Professor Spotlight: Nicole Clarity Finally home

Photo Courtesy of Hofstra University

The field of journalism can seem like an intimidating, near-impossible wall to climb with the consecutive deadlines, taxing workload and the underlying need to be the first to break a story. Nicole Clarity, a professor in journalism, public relations and media studies, challenges that menacing narrative with her perspective. 

Clarity was born in East Meadow, Long Island, no stranger to Hofstra University; she’d set her eyes on the school before graduation and familiarized herself with the campus and its programs.

“I grew up on one side of Hofstra, and then I went to Hofstra. And now, I teach at Hofstra,” Clarity remarked. Paralleling her college decision, Clarity had no wavering thoughts as to what her profession would be.

As far back as middle school, Clarity recalls receiving numerous compliments from various teachers and classmates for her writing abilities. It soon became apparent that journalism was an ideal career choice to strive toward. 

“Everyone was always telling me what a good writer I was, and it always seemed to be something I was good at and liked to do; for example, creative writing,” Clarity said. “That sort of led into a love for journalism and writing in that sense.”

Clarity was soon enveloped in the world of media. She worked at an array of stations, varying from small local news to international networks such as Al Jazeera America.

During her time there, however, Clarity was no stranger to insecurity. She vividly remembers feelings of inadequacy when working alongside her peers, as if her own efforts were not good enough.

“I was working with people on a higher scale than I’ve ever worked with before,” Clarity said. “I'd always get these little nerves, like, ‘What if I don’t know how to do the job right or as good as anybody else?’ But,” she remarked on an uplifting note, “once I actually began my job, it was through those basic skills that I learned that I realized I know how to do this!”

Clarity’s journey from journalist to journalism professor first ignited when she discovered how strongly appreciation from others could inspire her. She reminisced about her time at Al Jazeera America, and how even the smallest compliment could lead her to appreciate her work all the more. 

“Sometimes, in the news business, because it’s so fast-paced, people don’t always stop and congratulate you for a job well done,” Clarity said. “So, when people do, and you’ve gone through most of your career and people haven’t been doing that, it’s nice.”

Despite the cut-throat environment, one may imagine a station to be, Clarity paints another picture entirely.

“At places like News 12, where it’s smaller and with a lot of people, you get a different combination of people: those who’ve been there since it’s started and in the thread of what News 12 is, and then you have people coming in out of college, and first and second jobs,” Clarity explained. “You have kind of a family atmosphere. The people with more experience are almost like parents to you, and [are] sort of guiding you into becoming a better journalist.”

This experience isn’t tied to one station alone. Clarity has gone from network to network, fearful of potential animosity, yet always greeted with the same warm atmosphere.

“It’s like you become little families with the people you work with,” Clarity said. “Because you work such crazy hours sometimes. I’ve worked a lot of overnight shifts, so when you go to work at four o’clock in the morning, midnight, two o’clock in the morning and everyone’s dragging it at the same time as you ... those are the people who become your family members.”