The countdown begins as you rush around the news room, giving orders and pulling together last-minute leads for your late-breaking story. Three, two, one - and you're on the air, delivering calm, accurate news to the public, a rising star in broadcast journalism. And then you snap out of it.
Such fantasies of media prominence could become more than just pipe dreams, thanks to an extensive network of Tufts alumni in media-related fields. These grads maintain contact with the University, and are often anxious to help their ambitious young counterparts. Whether your interests lie in television, newspaper, radio, film, or advertising, there is bound to be an alumnus who can open the door for you - or at least let you get a foot in.
According to director of the Communications and Media Studies program Susan Eisenhauer, Tufts has well over 1,000 "media alums," including such prominent figures as New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., and "The View" host Meredith Vieira. Many of the media alumni are right here in the Boston area, making it easy for them to maintain contact with current Tufts students through internships or by speaking on campus. Several other media alums are located in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.
"There are many ways we benefit from our alumni," Eisenhauer said, citing networking, winternships, internships, mentoring, and funding as the most common examples.
Neil Shapiro, NBC News president and Tufts alumnus, is one example of an alum who has helped Jumbos find employment in the media industry. He is currently chairman of the Communications and Media Studies Alumni Advisory Board, and before becoming president of NBC News, Shapiro worked at Dateline where he often gave students internship opportunities.
Shapiro has also hired recent Tufts graduates, and has spoken on campus about media-related issues.
"He is a wonderful resource for students," Eisenhauer said.
Another well-known Tufts alumnus who works with media-savvy Tufts students is Anthony Everett (LA '78), a news anchor on Boston's ABC affiliate station, Channel 5. While at Tufts, Everett was a double major in English and Philosophy with a concentration in pre-law. He was accepted to Boston College Law School but decided not to attend once his broadcasting career skyrocketed.
"I feel the solid liberal arts background I received at Tufts has helped me bring depth and perspective to my writing and reporting over the years," Everett said.
On the Hill, Everett gained experience in journalism after working for the Daily as a reporter, editor, and finally, editor-in-chief. He was also on the Tufts soccer team for each of his four years as an undergraduate.
"I was fortunate to receive a terrific education and was able to participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities," Everett said. "That combination is what I look back on most fondly."
Everett does not usually recommend that students major in communications at the undergraduate level, because he feels they can receive a more general liberal arts education and then study journalism more specifically at a graduate level or professional level.
"My broadcast career honestly developed through on-the-job training and a lot of perseverance," Everett said.
Steven Labitan, Washington correspondent at the New York Times and Tufts alumnus (LA '83), is another graduate with a desire to use his position to help current students. Labitan has repeatedly come back to Tufts to speak about different aspects of journalism and reporting. As a student at Tufts, Labitan reported for The Observer.
"I spent a lot of long nights putting out the paper," Labitan said. "I think it was an invaluable experience."
While Labitan said there are many different ways to become a journalist, he believes working for the school paper is a good place to start. He also emphasized the importance of a broad liberal arts education in providing some general background for a reporter.
Tufts alumus and Sunday Boston Globe metro editor Neil Swidey (LA' 91), also commented on the benefits of his liberal arts education, during which he was editor-in-chief of The Observer.
"Tufts allowed me to get a strong, well-rounded education in the classroom, on campus, and through the student media," Swidey said. "It was a terrific experience."
Swidey has also remained in touch with Tufts through the Communications and Media Studies program. "I've been back to talk to students a couple of times, and at several of the papers where I've worked," Swidey said. "I have tried to open up internship opportunities to Tufts students."
While it can often be difficult to edge into any of the media fields, with the help of Tufts alumni, the search for work experience is often made less daunting for students.
"The broadcast field is very competitive - jobs are hard to find," Everett said. "But there is always a place for talent. Perseverance does pay off, and if you have and develop your broadcasting skills, you can have a good career in an interesting industry."
