New multimedia additions expand journalism programs

In 2020, the Department of Journalism in the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University will be adding new features intended to better involve journalism students through hands-on work in the field.

Starting in the upcoming spring and fall semesters, new classes will be introduced as part of the two new specializations added to the graduate program.

The first is the sports and entertainment specialization, covering the entertainment industry and its production. The other, community and investigative journalism, will focus on local stories and reporting around Long Island.

Once finalized, the specializations will allow students to apply the skills accumulated throughout their undergraduate studies to better prepare for their intended career paths.

“I believe my interests do line up with the specialization I chose and the coursework I am doing currently at Hofstra,” said Kristan Bravo, a second-year graduate journalism major specializing in sports.

“I am grateful to be able to be a part of a school and program that offers a specialization in sports,” said Jordan Stoopler, a second-year graduate journalism major also specializing in sports.

“We are currently looking at a number of ways to upgrade and improve the program,” said Christopher Vaccaro, adjunct assistant professor of journalism, media studies and public relations, co-director of graduate journalism studies and the director of the new specializations.

The other change coming to the Herbert School is The Long Island Advocate, a website and multimedia news platform that launches in 2020. The Advocate is replacing an older project called the Long Island Report, the original news site of the Herbert School.

The Report shut down because of the breaks between semesters, creating an inconsistent flow of content. The Advocate, however, is more inclusive and up to date, which will encourage stronger student interaction.

The goal of the Advocate is to allow journalism students to have a platform to cover environmental topics, business and other events happening in and around the community of Long Island.

The Long Island Advocate is intended mostly for journalism students, but because it is a multimedia platform, it also encourages participation from radio, television and film majors who can incorporate photography, video and radio elements into the storytelling.

The relaunch is currently being coordinated by Scott Brinton, adjunct associate professor of journalism, media studies and public relations and the executive editor of the Long Island Herald.

The Long Island Advocate will allow students to showcase their best work while applying skills to a professional environment, with the aim to not only reach Hofstra students, but also to act as a genuine news outlet for the local audience on Long Island.

“The stories are relatable for those in the local community. The layout of the website itself is super user-friendly. I like the inclusion of how long the author estimates the article will take the reader to read; very useful feature,” said Analise Beres, a sophomore journalism major.

“We hope that it's going to have an impact, not only relevant to students interested in local journalism, but also the audience of local areas neighboring Hofstra,” said professor Mario Murillo, assistant dean of the Herbert School.