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.