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, in the communications capital of the world; Newhouse DC, in the nerve center of American democracy; and Newhouse LA, in 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.”