{"id":1133,"date":"2014-11-19T13:32:59","date_gmt":"2014-11-19T18:32:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/?p=1133"},"modified":"2014-11-20T13:15:52","modified_gmt":"2014-11-20T18:15:52","slug":"how-a-com-grad-student-made-the-2014-midterm-elections-her-professional-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/2014\/11\/19\/how-a-com-grad-student-made-the-2014-midterm-elections-her-professional-project\/","title":{"rendered":"How a COM grad student made the 2014 midterm elections her professional project"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Gina Kim<\/strong><\/a>
\nMS Journalism ’16<\/a>
\nBU College of Communication<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

One of the greatest components to Boston University College of Communication\u2019s Journalism graduate program is the professional project. When I say \u201cgreatest,\u201d I don\u2019t mean easy, fun or relaxing.\u00a0 As with anything great comes hard work, and that is exactly what the professional project showcases. After three semesters worth of classes, sleepless nights, and every ounce of blood, sweat and tears you have finally reached the end. You are now a mere shadow of what you were when you first entered grad school, and your professional project is your opportunity to show everyone else that transformation.<\/p>\n

What is a professional project? I will explain. All candidates for the MS in Journalism must submit a professional project in their final semester. Each student arranges for a faculty member to be their adviser for the project. Upon completion, students are expected to endeavor to sell or place their work with a professional news organization.<\/p>\n

Third semester Broadcast Journalism student Ashley Davis<\/a> set out to accomplish one of the most daunting tasks and most impressive professional project to date\u2014 The Midterms 2014, <\/em>a\u00a0live coverage production of this year’s midterm elections.\u00a0I shall elaborate.<\/p>\n

\"10730862_10152845177077463_4281841193526692690_n\"<\/a>
Anchor Louise Liu gets ready for The Midterms 2014.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Monday, November 5 at 6 p.m., the night before Election Day, a dress rehearsal took place. About 60 BU students (both grad and undergrad) were involved, including an impressive number of BU COM faculty and staff. Everyone had a job to do. Some were helping in the studios, a handful of students (selected by Ashley after auditioning) were anchors at the National Desk and others were scattered throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire and even D.C. to act as call-in reporters for the live production.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_0104\"
Professor Cavalieri helps students with technical operations in the production studio.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ashley went over every aspect of the entire coverage the night before and explained exactly what needed to be done. After she sent the troops on their way, she remained at COM to get ready for Tuesday, November 4. This was her professional project, and since everything was going live, there wasn\u2019t any room for mistakes, as per usual.<\/p>\n

Tuesday, November 4 came quickly. Some people were asked to report to the studios several hours before going live at 9 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the anchors prepared their cut-ins\u2014pre-made news packages (stories). These packages would air in-between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m., mixed in with some live shots, on-cam anchoring and reporters calling in from different headquarters around Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

I spent my time on COM\u2019s third floor in Room 321, where I worked with others to help Professor Susan Walker push out live content and numbers for the anchors to live report as votes came pouring in from states across the nation.<\/p>\n

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Ashley Davis directs on the set of The Midterms 2014.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a breakdown of The Midterms 2014<\/em>‘s\u00a0amazing team and their various roles:<\/p>\n

On campus at COM, in Studio East\/West:<\/b><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. First Block: Anchors Supriya Muppala and Peter Zampa<\/li>\n
  2. Second Block: Anchors Taylor Walker and Justin Shrair<\/li>\n
  3. Third Block: Anchors Mikaela Lefrak and Jamie Bologna<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    During this block, Kate Kahn \u2014 BU professor and former Senior News Producer for WHDH-TV (NBC-Boston)\u2014 served as the live\u00a0shot producer, coordinating all the live reporters.\u00a0\u00a0Andre Khatchaturian and Louise Liu\u2014 both Broadcast Journalism students at COM\u2014 were anchors at the National Desk. Lauren Westberg\u2014 Broadcast Journalism grad student\u2014 was a live reporter and interviewed Professor Groshek, Professor Carroll and Tom Fiedler\u2014the Dean of COM.<\/p>\n

    Candidate Headquarters: <\/b>Students were placed at all of the following locations in order to quickly report polling results back to BU\u2019s College of Communication.<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Steve Sisto\u2014 MA 6th Congressional District, Seth Moulton Headquarters<\/li>\n
    2. Paul Dudley\u2014MA Governor Charlie Baker Headquarters<\/li>\n
    3. Ashley Paul\u2014 MA Governor Martha Coakley\u00a0 Headquarters<\/li>\n
    4. Christina Erne\u2014The Casino<\/li>\n
    5. Hayley Crombleholme\u2014MA Senate Edward Markey Headquarters<\/li>\n
    6. Noelia Valero\u2014Washington D.C.<\/li>\n
    7. Rachel Mccubbin\u2014NH Senate Scott Brown Headquarters<\/li>\n
    8. Nikita Sampath and Rebecca Sananes\u2014NH Senate Jeanne Shaheen Headquarters<\/li>\n
    9. Keri McAlpine and Kathlene Gibbs\u2014MA 6th Congressional District, Richard Tisei Headquarters<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      COM Professors Involved:\u00a0<\/b>The following faculty and staff members stayed hours and hours after they should have gone home. Instead, they helped make sure this live-production was nothing less than exceptional. Just one more example of COM’s professors doing all they can to make their students succeed.<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. R.D. Sahl- Broadcast Journalism Professor<\/li>\n
      2. Susan Walker- Broadcast Journalism Professor<\/li>\n
      3. Christophor Cavalieri- Film & Television Professor<\/li>\n
      4. Jacob Groshek- Emerging Media Studies Professor<\/li>\n
      5. John Carroll- Mass Communication Professor<\/li>\n
      6. Kate Kahn- COM Professor<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
        \"The<\/a>
        The large production team watches live coverage at the National Desk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

        Technical Operations Team: <\/strong>Quite possibly the most important part of this production, these students and staff members worked hard to make sure everything in the studio was functioning and the coverage aired without flaw.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Jake Kassen-\u00a0Technical Operations Manager<\/li>\n
        2. Tristen Olly- Media Technician<\/li>\n
        3. Scott Lovejoy-\u00a0Digital Post Production Specialist<\/li>\n
        4. Shawn Fallon-\u00a0Media Technician<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Additionally, BU Professor Michelle Johnson<\/a> coordinated a simulcast on the Boston University News Service<\/em>‘s<\/a> website.\u00a0Professor Anne Donohue<\/a> coordinated live news updates on WTBU<\/a>,\u00a0Boston University\u2019s student-run radio station. Coverage from DC was made possible with the help of journalism faculty member, Elliot Francis<\/a>, who coordinated student packages from BU’s Study Abroad Washington Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

          \"10615342_10152845177817463_5312151630349806143_n\"<\/a>
          Anchors get ready at the National Desk.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

          The Midterms 2014<\/em> was an immense success. Ashley Davis could not have done a better job handling such a high-stress situation, nor could she have selected a better team. Ashley never lost her composure, always made time to answer questions and kept very calm throughout the entire evening. She had so much responsibility lying squarely on her shoulders, but yielded excellent results.<\/p>\n

          Watching Ashley\u2019s professional project come to life makes us first semester grad students realize that this time next year, a similar task is awaiting us. Although it was a little intimidating, I now feel inspired to find a professional project in which I can showcase all I have learned throughout grad school. No other institution would provide the resources, the studios and opportunities to create something so impressive and professional. Now, not only does Ashley have a remarkable production to add to her resume, but she also made history happen, right there on the third floor of COM.<\/p>\n

          Ashley Davis\u2019 final professional project is currently being edited. Check back here to view the final publication and follow her on Twitter @ashley_m_davis<\/a>\u00a0to see what else she is up to.\u00a0<\/b>
          \n<\/em><\/p>\n

          On Wednesday, December 10 from 5-7 p.m. in Room 209, the College of Communication’s Department of Journalism is hosting the Journalism Graduate Showcase. The event will feature journalism graduate students presenting excerpts of their professional projects. Seniors, graduate students and faculty members are all invited. Adult beverages will be served, so please bring your ID.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

          Interested in one of BU College of Communication’s graduate programs? Tell us which one and why in the comments section below. You can find out more information on our website, so be sure to check it out here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          By Gina Kim MS Journalism ’16 BU College of Communication One of the greatest components to Boston University College of Communication\u2019s Journalism graduate program is the professional project. When I say \u201cgreatest,\u201d I don\u2019t mean easy, fun or relaxing.\u00a0 As with anything great comes hard work, and that is exactly what the professional project showcases. … Continue reading How a COM grad student made the 2014 midterm elections her professional project<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3725,"featured_media":1171,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[37091,1],"tags":[955,556,2613,37017,37005,1613,36944,37106,37003,283,198,37024,37061,36959,37002,37010,36929,922,37107,37160,37105,37030,37109,3399,37108],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1133"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3725"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1133"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1133\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1188,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1133\/revisions\/1188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1133"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1133"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comgrad\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1133"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}