A new joint initiative with Hearst Television’s WMUR will provide Saint Anselm College students and graduates with opportunities to learn about multimedia journalism and the wide-ranging job skills that will benefit future career prospects in many fields.
The collaboration was announced to students and the college community on Thurs., Nov. 19 during a panel discussion and lunch at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.
“This joint initiative expands on the already deep relationship between WMUR and Saint Anselm College, building on the years of student internships and fellowships, as well as the many civic and political events at the NHIOP,” said Communication Professor Jonathan Lupo, Ph.D. “WMUR shares our commitment to cultivating student success in the liberal arts and engaging the community.”
The event offered Saint Anselm College students a front row seat to the inner workings of WMUR from President and General Manager Alisha McDevitt and Saint Anselm alumni and current WMUR news producers Meg Query ’24 and Zach Smith ’22. The trio, joined by additional WMUR staff, discussed newsgathering and storytelling in today’s era of multiplatform journalism, and most important to their work: accuracy.
“In order to have trust, you have to get it right,” emphasized McDevitt.
The discussion explored the exciting, fast-paced world of journalism, demonstrating to students the various career opportunities in the field. McDevitt stressed that any major could go into journalism and WMUR is eager to work with talented Saint Anselm students with a variety of backgrounds including business, history and politics.
“The major doesn’t matter, we have people in our newsroom who were business majors, politics, history. Communications major is great too,” said McDevitt. “We’re looking for people who are engaged and articulate, can write, those types of skills; and I know Saint Anselm students can write.”
Communication Professor Jonathan Lupo, Ph.D., reiterated the College’s role in preparing students. “We have a lot of students with enthusiasm, skills, the knowledge, the best part of the liberal arts have positioned you really well to be able to play a role in making the news,” said Lupo.
Saint Anselm and WMUR have worked closely together for many years, with interns coming from the College and often leading to employment opportunities in the newsroom. Highlighting the new collaboration, Professor Lupo said this growing relationship with WMUR will include studio visits, guest lectures, internships, additional collaborations in and out of the classroom as well as upcoming academic programs in journalism.
McDevitt urged students to take advantage of opportunities, raise their hand, and get involved. She pointed to College alumni Query and Smith as examples, who were hired following internships and were quickly promoted during their time at the news station.
“WMUR has done an incredible job of developing young people,” said Max Latona, the College’s Director of Partnerships, who helped develop the new relationship.
“Trusted voices in NH; that’s what this collaboration is all about,” said Executive Director of the NHIOP Neil Levesque. “We have had a great relationship with WMUR for a long time. And the good thing about that is that our students get to experience the detail of the real profession of journalism and that’s more important now than ever.”
