanding of Los Angeles’s layout, here are some of the best spots to visit across the map.
Entertainment
The first must-do activity without question is the Warner Bros. Studio tour. The Newhouse LA program typically provides students with tickets to the tour, which is how my classmates and I got to attend! The tour consists of a drive around the lot, getting to see the sets of famous TV shows like “Friends” and “Gilmore Girls,” a tour of a current soundstage and a photo op at the end, alongside the opportunity to explore a warehouse full of costumes and props from famous films.
The Hollywood Bowl is one of the most famous venues in the city, located in the hills right in the pass where the Valley turns into Hollywood. The venue itself is a massive outdoor amphitheater that hosts sing-alongs, concerts, theatrical performances and more. I attended the “Barbie Movie Live In Concert” with my roommate, and we got to see a fireworks show in addition to a live orchestra and the movie itself, fanfare that is not uncommon for Bowl productions.
This is for the hardcore movie lovers, and was recommended by Newhouse LA faculty member Cecile Murias, who teaches The Art of Production course. Owned by famed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, New Beverly Cinema is a theater focused on creating the best viewing experience. Most of the movies shown are on film, preserving the movie’s original form. In addition, they have special themed double features that are great for spending a whole day locked in at the movies.
Food
Located downtown, Grand Central Market is one of the best places to eat in the city. Taking up an entire city block right next to the famous Angel’s Flight Railway, Grand Central Market has every kind of cuisine you can think of from Chinese and Mexican to sushi, to breakfast sandwiches and giant strawberry donuts. This has been one of my favorite spots in LA since I went with my parents as a little kid, and comes highly recommended by Newhouse LA faculty Michael Green who teaches communications law.
Another spot from my childhood, I can’t recommend a single spot in LA as highly as Porto’s. Located in Burbank (very close to the Dick Clark Center), Porto’s has every single baked good you can think of and more, in addition to serving hot food. If you want to try out some classic Cuban foods, I recommend the potato balls, Cubano sandwiches and guava strudels, but every single thing they make is delicious.
A classic LA hotspot on the west side, Tito’s Tacos is famous for their authentic Mexican food. The restaurant is mostly takeout, where you order at a counter and grab a box with your food, but they have plenty of tables to eat there. You simply cannot leave LA without having had a Tito’s Taco.
Miscellaneous Must Visits
One of the best things to do as a student is go to Universal Studios. Although it is a theme park, it’s built next door to the Universal Studios lot. Go on the studio tour, where you can spend up to an hour on a guided tram tour of the lot, sometimes getting to see the behind the scenes of what’s being filmed on the lot. The best part is that it’s only a 10-minute drive from campus!
Dodgers Stadium, SoFi Stadium or the Crypto.com Arena
Another staple experience to have before leaving LA is attending a sporting event. Depending on the season, you can pick between baseball, football and basketball, but luckily LA has some of the best teams for all three! I would recommend going to a Dodgers, Rams or Lakers game. The Clippers, Chargers and Angels are alternative team options (but I think real Angelenos are fans of the other teams).
Sitting high in the hills above the 405 freeway is the J. Paul Getty Museum, my favorite art museum in LA. Their collections have varying forms of art, from as far back as two thousand years ago to today, with paintings, sculptures, photographs and more. The museum grounds also have a beautiful garden that is fun to explore. I recommend spending the whole day here, as there is so much to see and an hour or two won’t allow you to see much! Tickets are free, but reservations are required at least a day in advance.
Whatever your interests, there is something for everyone here in Los Angeles. As you start your program, take some time to look around and learn about where you live. Happy exploring!
Newhouse Student Connects With Entertainment Industry on Larry Barron Fund Trip
The fund, named after the late Newhouse alumnus Larry Barron ’87, aims to carry on the TV executive’s legacy of mentoring young people and connecting them with other leaders in the media and entertainment industries.
My name is Maddie Doolittle, I graduated this past May from Syracuse University as a member of the class of 2024. While at Syracuse, I was a dual major at Newhouse and Whitman, with majors in television, radio and film and supply chain management respectively.
During my senior year, I was fortunate enough to be chosen as one of the inaugural recipients of the Larry Barron Fund for Mentorship, which is a four-day visit to Los Angeles to meet executives in media and entertainment, and so much more. Like Larry, I was a very active member of WJPZ, the on-campus radio station that changed my life and so many others. Currently, I work as an executive assistant to the VP of content, programming and marketing at Vevo in New York City.
The Larry Barron Fund for Mentorship trip was undoubtedly one of the best experiences not just of my college career, but of my life. I come from a small town in western Massachusetts, and I didn’t grow up with the resources to travel. As someone who dreamed of working in the music and entertainment industries, even the chance to visit Los Angeles was an incredible opportunity.
My itinerary for the trip took me to companies like Audacy, Caffeine.tv, NFL Studios, the FYI.AI headquarters and Amazon Music. Not only was I able to connect with a handful of really great people doing jobs I could only dream of doing, but the trip showed me I could belong professionally in a place so far from home and at companies I’ve always admired.
From creating lasting relationships with professionals at Amazon Music to somehow ending up at the surprise reunion show of my favorite band, the best way I can describe my time in LA is serendipitous. I’m a steadfast believer in the saying “everything happens for a reason,” and I truly believe that what is meant for you will not pass you by. I am so grateful to have been a part of this program and to have had the opportunity to honor Larry, his spirit and his passion for mentorship.
The application deadline for the Larry Barron Mentorship Fund is Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT.
Maddie Doolittle ’24 is an alumna of the television, radio and film program at the Newhouse School.
And That’s a Wrap on the Pilot of OTN’s New Game Show, ‘Two Truths and a Lie’
Behind the scenes of the show created by students in the Newhouse LA program through Orange Television Network.
Game shows have entertained audiences for decades, with programs like“Jeopardy!” and “Wheel of Fortune” being two of the most watched shows on television, as reported by The New York Times. Yet despite their popularity in American culture, the primary viewer demographic for game shows falls far beyond most college students, at age 60 or older.
But this summer, students in the Newhouse LA program got an up-close look into what it’s like to put a TV game show on the air when they created and filmed “Two Truths and a Lie” for Orange Television Network (OTN), and a new game show was born, targeting the Syracuse University student audience.
The journey towards making “Two Truths and a Lie” began on the first day of the Newhouse LA summer 2024 program in May. Robin Howard, director of the Newhouse LA program, pitched the show with Bob Boden, an executive vice president at Entertainment Studios who teaches television, radio and film (TRF) classes at Newhouse LA, and Meg Craig, general manager of OTN.The show was a completely new concept for the program and built from the ground up, from hiring talent to choosing a structure for the show, to finding filming locations and managing crew.
The show’s basic premise: Contestants, who are Syracuse University students or alumni, are asked to run through a series of questions with three answers and asked to figure out which two answers are true, and which one is the lie.
Within a few weeks, TRF students Kayla Black and Jackie Arbogast were hired as co-executive producers, working alongside Howard and Boden to bring the show to life.
Black said she enjoyed the challenge of juggling the accelerated pre-production process with the other tasks needed to get ready to film.
“It was a lot of things I wasn’t expecting … but also then having to keep in mind what our network execs want, what our head of production was looking for, and what my co-producer Jackie needs for cam set up and staging. There were a lot of things in the back of my mind.”
Once they established the show’s structure, Black and Arbogast had to prepare for two days of shooting: one on location where current students and alumni were asked questions about a particular Los Angeles location, and the other in the Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program’s new studio. There, the studio host would lead two contestants in battling it out for the grand prize, which consisted of an engraved trophy and a stuffed Otto the Orange doll.
Students Sofia Dixon and Isabella Austin were brought on as writers, with Sophia Moore coming on as assistant director. TRF juniors Erin Flack and Laura Jacobson were brought on as the studio and field hosts, with Elizabeth Gelber and Jack Goodman, both senior TRF majors, as the inaugural in-studio contestants.
After a month of hiring and logistics, shooting began on location in early July, starting at the Television Academy in North Hollywood. The home of the Emmy Awards, the academy is right next door to the Newhouse LA’s home at the Dick Clark Los Angeles Program campus.
Working with students and alumni as on-location contestants, they ended the day filming at Television City, home of the iconic Stage 33, where programs including “The Carol Burnett Show” and “The Price is Right” were filmed.
A week later, the crew entered the Dick Clark Los Angeles center’s sound stage to film the in-studio portion, with edited location footage, new contestants and a new host. Gelber and Goodman were asked by Flack to answer the same questions as the on-location players, in addition to guessing if the field contestant got the answer correct.
“I’ve never been on a set before, so it’s been really cool to experience it in real time with all the lighting and the cameras and different set-ups,” Flack said.
The executive producers had to maneuver filming around phones ringing, microphone issues and loud planes flying overhead—just like what happens on shoots on the TV networks.
Arbogast loved diving head-first into the world of managing crew and dealing with logistics.
“That’s the stuff I enjoy,” she said. “I think that I would be an executive producer again. I love how we persisted in such a quick turnaround… It was a learning experience for me to take someone else’s idea and try to curate it in the way they want it to be.”
On the last day of the summer ‘24 Newhouse LA program, students finally got to view the episode. Rowdy cheers and waves of claps filled the halls of the Dick Clark Center as students laughed watching their friends and peers on screen, as “Two Truths and a Lie” came to life.
The final product—the 30 minute-long pilot episode— aired Aug. 7 on OTN and is available on YouTube. It’s the result of the work and dedication students put in while still juggling classes and internships through their Newhouse LA summer semester.
The Newhouse LA program and OTN plan to shoot the next episode during the Spring 2025 semester.
Lizzy Calvo is a senior in the magazine, news and digital journalism program at the Newhouse School.
Newhouse LA Student Spotlight: Carly Fox
I am now going into my junior year and I would be lying if I didn’t say Newhouse LA was one of my favorite semesters. I am so grateful to be a part of a program that is so dedicated to its students’ education and overall experience while studying in a new city. I have learned so much about the entertainment industry while being in LA and have gotten so many cool opportunities, such as going to premieres, production studios and connecting with amazing alumni that are currently working in the industry. I am an intern at Beyond Productions and it has been amazing. I am a TV development intern so I have been doing research on projects and getting first looks at shows in development. This is by far the most transformative program I have ever been on, especially career and education wise. This program has defined my love for television and this industry, and I am so excited to see what the future holds!
Carly Fox is a junior studying television, radio and film at the Newhouse School.
Newhouse LA Student Spotlight: Elizabeth Hendrigan
Hi! My name is Elizabeth, and I’m a rising junior at Syracuse University studying film in the school of Visual and Performing Arts. I chose to attend the Newhouse LA program as a VPA student because I wanted to explore a side of film that I haven’t previously had much experience with: business and communications. I knew that Newhouse would have the best resources to help me do that.
I am interning at an LA-based talent agency and production company called ATN Entertainment, which specializes in strengthening the resumes of clients who are often underrepresented in the talent scope, especially women and LGBTQ+ actors and artists. My day-to-day work as an intern includes lots of organizational projects and administrative work, as well as some practice with submitting clients for reputable shows and films using industry standard casting websites that have taught me the ins and outs of the very important role that talent agents play in entertainment. I am very grateful to be working with a team that aligns with my personal goals to remove systematic inequalities from this industry and replace them with more ethical and equal opportunities for all.
My favorite part of the Newhouse LA program has been the opportunity to explore a new social environment! Being in LA has launched me into the world of networking like never before, and there is no denying that LA is the best place to meet new people and make long lasting connections with others who share my passion for film. I spend most of my free time trying new coffee shops and restaurants (there are soooo many unique places to explore here), attending SULA events, and of course, relaxing at the beautiful beaches or by the pool.
Elizabeth Hendrigan is a junior studying film in the school of Visual and Performing Arts.
Bridging Coasts and Building Careers
Syracuse University’s programs in Los Angeles allow students to explore their dreams in the entertainment world.
A look at a map would suggest that Syracuse and Los Angeles could hardly be more distant. But for many Syracuse University students, the experience of living and learning in LA—the sunny entertainment capital of the world and an epicenter for culture in every form—is an integral part of their college journey.
Through the University’s Dick Clark Los Angeles Program, students have opportunities to explore the industries that interest them, expand academically and get a taste of life on the West Coast. They learn from industry professionals, gain hands-on experience in internships and connect with a huge and supportive network of accomplished alumni. Syracuse’s study away programs in LA allow students to experience the best of both worlds: a close and supportive community and extraordinary access into the expansive educational and professional opportunities of LA.
In Training for Sports Journalism
“Los Angeles has every sport—as much as it’s known for Hollywood, it’s also known for sports,” says Luke Backman ’25, who is majoring in broadcast and digital journalism in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and aspires to a career in sports broadcasting. “I knew this would be a great opportunity.”
One of the most impactful aspects of his Newhouse Los Angeles experience has been the sports production class he is taking with seasoned sports media executive Jeff Proctor. “This has been the greatest class I’ve ever taken. Professor Proctor has connections everywhere—he’s done Clippers games, Lakers games, the Angels, boxing—and he brings in the greatest guests,” Backman says. “This course has given me a whole new perspective on sports production and really helped me understand the industry.”
Backman took an internship with MSM Productions, an Emmy Award-winning production company known for its sports-related storytelling, which complements his classroom learning with professional experience. “MSM Productions is doing the best of the best, the biggest of the biggest. This is an amazing place to be for someone who wants to be in sports media.”
Backman has also appreciated the community fostered in the LA program. “The Los Angeles program does a really great job making everyone feel included. We do events together—we toured Warner Bros.—and we have dinners together. I’ve made so many new friends and it really feels like a family,” he says.
To Live and Learn in LA: The Newhouse LA Experience
If I had to sum up my experience in Los Angeles during the Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program—which houses the Newhouse LA program—with one phrase, it would be “more than worth the price of admission.”
As someone who was born and raised on the East Coast, I always wondered what it would be like to live in Los Angeles. Before committing to Syracuse University, I was even interested in attending schools like the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles. The Newhouse LA program allowed me to spend a semester in a city I might never have had the chance to live in otherwise, and now, I have roots here that will extend far beyond my time here this semester.
From the moment I arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport, I felt as if I was in a totally different world than Syracuse—and that was OK. There is no doubt that there was a transition period. From the time difference to the lowest temperature being in the mid 50s in January (although no complaints there), I knew immediately that I wasn’t in Upstate New York.
Instead of living in a South Campus apartment, I was treated to a beautifully modern apartment in Burbank with amenities like pools and a gym, among other things. And although certain buildings on the Syracuse campus —like Newhouse—are stunning in their own right, the Los Angeles program campus is brand new and has a premium feel to it. Syracuse University does an excellent job of providing everything a student needs to feel as comfortable as they would feel on campus and it’s very much appreciated.
Of course, it would only be a vacation if it weren’t for the classes. I took seven classes this semester, which is definitely more than most students. But if I had to choose the most memorable courses, it would be the sports production and acting classes.
As somebody who is interested in going into the sports media field, the sports production class—part of the Newhouse LA sports media communications program—was right up my alley. Taught by Jeff Proctor, a former producer at CBS and Fox Sports, the class was all about what goes into producing a sports broadcast.
Arguably, the best part of the class was the field trips, including outings to see the Los Angeles Lakers and the G-League’s South Bay Lakers. We got a behind-the-scenes look at the production truck and the work it took to produce live sporting events.
In some cases, we even got to do a pregame report from the field of play that was fully produced by the same professionals that produced the game. For those interested in sports television and broadcasting, that class alone is worth the trip to Southern California.
The acting was taught by former actress Barbara Deustch. Prior to this semester, I had never taken an acting class, nor did I have any interest in doing so. However, I’m so happy that I did. Barbara started us off with improv exercises and by the end of the semester I was performing a scene from the 1992 film “A Few Good Men” in front of a large audience. I always thought acting was an innate skill, but this class taught me that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Outside of classes, I interned with Fox Sports as a features intern over the semester. Getting to work in one of the major sports channels was really cool and I got to meet producers as well as talent for studio shows such as “Speak” with Emannuel Acho, Joy Taylor and others.
When I wasn’t working on classwork and internship responsibilities, there were tons of things to do in Los Angeles. The program offered many events for us such as movie premieres, outings to a Los Angeles Dodgers game and more. We also did some community service by doing a beach clean-up at Santa Monica beach.
Without a doubt, this has been the best semester of my college career, and I am so glad I took a leap of faith to travel across the country for this program.
Dhani Joseph will be a senior in the fall in the broadcast and digital journalism program at the Newhouse School.
LA Story: New Space, Sports Program Expands Experiences in Los Angeles for Newhouse Students
A celebratory toast and ceremonial cutting of a ribbon marked the formal opening of the new home of the Newhouse School’s program in the entertainment capital of the world.
Joined by family members of the late Dick Clark ’51, students, faculty, staff, leadership, alumni and friends gathered to dedicate the new Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program location in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles. Newhouse LA will be based in the University’s new home.
The gleaming new space housed in the shiny, glass-enclosed office building is the result of an extraordinary gift from the Kari and Dick Clark Foundation to significantly expand the University’s presence and impact in the entertainment field.
“We’re celebrating a truly transformative, generous gift from the Clark Family, so that’s number one,” said Robin Howard, director of the Newhouse LA program. “What the gift allows us to do is really provide expanded programs, to be very creative with the programs that we offer now, to offer students from the school the most robust, experiential learning opportunity that we possibly can. That’s what we’re celebrating today.”
The new location is a hub for all things Syracuse in Los Angeles and offers Newhouse LA students a fresh space filled with innovative classrooms, offices, studios and more. It’s a short walk to the Metro station, and a bustling neighborhood filled with restaurants, theaters and housing options, adding to the student experience.
Students in the Newhouse LA program take classes taught by entertainment industry experts while also getting valuable experience through internships and networking events.
“By coming out to Los Angeles, [students] are not only able to take courses that relate to their own industry, as well as what’s happening here in L.A., but they are also exposed to wonderful job and internship opportunities that often lead to full-time jobs after graduation,” said Newhouse School Dean Mark J. Lodato.
The Spring 2024 semester also marks the launch of the Newhouse LA sports media communications program. The program provides production and marketing classes tailor-made for students working to become sports media professionals. It will also offer internship opportunities at a sports media company.
The sports media communications program is open to broadcast journalism, public relations or television, radio and film majors. The goal is to expand access and connections in Los Angeles to a new set of Newhouse students.
For broadcasting and digital journalism junior Vincent Zakian, one class alone made the cross-country trip more than worth it. He’s taking a sports production class at Newhouse LA with Jeff Proctor, a veteran sports media producer.
“We’ve gotten a lot of great experiences,” Zakian said. “Professor Proctor has introduced us to [a lot of] different people that can help us in our careers. That’s been amazing. It’s been really career focused which I appreciate.”
Dhani Joseph is a junior in the broadcast and digital journalism program at the Newhouse School
University Officially Opens New Building for Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program (In Photos)
Celebrating the enduring legacy of a well-loved alumnus, members of the University community marked the official opening of the new location of the Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program in North Hollywood, California on Saturday, March 2.
Along with family members of the late Dick Clark ’51, students, faculty, staff, leadership, alumni and friends gathered to dedicate the University’s new home in LA, the result of a gift from the Kari and Dick Clark Foundation to significantly expand the University’s presence and impact in the entertainment field.
The expansion of the SULA Semester, a vibrant example of the University’s commitment to Study Away, includes new space for offices, classrooms, studios, additional academic programs, faculty and internships. It is home to LA programs for the Newhouse School of Public Communications and the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
