Forever Orange: Dara Dilmaghani ’23

Syracuse University’s Forever Orange Scholarship provides half of the tuition for students who enroll full-time in a qualifying graduate degree or certificate program at Syracuse University. The scholarship is automatically available to all Class of 2024 graduating Syracuse University seniors who are eligible for admission—no separate scholarship application is needed. Graduating seniors who have already been admitted to a qualifying graduate program are also eligible.

Learn more about recent students like Dara Dilmaghani, who is developing his skills and the ability to lean into the future of technology with the help of a Forever Orange Scholarship.

Dara Dilmaghani

Undergraduate Program: Advertising, ’23
Newhouse Master’s Program: Advanced Media Management, G’24

What drew you to Syracuse University for your undergraduate studies? 

Newhouse played a role in me coming to Syracuse. I was not sure where I wanted to end up when I was applying to college but when I was accepted to Newhouse and researched more about the school, I knew that this was the place I needed to be. 

What made you want to pursue a master’s degree?    

There were a few factors that led me to stay one more year, with the main one being the pandemic. I felt like my senior year was the first year I was experiencing the full in-person opportunities Newhouse had to offer, and I wasn’t ready to leave without spending a little more time growing as a student. The advanced media management program was the perfect place for me to continue my journey. With an emphasis on skills I didn’t get the chance to develop in my undergraduate career and the ability to lean into the future of technology was just something I could not pass up.  

How did you first hear about the Forever Orange Scholarship and how did it play a role in your decision to attend graduate school?  

I heard about it in my application process. I had always had plans on pursuing a master’s degree, but the Forever Orange Scholarship was another great incentive to stay here and pursue it at Newhouse. The ability to receive my master’s degree in half the time for half the price was honestly a bigger blessing than I could have ever imagined.  

What unique features of your graduate program made you want to apply?  

I picked Newhouse because it had already done so many amazing things for me and taken me to so many places. I picked advanced media management because I felt like I was going to have the opportunity to do something really great, and I have. The faculty in the program, especially Professor Adam Peruta, have gone above and beyond and given me opportunities that I never imagined I could achieve. Just in one semester I feel more knowledgeable than I have in the past four years, I have met some amazing like-minded classmates and was able to go to Las Vegas. I don’t think there are many graduate students that are having the same experiences as me and I’m so grateful that Newhouse has given me these opportunities to continue growing as a student.  

Advanced media management students (from left to right) Henos Mulugeta, Dara Dilmaghani, Hongjian Yu and Matthew Brodsky in the HyperX Esports Arena at the CES tech event in Las Vegas. (Photo courtesy of Adam Peruta)

What moments in graduate school have been the most exciting or defining thus far?  

100% learning about the impact AI is having not only on media, but the world as we know it. This program has given me the ability to test out these new tools and find a workflow that works for me. I do not think I would’ve been able to stay ahead of the curve if I was already in the professional world. Now, I can spend my time preparing myself for an inevitable change in the way media will function with tools that are unfamiliar to many.

What advice would you give to students that are in the initial stages of deciding to pursue graduate school? 

It is worth it, especially right after undergrad. It is tough to go back to school when you have been out of the routine for a while but spending that extra year or two learning a bit more can really take you far once it is all said and done. Do not be afraid to lean into discomfort and remember that opportunities are just right in front of you, you just need to know when to take them. 

For more information on Newhouse School graduate programs, please email nhmasters@syr.edu

Newhouse Students Capture Excitement and Intensity of Empire State Winter Games

It was a tiring yet rewarding weekend for the nearly two dozen Newhouse School students who covered the Empire State Winter Games (ESWG) in Lake Placid, New York in early February. ESWG is the largest Olympic-style multi-sport winter event for amateur athletes. 

Twenty-two undergraduate and graduate students traversed the slopes of Whiteface Mountain, took in sled hockey games in Tupper Lake and worked early mornings and late nights to provide comprehensive coverage of the Games and its nearly 2,500 athletes through photography, videography, social media posts and website management. 

a photographer stands on a snowy mountain and takes a picture during a ski competition
Photography junior Arthur Maiorella photographs alpine skiers at Whiteface Mountain. (Photo by Justin Dalaba)
a photographer stands above a luge track and captures a an athlete going down the track
BDJ junior Robbie Munch films luge racers at the Mt Van Hoevenberg Sliding Center. (Photo by Seth Gitner)
a photographer takes pictures of the opening ceremony of the empire state winter games in a hockey area full of people
MVJ student Theoplis Stewart II (center) photographs the Empire State Winter Games opening ceremony while PR graduate student Abbie Kludt (left) captures video for the Games’ social media channels. (Photo by Justin Dalaba)

Picture Perfect Games 

With SONY-sponsored cameras in hand, 11 photographers captured everything from bobsledders barreling down the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Sliding Center tracks to the championship hockey games at the Herb Brooks Arena where the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” event transpired four decades ago.

two people in winter gear hug each other and smile
Nordic skiers Talia and Reid pose for a portrait during the 2024 Empire State Winter Games In Lake Placid, New York. (Photo by Surya Vaidy)

The staff edited and captioned hundreds of photos daily before uploading them to the ESWG media website to be picked up by news outlets throughout the Northeast. 

“It was just so nice to be back in such a beautiful place like Lake Placid,” said Surya Vaidy, a graduate student in the multimedia, photography and design program who was participating for the second year. “The best part was just getting the chance to photograph future championship athletes.” 

In between sporting events, Vaidy found time for his side project called “Faces of the Games,” that captured athletes and their families between games, races and events. 

“I got a great set of photos that I think were evocative,” Vaidy said. “And I hope that the athletes and other people will think so, too.” 

A luge racer prepares to head down a track
A luge racer prepares to head down the track at the Mt. Van Hoevenberg Sliding Center. (Photo by Nina Gerzema)
Athletes race to the finish line of a Biathlon competition
Athletes race to the finish line of the Biathlon Super Sprint Final at Mt. Van Hoevenberg. (Photo by Sadie Jones)
a person lights a cauldron at the empire state winter games opening ceremony
The cauldron is lit during the 2024 Empire State Winter Games Opening Ceremony in 1980 Herb Brooks Arena. (Photo by Matt Hofmann)

Nonstop Action

Working alongside the photographers, four videographers had the task of capturing ESWG athletes in motion.  

Patrick Smith, a graduate student in broadcast and digital journalism and part of the sports media and communications track, rose before the sun to get video of daily skiing competitions. 

“Going up there was so much fun,” Smith said. “I learned a whole lot that I didn’t know about videography. Whether you’re a photographer, videographer, content creator, or producer, you gain so much from this experience.”  

a participant in a biathlon shoots a gun
The 2024 Empire State Winter Games Biathlon. (Photo by Theoplis Stewart II)
people mountain bike in a snowy forest
Winter bikers race across the Dewey Mountain Recreation Center course. (Photo by Joohee Na)
a cross country skier skis at night
Sharon Crawford skis the nighttime orienteering event at the Cascade Welcome Center. (Photo by Justin Dalaba)

Keeping Things Running

Once the opening ceremony concluded on Thursday night, there was non-stop action on the slopes, snow and ice. Five public relations majors kept up with the results, posting on the ESWG and Newhouse Sports Media Center social media accounts while also writing press releases and daily newsletters for the games. 

“For someone like me who wants to go into sports and social media, this experience has been really great,” said public relations graduate student Katie Miller. “I just feel like the immersive part of this trip is going to lead to a lot of growth.” 

With the students getting to put time into writing and social media, the three days served as a great taste of what a career in sports and public relations will be like. 

an ice skater twirls in the air
Abigail Marlow from Niagara University Skating Club performs her figure skating routine. (Photo by Diana Valdivia)
a hockey player gets fired up
A Saugerties player gets fired up for 10U Squirt hockey game. (Photo by Cole Meredith)
two skiers race down a mountain
William Swain leads Gabriel Kean during a snowcross race at Whiteface Mountain. (Photo by Arthur Maiorella)

Traversing Mediums

As a digital producer for this trip, I  witnessed firsthand just how hard all of these students worked as I constantly shuffled their edited footage and photos onto our ESWGMedia.com website nightly. 

From a public relations perspective, it was impressive how the entire team was prepared to write or post on social media at a moment’s notice while also helping to tell the stories of participants involved in the games. 

I — along with professors Seth Gitner, Jon Glass, and Jordan Kligerman — just tried to keep it all going. In the end, I think we earned a spot atop the medalist podium when it comes to making the most of the Newhouse School experience.  

three young skiers cheer on a teammate
Super G alpine skiers cheer on their teammate Piper Dock of West Mountain Racing at Whiteface Mountain. (Photo by Ania Johnston)

Jonathan Kinane is graduate student in the broadcast and digital journalism program at the Newhouse School.

Forever Orange: Seth Quinn ’23

Syracuse University’s Forever Orange Scholarship provides half of the tuition for students who enroll full-time in a qualifying graduate degree or certificate program at Syracuse University. The scholarship is automatically available to all Class of 2024 graduating Syracuse University seniors who are eligible for admission—no separate scholarship application is needed. Graduating seniors who have already been admitted to a qualifying graduate program are also eligible.

Learn more about recent students like Seth Quinn, who’s combining his love of sports with his passion for writing at Newhouse, with the help of a Forever Orange Scholarship.

Seth Quinn

Undergraduate Program: Sport Analytics, ’23
Newhouse Master’s Program: Magazine, news and digital journalism with a specialized sports media and communications track, G’24

seth Quinn headshot
Seth Quinn

What drew you to Syracuse University for your undergraduate studies? 

I wanted to study something unique and interesting. I love sports, so naturally, I gravitated towards a sports-related field. I originally considered sport management, but that didn’t sound super compelling. After visiting Syracuse with my older sister, I found out about the sport analytics program. I was intrigued, and given it was the only sport analytics program in the country at the time, it became my top choice quickly and never wavered. 

What made you want to pursue a master’s degree?    

As I got older, I started lingering between being a math person and a writing person. Sport analytics catered to the math side of me, but after minoring in writing, I wanted to go more into a writing-based field. I heard about Newhouse’s reputation while in undergrad at Syracuse, so that’s where I looked first. When I found out sports writing/journalism was a possibility, I became quickly interested, just as I did with undergrad. 

How did you first hear about the Forever Orange Scholarship and how did it play a role in your decision to attend graduate school?  

When I was first looking into grad school, I talked to other professors and administrators, and heard about the Forever Orange Scholarship. After doing more research, it seemed like both the program and scholarship made a lot of sense. I would say without the Forever Orange Scholarship, my decision to attend grad school in Newhouse would have been much harder. 

What unique features of your graduate program made you want to apply?  

The sports track intrigued me first off, but I also saw opportunities to hone skills and learn lots of new things. It would allow me to be more flexible with job opportunities and experiences. Combining that with the reputation of Newhouse and my familiarity with the school from undergrad, applying made a lot of sense. 

What moments in graduate school have been the most exciting or defining thus far?  

As a student with zero journalism experience, getting thrown right into things during the summer program to learn through experience was both exciting and defining. The first experience I had where I felt like a real journalist was for the second article, I wrote during the summer program for my news writing class. I went to the location of a local charity race and interviewed the family that founded it. After talking with them, I was inspired to run in the race the following day. Being a part of the festivities and not just talking to people about it allowed me to feel like a real journalist. I didn’t think I’d get that type of experience so soon, but I think it prepared me well for the rest of the program. 

What advice would you give to students that are in the initial stages of deciding to pursue graduate school? 

Taking part in grad school may feel scary, but the reality is it is an investment for the future. You don’t have to do it, but if you want to, just go for it. As long as you make the most of your time there, it should feel satisfying and like a worthy investment. Choosing the right program is important obviously, but what you do once you are in it is even more important. For me, I chose to do a program that was completely different than my undergrad program, so the other thing I’d say is don’t worry too much about what you did in the past. Grad school is a completely different experience and not something that should feel like a replacement or a do-over from undergrad. 

For more information on Newhouse School graduate programs, please email nhmasters@syr.edu

Photo Gallery: Pixels & Print Design Workshop

The Pixels & Print Design Workshop at the Newhouse School always has the same mission: Teach the power of designing for good. Beginning on Feb. 22, which marked the 10th year of the fully intensive workshop, 65 visual communications students came together for 48 hours to collaboratively provide a design makeover for a deserving organization.

In past years, the students have shown how the power of design can combat mental illness, support grieving children and more. This year’s client was The Baldwin Fund, which has taken on a new $50 million campaign initiative to help fund cancer research and establish a National Cancer Institute in Syracuse.

Broken up into teams, students helped The Baldwin Fund spread the word about this huge initiative by re-designing their website, designing a social media campaign, creating a variety of promotional materials, designing new merch and more. To aid students in this design challenge, the visual communications department brought in top industry professionals who led the teams as art directors and coaches. 

two people stand behind a camera and look into it
Sadie Jones and Jess Van work as part of the Video Team capturing the workshop.
a large room full of people seated at tables
Pixels & Print’s opening night included a Brainstorm Sprint session to decide on the client’s logo approach.
a person films with a camera
Molly Mellinger works as part of the Video Team capturing the workshop.
a person stands at the front of a room and talks to people
Workshop director Renee Stevens introduces the client during the Pixels & Print opening session.
people applaud while seated in a room
 Workshop students applaud during the coach introductions.
a person hangs something on a wall
A student hangs her logo concept alongside others suggested for The Baldwin Fund.
a large room full of people seated at tables
Students brainstorm to decide on the client’s logo approach.
people look at images hung on a wall
Workshop coach and Newhouse alumna G Williams shares her thoughts on a logo concept with students.
a person stands at the front of a room and talks to people
Workshop director Renee Stevens speaks to the full workshop team during the opening night brainstorming session.
a person is interviewed and filmed
Graphic design sophomore Ethan Rujak is interviewed by the Video Team.
people stand and talk to each other in a room
Workshop coaches (from left): Amanda McCoy Best, G Williams and Scott McNanny chat during the brainstorming session.
two people look at their laptop computers
An Immersive Team member works with visual communications assistant professor Jason Webb on an interactive version of a cardinal that is integral to the Baldwin Fund brand.
two people look at a laptop computer
Students review design work during the workshop.
four people give a presentation to a room
UI/UX Team members present a website prototype during a client presentation.
5 people sit and look at something on a laptop
Print Team members review design mockups during the second day of the workshop.
a hand points to an image on a laptop screen
An iteration of the logo concept for The Baldwin Fund.
two people sit and watch a screen
Visual communications adjunct professor Claudia Strong (left) and The Baldwin Fund executive director Elizabeth Baldwin (right) watch design prototypes during the client presentation.
a person looks at images on a wall
Alex Ryberg Gonzalez reviews the product design concepts for The Baldwin Fund prior to the final client presentation.
a large group of people stand on a staircase and pose for a photo
Pixels & Print faculty and students pose for an official group photo in Newhouse 3.

All photos by:

Kelsey Leary
Jess Van
Sadie Jones
Molly Mellinger
Sise Deng
Cassandra Roshu

Student, University Volunteers Build 44 Beds for Community Children in Need

The number 44 holds a special significance on the Syracuse University campus, and in true University fashion, 44 children in the City of Syracuse will soon receive new beds and bedding—some for the first time—through a project that has touched the hearts and hands of several dozen University students, staff and organizational volunteers.

SHP-Syracuse volunteers Dave Hoalcraft, left, a retired University employee and Jeff Pitt, right, a current employee, worked with SUVO president and student Claire Ceccoli to lead the project.

The 108 volunteers gathered on Feb. 23 at Skybarn on South Campus for a three-hour workshop to sand, drill and assemble wooden bunk beds. The group included 86 University students, 11 staff, faculty and retirees, plus 11 other members of the Syracuse chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP).

SHP, whose mantra is “No Kid Sleeps on the Floor in Our Town,” is one of 270 chapters nationwide. The organization’s mission is to build and deliver new beds and bedding to children who may have been sleeping on a couch or the floor, and who, in many cases, have never had a bed of their own.

The Syracuse SHP group has partnered with the Shaw Center for Public and Community Service—the University’s hub for academic community engagement—for several years. Though the chapter has built and delivered 4,564 beds to Syracuse-area children since it began in 2018, 870 kids are still on the waitlist. SHP leaders say 76% of the beds built here will go to children who live within two miles of campus.

Friday’s event was organized by Syracuse University Volunteer Organization (SUVO) president Claire Ceccoli ’25, a dual public relations and psychology major from Norwalk, Ohio. She says this is the first time in a decade that SUVO has initiated a large-scale volunteer project, and it’s one that seemed to resonate with everyone who heard about it.

Forever Orange: Matt Brodsky Explores Intersection of AI and Graphic Design 

Matt Brodsky is fascinated by questions about how generative artificial intelligence can be used to foster his creativity as a graphic designer. 

How can responsible use of AI provide visual examples that spark new ideas? How can AI be used to turn a static website design into a fully working digital product?  

Matt Brodsky (Photo by Genaro C. Armas)

Brodsky’s talents have been recognized by Graphic Design USA, which named him a 2023 Student to Watch. In fall 2022 during his senior year at the Newhouse School, three of his digital portraits celebrating sneaker culture were displayed at the Sneaker House art installation in Detroit.  

But, after graduating from Newhouse in May with a bachelor’s degree in visual communications in the graphic design track, Brodsky thought he had much more to learn about the role of AI in his field. He didn’t go far.  

Brodsky enrolled in the advanced media management master’s program at Newhouse in fall 2023, opting to continue studying the emerging technology with Adam Peruta, the program director and associate professor of magazine, news and digital journalism. Peruta also served as a mentor to Brodsky as an undergraduate.  

“I thought there were really big shifts happening in the world and, quite frankly, if I wasn’t going to pursue a master’s degree now, I would have to do it later anyway,” Brodsky said.  

But developments in AI can emerge quickly. And Brodsky feels he and others like him who are part of Generation Z (classified generally as those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s) bear an urgent responsibility to lead the way in the responsible use of AI and other emerging technologies. 

“We’re a generation that was old enough where we still had to learn to write with pen and paper, and learned reasoning, critical thinking and other real skills that the generations before us had to learn,” Brodsky said. “But we’re young enough to adapt to this generative AI transformation.”  

Two people stand together with a framed photograph between them
Brodsky and Adam Peruta (right) stand with one of Brodsky’s digital portraits celebrating sneaker culture. (Photo by Genaro C. Armas)

Brodsky was also eligible for a Forever Orange Scholarship, which provides half the tuition for students who enroll full-time in a qualifying graduate degree or certificate program at Syracuse University. The scholarship is automatically available to graduating seniors who are eligible for admission and commit to attend graduate school immediately after graduation. 

Brodsky’s interest in graphic design started while growing up in Chicago, where sneaker culture is strong because of NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. He started making sneaker art in high school, eventually creating an independent study project making sneaker portraits and creating art on commission for family and friends. 

His passion for graphic design has expanded as he learned more about visual media and different ways to incorporate emerging technology into his skillset. 

Brodsky is grateful for how Newhouse faculty members like Peruta, Reneé Stevens and Ken Harper fostered his creativity and encouraged him to explore. He credits the interdisciplinary focus of Newhouse’s visual communications program with honing his storytelling skills through design.  

“Matt’s approach to integrating AI with graphic design is not only innovative but it’s also reshaping how we think about creativity in the digital age,” said Peruta. “His ability to harness AI to enhance and expand his graphic design talents has set a new bar for what is possible, making him a standout student here at Newhouse.”  

Now, Brodsky still gets to interact with his mentors, especially Peruta, as an advanced media management master’s student. The Fall 2023 semester included an internship as an AI and design specialist at Get Real XR, which describes itself as a company that leads businesses into the metaverse.   

a person sitting looking at a laptop computer
“We’re young enough to adapt to this generative AI transformation,” Brodsky said of his generation. (Photo by Genaro C. Armas)

Brodsky arrived at Get Real XR just as key members of the company’s marketing department had left. Drawing in part from what he was learning at Newhouse about emerging technologies, Brodsky said he helped the company fill some of the responsibilities left uncovered by the departures, while also contributing new AI-driven marketing content. 

“My background in graphic design has been really helpful in testing generative AI,” he said. “If you don’t get the response you want (from an AI platform,) you go back and tweak. It’s kind of a similar process to design.”  

He plans to continue working with Get Real XR and the AI framework he created to produce content in the spring. At Newhouse, he’s excited about taking a course on launching digital media ventures with Sean Branagan, executive director of the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship at Newhouse.  

Brodsky is also curious about issues around copyright and generative AI, including questions such as whether he can copyright AI-generated artwork if he trains an AI model to produce designs or artwork based only on his style and previous work.  

“Why can’t I set that precedent,” Brodsky asked. “It’s something that I’m looking forward to try to achieve in the future.”  

Newhouse Students Honored in Berlin Indie Film Festival, White House Eyes of History Contest

Alexandra Siambekos ’23 won the Best First Time Director, Documentary award in January in the Berlin Indie Film Festival’s monthly competition. She won for her documentary film “The Keepers of Manari,” which served as Siambekos’s honors thesis while she was a television, radio and film student at Newhouse. 

Alexandra Siambekos filming “The Keepers of Manari” in Arcadia, Greece. (Photo courtesy of Alexandra Siambekos)

Eyes of History

Four Newhouse students earned accolades in this year’s Eyes of History contest—sponsored by The White House News Photographers Association—including three wins for broadcast and digital journalism (BDJ) senior Nicole Aponte and a First Place honor for BDJ senior John Perik. This contest is held annually to select the best in visual journalism across still, video and multimedia disciplines, with a division exclusively for students.

Winners will be recognized later this spring at the Eyes of History Gala.

TOP HONORS
Runner-Up – Nicole Aponte
View gallery

GENERAL NEWS OR FEATURE: NARRATION
First Place – John Perik
Second Place – Nicole Aponte
Third Place – Nicole Aponte
View gallery

LONG FORM FEATURE
Second Place – Collin Bell
Third Place – Murphy McFarlane
View gallery

Newhouse Students Win 25 Awards at BEA Festival of Media Arts

Newhouse School students and their projects had a phenomenal showing at the 2024 Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts with 25 awards, including a Best of Festival honor for the The NewsHouse‘s “Infodemic” reporting project and five First Place wins. Among the awards were also honors in the Screenwriting, Animation and Esports Coverage categories.

BEA will recognize the students again April 13-16 during the BEA2024 Convention in Las Vegas.

Awards:

Best of Festival, Student Interactive Media and Emerging Technologies: “Infodemic” by The Infodemic Staff (Also, First Place Website category)

Multimedia Storytelling, First Place: “Phone scammers wreak havoc on Americans and their wallets” by Alejandro Rosales, Sarah Dolgin, Emily Baird and Matthew Brodsky

Video Sports Story/Feature (long), First Place (tie): “SyraCruz” by Will Birks

Video Sports News Program, First Place: “Syracuse Women’s Basketball Vs. Northeastern University – ACCN Pre-Game Show” by Audrey Glynn

     Second Place: “Syracuse Men’s Basketball vs. Daemen Postgame Show” by Stella Balaskas

     Award of Excellence: On The Bench — April 11, 2023” by Ryan Bridges, Cameron Ezeir and Nick Zelaya

Graduate Interactive Media and Emerging Technologies, First Place: 44 Films Mobile App by Jake Sala

Graduate – Audio, Third Place: “Water Towers (The Color of Her Eyes)” by Mikey Alessie

Graduate – Documentary, Award of Excellence: Bets on a Burning Farm” by Collin Bell

Graduate – Film and Video, Second Place: “Beautiful Daze by Francs” by Timothy Lamar Cato III

Micro-Documentary, Third Place: Sentient Incentive” by Murphy McFarlane

     Award of Excellence: “Primavera Negra: Black Spring” by Jorge Rosales

Animation, Third Place (tie): “Time Capsule” by Jesse Monford

     Award of Excellence: “Echoes in the Sand” by Miles Isgrig

Film and Video – Narrative, Award of Excellence: “The Hunter” by Tim Rose, James McConnell, Daisy Leepson and Kenneth Barrist

Radio Features, Third Place: Phone scammers wreak havoc on Americans and their wallets” by Alejandro Rosales (WAER/Infodemic)

Television Newscast (Less than 3 Days a Week), Second Place (tie): CitrusTV: Market Shares — November 10, 2023” by Jake Morel, Sean Dempsey, Peter Elliott and Bradley Hoppenstein

Television Newscast (4/5 Days a Week),  Second Place: CitrusTV News Live at 6 — April 21, 2023” by Josh Meyers, Teagan Brown and Jake Morel

Television Short Feature, Third Place: “Preaching Pride to the Choirby Nicole Aponte (NCC News)

Television Long Feature, Award of Excellence: Miraculous Marathon Meg” by John Perik (NCC News)

Television Hard News, Award of Excellence: “Syracuse Reacts to Controversial Speaker” by Nicole Aponte (CitrusTV)

Scriptwriting – Narrative Feature, Third Place: “Dance Dads” by Samantha DeNaro

Audio/Video Sports Event: Play by Play Talent, Award of Excellence: “Syracuse Crunch vs. Hershey Bears: AHL Hockey” by Jared Johnston

Esports Coverage, Third Place: Worlds Quarterfinals, NiKo Returns to G2 and Valorant Challengers Announced | The eSports Juice Box” by Hayden Kim and James Wu

 

Data Journalism Project Launches, Focuses on Impact of Police Vehicle Accidents in NY

Photo illustration of a crash involving a police car
Photo illustration by Peter Pietrangelo/USA TODAY Network

Police vehicle accidents and the impact such crashes have had on communities across New York State are the focus of a new data journalism project involving Newhouse School students working in partnership with reporters from the USA Today Network and Central Current.

The first two stories from the “Driving Force” investigative series were published last week on The NewsHouse, the result of exhaustive reporting that began in June 2023. The initial stories looked at Syracuse police crashes and emergency driver training for officers in New York State, with more articles set to be published over the next few months.

At Newhouse, the project was led by Jodi Upton, Knight Chair in Data and Explanatory Journalism, and Nausheen Husain, assistant professor of magazine, news and digital journalism. Students in three of Upton’s data journalism classes read hundreds of pages of documents, pulling out details such as the type of conduct, date, officer involved and the resulting discipline in a process called “data tagging.” 

The Driving Force reporting team meets at the Newhouse School in September 2023. (Photo by William Ramsey/USA Today Network)

The exercise helped the students to grasp the importance of how government PDFs can be converted into data for analysis, Upton and Husain said. The team went through the records, court papers and other state and police documents to locate individuals who were injured or killed in police vehicle accidents.

Overall, the reporting collaboration now includes 35,000 records from 115 departments ranging from those in large urban areas to village departments with only a handful of officers.

Upton and Husain said the partnership is building a public-facing police vehicle crash database. It plans to hold workshops to help the public and other journalists inspect local police department documents and understand the impact police vehicle crashes have had on communities. 

The investigation was supported with funding from the Data-Driven Reporting Project. That project is funded by the Google News Initiative in partnership with Northwestern University-Medill.

Student Spotlight: Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sophia Simons

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (MC2) Sophia Simons is a student in the Newhouse School’s advanced military visual journalism program and an active-duty service member in the United States Navy. Simons, who is studying advanced photojournalism, joined the 10-month program to learn the civilian side of photojournalism and receive an education from some of the top experts in the industry. During her time at Newhouse, she’s completing coursework in not just photography, but sound, communications, multimedia storytelling, writing and design.

Why did you want to be a part of the advanced military visual journalism program at Newhouse?

MC2 Sophia Simons plays with children while documenting a women’s shelter in Cartagena, Colombia in November 2022. (Photo courtesy of Sophia Simons)

For me personally, I wanted to join the program so I could learn the civilian side of photojournalism, receive education from some of the top minds in our field and to gain experience and knowledge from my peers across the different branches. To be frank, I was simply looking for the opportunity to learn and grow in my field.

What have you been surprised to learn while in the program?

I was surprised to find how similar the world of photography is to that of the Navy. While you can be an amazing photographer, the connections you make are arguably more important to telling people’s stories. In the military, making connections is akin to currency and the ability to forge strong connections can give you greater access to telling people’s stories.

Why is visual journalism important to you?

Visual journalism is important to me because I believe each person’s story deserves to be told. We are all held subject to death one day and frankly it’s the stories we tell of each other that transcend death. Adding a visual aspect to the telling of the story allows the viewer to create a stronger emotional tie, to connect on a deeper level and truly see the story.  

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd class Sophia Simons (far right) poses for a photo with three individuals from the Honduran army while visiting a Red Cross in San Pedro Sula, Honduras in November 2022. (Photo courtesy of Sophia Simons)

You get to complete a lot of photography projects in the MVJ program. What are some of your favorite subjects to photograph?

In the military, we do not have a lot of access to studio photography on a regular basis so many of my favorite subjects to photograph have been people in a controlled environment. But I find that uncontrolled action and emotion shots are still my favorite, as I think they speak more deeply to a person’s story.

One of the most prominent buildings on Syracuse University’s campus, Crouse College, was built in 1888. (Photo by MC2 Sophia Simons)

Once you’ve returned to your military position after the program, how do you envision using the skills you’ve gained at Newhouse? 

When I return to the military, I intend to teach my junior Sailors what I have learned here so that we can improve our craft across the fleet. I also wish to use the skills to one day join the Blue Angels.

What do you hope to do in the future?

When it comes to my future, my main goal it to be able to help people, wherever that may be and in whatever capacity. I wish to make it to a Chief in the Navy and I am striving to create a better future for those that come after me.