A class of Tufts students got to sit in Tom Brokaw's seat - or at least get the same advice as Brokaw.
Neal Shapiro (LA '81), the former president of NBC News and the former executive producer of "Dateline" came back to campus Thursday to speak with Professor Roberta Oster-Sachs' Ex College class, Producing Films for Social Change.
Students in the class are required to make their own documentaries, and Shapiro gave them some advice.
"I need the emotional issues," Shapiro told a group of students making a film on immigrants in American higher education.
The film should show the "real political and philosophical issues," Shapiro said.
He was comfortable in the class and candid in giving students suggestions. For the film on immigrants, Shapiro recommended the students use shadows to represent the metaphorical shadows in which illegal immigrants live.
The film should "speak for people who can't speak for themselves," Shapiro said.
Oster-Sachs hosted New England Cable News journalist Margie Reedy on Tuesday. Reedy talked to students about objectivity and bias in reporting. "As a faculty member, I feel very lucky to have Tufts alums with such extraordinary work experience give their time and meet with my students," Oster-Sachs said.
Another group of students is making a documentary on the Somali Bantu population in the United States. Shapiro recommended the film focus on the Bantus' long-term prospects.
"We don't want to create more of an underclass," Shapiro said. "I care that their kids are going to grow up and be successful in society."
He cautioned students, though, to distance themselves from the people in their films. "You tend to fall in love with your character," he said.
The group's students described the time they spent interviewing Somali Bantus. Sophomore Antuan Johnson explained the culture's communal eating habits. Food was served in a large bowl in the middle of the floor, and people ate with their hands. "I ate it!" Johnson said. "I did the hand thing."
Shapiro received the University's Light on the Hill alumni award in 2002. He resigned unexpectedly from the NBC presidency Sept. 9 this year.
He helped a group doing a film on biodeisel fuel create an interesting opening for the film. "Everybody hates high gas prices," Shapiro said.
The last group's film is about Melanie's Law - a proposal to make the Massachusetts drunk driving statutes stricter. The law is named for Melanie Powell, a girl killed by a drunk driver in 2003 when she was 13 years old.
Shapiro said viewers will "want to feel the passion," and he made suggestions on how the story could be presented.
Shapiro had to leave the class early to meet with David Burke (LA '57), the former president of CBS News and executive vice president of ABC News. Shapiro worked for Burke as an intern as part of group of Tufts interns later called "The Burkettes."
Burke is looking to create a permanent internship program through Tufts.
