Date: Aug 24, 2012

Hofstra Students To Report from GOP and Democratic National Conventions

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY -- WRHU Radio Hofstra University continues its award-winning news programming with student journalists on site at the upcoming Republican and Democratic presidential conventions -- part of Hofstra’s Debate 2012: Pride, Politics and Policy initiative, a slate of educational programs and events leading up to the university hosting the second presidential debate in the fall.

Six students from the School of Communication will attend the conventions as members of the credentialed media, working alongside some of the most renowned journalists in the world from such major media outlets as ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel, The New York Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.

WRHU students will produce long form and short form reports and interviews, which will air on WRHU 88.7 FM and WRHU.org.  Reports from the conventions will air on WRHU 88.7 FM weekday mornings from 7:00 am to 9:00 am during Hofstra Morning Wake Up Call, weekday afternoons from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm during Newsline, and weeknights at 8:00 pm during special convention programming.

“This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will provide our student journalists with up-close exposure to the political process, the ability to network with professionals in their field, and experiences that will help prepare them for their future careers,” says School of Communication Dean Evan W. Cornog. “We appreciate the support provided by members of the WRHU professional staff who will ensure that these students have memorable learning experiences while in Tampa and Charlotte.”

The students attending the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida from August 27-30, 2012 are:

• Christine Neumann, WRHU FM Station Manager/Reporter and senior broadcast journalism major from Kempton, PA
• Shannan Ferry, WHRU FM Assistant News Director/Reporter and junior broadcast journalism major / political science minor from Little Neck, NY
• Mark Prussin, WRHU Producer/Reporter and junior broadcast journalism major from Orange, CT

The students attending the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina from September 3 - 6, 2012 are:

• Bill Goodenough, WRHU FM News Director/Reporter and senior audio/radio major from Mamaroneck, NY
• Dennis Foley, WRHU FM Producer/Reporter and senior broadcast journalism major from Keene, NH
• Julian Coltre, WRHU FM Producer/Reporter and sophomore broadcast journalism major from Moorestown, NJ

“I am looking forward to representing Hofstra at this historic event,” said junior broadcast journalism major Shannan Ferry, who will be at the Republican Convention. Senior Bill Goodenough, WRHU’s News Director who hopes to work as a TV or radio reporter after graduation, noted, “I am absolutely thrilled to have this amazing opportunity to work alongside some of the finest journalists in the world"

During the 2008 election cycle, when Hofstra hosted a presidential debate between President Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, WRHU sent student reporters to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions where they interviewed many national political newsmakers including Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty and Chuck Schumer. After graduation, those students went on to careers with major TV and news radio outlets across the country, noted John Mullen, WRHU Operations Manager.

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Located just outside of New York City, the media capital of the world, the School of Communication at Hofstra University provides students with a superior education and real-world experience that prepare them to meet the challenges of the 21st century job market. The School of Communication offers undergraduate and graduate coursework in multimedia journalism, media studies and public relations; radio, television and film production; and speech communication, rhetoric and performance studies, taught by an award-winning faculty. The school is also home to WRHU 88.7 FM Radio Hofstra University, the flagship station of the New York Islanders, and state-of-the-art resources such as NewsHub, an innovative multimedia classroom and newsroom, and Studio A, the largest non-commercial film and television soundstage on Long Island, as well as cutting-edge control rooms, editing facilities and a new screening room. Students come from across the United States and abroad, and an active network of accomplished alumni are shaping the future of the communications industry. For more information, visit www.hofstra.edu/soc.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution of higher education where more than 11,000 full and part-time students choose from undergraduate and graduate offerings in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education, health and human services, honors studies, a School of Engineering and Applied Science, a School of Law and the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine.

Related Link: Debate 2012: Pride, Politics & Policy