- Posted in All University
- Category: Campus News
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA – Lincoln University, the first historically black university, was invited to CBS studios in New York to view a live production of the Evening News with Katie Couric on Friday, March 12, 2010.
Heather Tesoriero, Evening News medical producer, coordinated the University visit. Tesoriero was first introduced to the Mass Communications program and its impressive students in December when she was sent to cover the University’s innovative approach to combating obesity.
“I noticed that these students have so much potential to make it in this industry,” said Tesoriero.
Tesoriero scheduled 20-minute speaking segments, which allowed for ten of the University’s students studying under the Mass Communications Center of Excellence to engage in detailed dialogue with the show’s producers, directors and correspondent.
The speakers included: Kim Godwin, senior producer of domestic coverage for the Evening News; Ramone Parkins, producer of Sunday Morning; Katie Curcio, CBS internship coordinator; and Dr. Jon LaPook, medical correspondent for the Evening News.
The conversations revolved around the demands of the industry, the core principles required to succeed and the moral and ethical obligations attached to being a journalist.
“It’s all about what makes you tick, ” said Godwin. “The business is getting smaller now, so you have to be able to do it all.”
“No is where the negotiation begins,” said Parkins. “Don’t let anything stop you.”
“You have an ethical obligation, ” said Dr. LaPook. “You’re answering to what is right.”
After the speaking arrangement, Lincoln University was toured around the set of Black Entertainment Television’s headlining show 106 & Park, and NBC’s new hit show The Marriage Ref, both of which are taped in CBS’s New York studios.
The students explored different aspects of pre-production by interacting with graphic designer David Rosen, who illustrated the process of creating animation for the show – which was due to air in less than two hours.
“It was a mind-blowing experience to see the level of skill that these professionals possessed, “said junior print journalism major, Nicole Lockley. “It was humbling to know that Lincoln offers us a curriculum to be equally as knowledgeable.”
Thereafter, the students were directed to the editing suite to observe the tedious task of combining each feature into a final package for the news rundown.
“I was very impressed with the diligence the CBS crew had in perfecting each piece,” said senior broadcast journalism major, Whitney Hughley. “One would think it would not take that much. I completely underestimated the power of production. “
Following a long day of discussion, touring, and observing, the students were able to put everything into context as they watched the 30-minute live production of the Evening News from inside the main control room.
“It was very informative and inspirational,” said senior broadcast journalism major, Jason Dailey. “It gave me great insight into what I would like to do upon graduation. Seeing everyone execute in their element showed how complex it is to make a masterpiece seem easy.”
“Channeling students to the appropriate outlets for personal and professional development is the added value Lincoln University offers in its education,” said Executive Vice President Michael Hill. “We continually expose our students to top-notch programs and organizations, such as CBS, to better equip them for the global market.”
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Lincoln University – founded in 1854 as the nation’s first Historically Black University – combines the best elements of a liberal arts and sciences-based undergraduate core curriculum and selected graduate programs to meet the needs of those living in a highly technological and global society. The University enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students.
Internationally recognized for preparing learners and producing world-class leaders in their fields, Lincoln has created five academic Centers of Excellence-programs of distinctions. They are: Lincoln-Barnes Visual Arts, Grand Research Educational Awareness and Training (GREAT) for Minority Health, Mass Communications, Teacher Education and Urban Pedagogy and Business and Information Technology.