Date: Dec 10, 2007

High School Students Gain Insight Into the World of Journalism

Working Journalists to Lead Career Workshops

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Metropolitan area high school students will learn the ins and outs of journalism from some of today’s top working news professionals, including Pulitzer Prize winner Walt Handelsman, at Student Press Day on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Sondra and David S. Mack Student Center Theater, north campus. The event is sponsored by Hofstra University’s School of Communication and the Press Club of Long Island Society of Professional Journalists.

Student Press Day is a one-day seminar which explores a variety of journalism careers through presentations led by working professionals. The sessions explore Online Journalism, Entertainment & Celebrities, Photojournalism, Interviewing, Opinion, Sports writing, Broadcast, and Radio and are presented by journalists from Newsday, WABC, the New York Post, MLB Radio, WCBS and Playbill Books/Playbill Broadcast.

The goal of this program, according to Program Director and Associate Professor of Journalism Carol Fletcher, is to enlighten students about journalism professions and provide them with the opportunity to network with some working professionals. “Some of these students might be looking at journalism as a career path or, in the short term, a major for their studies,” said Professor Fletcher. “This program will allow students to make those decisions with the knowledge of what the working journalism world is truly like.”

The seminar will begin with breakfast and a keynote address from Hofstra alumnus John Discepolo, morning sports anchor for CBS 2 News This Morning.  During his tenure in New York, Mr. Discepolo has covered everything from the World Series to the Stanley Cup Finals. Prior to his move to CBS News, he was the main sports anchor for WNYW Fox 5 for five years. While at Hofstra, Mr. Discepolo was a kicker and punter for the Pride football team alongside former New York Jets player Wayne Chrebet.

Hofstra University provides a dynamic college experience tailored for innately ambitious, outcome-oriented individuals. The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic, energetic and committed to helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.