Course Overview
In this one-week course, students will be introduced to the mass media majors offered at the Newhouse School through immersive experiences with professionals in the world of digital and broadcast journalism; public relations; advertising; music; and photography television, radio, and film. The course will include class sessions, informal discussions, panel talks, and hands-on learning to provide real-world insight into the college majors and possible career paths beyond. Students will have the chance to meet and network with Newhouse alumni and staff and participate in a resume review, as well as learn more about the college application process.
All students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Completion and have the opportunity to request a Syracuse University noncredit transcript.
Learning Objectives
- Demonstrate the ability to apply professional written and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrate the ability to work with others.
- Identify creative and business trends in the communications industry and be able to discuss these trends with your peers and media professionals.
- Apply news judgment to identify a story’s newsworthiness and angle.
- Explain orally how media, newsgathering, and storytelling is evolving today.
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: SCN 144
Format: On Location: Fisher Center, NYC (commuter, only)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school junior or senior status – or a 2024 high school graduate. Students must be able to commute to and from the Fisher Center location for class.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: Pass/Fail
Cost:
- Commuter, only: $995
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – On Location: Experience what college is really like in one of Syracuse University’s homes on the west or east coasts!
“I had the most amazing time this week networking, exploring the city, learning more about the
– Ava R., Summer College – On Location, 2023
communication careers I’m interested in, and meeting new friends and potential future classmates!”
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Location | Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – On Location | 1-Week Session: Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26, 2024 | Fisher Center, New York | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Noncredit | Open |
Course Requirements
Supplies
Students should budget for required textbooks and supplies.
Tentative Schedule
DAY 1: Monday, July 22 — 9:00am-4:00pm
- 9-9:30am: Welcome Breakfast & Mingling
- 9:30-10am: What You Need to Know for this Week — Intros, Tour of Fisher Center, Class Expectations
- 10-11:15am: Storytelling Through Interviewing with Professor Rachel Chang
- 11:30am-12pm: How to Pitch to Publications & Pitch Yourself with Professor Joanna Nikas (Deputy Style Editor, The Cut at NY Magazine)
- 12-12:30pm: Story Ideas and Quick Pitches
- 1:30-2:30pm: Networking Strategies with Michelle Hernández & Professor Rachel Chang
- 3-4pm: “Music and Dating as a Career” Press Conference with Ilana Dunn (Host & Executive Producer of Seeing Other People)
DAY 2: Tuesday, July 23 — 9:00am-4:00pm
- 9am-9:30am: Introduction to Journalism and Public Relations
- 9:30-11am: Social Platforms, Processes & Perspectives & Create a Social Platform with Professor Danielle Noriega
- 11:30-12:30am: Career Perspectives: Career Pathways from Newhouse with Annemarie Kropf (Producer, Travelzoo)
- 1:30-2:45pm: Mini Course: Cultural Marketing Strategy with Javier Farfan (Strategist, NFL)
- 3-4pm: Ins & Outs of Entertainment Journalism with Dana Falcone (Staff Writer, People)
DAY 3: Wednesday, July 24 — 9:00am-4:00pm
- 9am-9:30am: Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations
- 9:30-11am: Mini Course: Integrated Agency Life with Joanne Trout (COO, Omnicom)
- 12-1pm: Public Relations Field Trip: DKC Visit hosted by Newhouse alum Firouz Saghri with Sean Brech and Daniel Beim
- 2-2:45pm: Discussion: Media Hot Topics with Professor Rachel Chang
- 3-4pm: Travel Writing: Spotlighting Syracuse with Professor Rachel Chang
DAY 4: Thursday, July 25 — 9:00am-4:00pm
- 9am-9:30am: Introduction to TRF, Music and Visual Communications
- 9:30-10:45am: Mini Course: Craft, Culture & Careers with Manashi Mukherjee (Director, Studio and Technical Operations, NBC)
- 11-12:30pm: Reporting on the Streets of NYC
- 1:30-2:30pm: What’s Your Story: Personal Essay Writing with Professor Rachel Chang
- 2:45-4pm: Visual Communications Mini Course: The Power of Visual Communications & Phone Portraits with Wasim Ahmad
DAY 5: Friday, July 26 — 9:00am-4:00pm
- 9-10am: Introduction & Personal Statements: Peer Critiques
- 10:15-11am: How to Apply to Newhouse & Trivia with Christina Kinsey (Scholastic Engagement, Newhouse School)
- 11:30-12:30pm: Newhouse & Newhouse NYC Recent Alumni Panel with:
- Calvin Milliner, Associate Producer, The News Movement
- Jason Herman, Social Programming Coordinator, NFL
- Lilly Umana, Production Associate, Stay Tuned, NBC News
- 1:30-2:30pm: Everything You’ve Wanted to Ask About College Life with Current Newhouse Students with:
- Chimdi Onyeama, Advertising
- Dhani Joseph, Broadcast and Digital Journalism
- Giana di Tolla, Public Relations, Image Management
- 2:45-3:45pm: Lecture & Discussion: How to Use What You Learned this Week to Excel in College with Professor Rachel Chan
Faculty Bios
Rachel Chang
Rachel Chang is a leading editorial expert—with more than two decades of experience—who has been an editor at top publications (editor in chief of best-selling newsstand teen magazine J-14, senior editor at Us Weekly, entertainment editor at CosmoGIRL!, editor in chief of a Time special issue on Harry Styles) and now writes for major titles (regular contributor to Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure; bylines in The New York Times for Kids, Wall Street Journal’s Buy Side, Washington Post, Airbnb Magazine, Tripadvisor, Lonely Planet, and Hemispheres, among others).
Bridging the print and digital worlds, Rachel possesses the instincts to produce crisp and compelling content, ranging from solid investigative reporting and clever features to SEO-driven news pieces and innovative video packages. Known for her ability to combine the visual (she was the Us Weekly Hot Pics editor—Editors, They’re Just Like Us!) with strong writing (from quippy one-liners to long-form profiles), she has the innate sense to cater content for any audience, ranging from her decade as a tween/teen magazine editor to her email marketing experience geared toward retirees, and every demographic in between.
As a travel writer, she’s an avid experiential world explorer, who focuses on solo travel, experiential travel, and responsible tourism, as well as spotlighting untold Asian American stories. In the celebrity space, she’s interviewed a wide range of names including Kevin Costner, Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, Drew Barrymore, Kim Kardashian, and Justin Bieber, among many others, and now focuses on the nostalgia and diversity beats. She also founded the Teen Icon Awards, which “broke the internet” in its premiere year.
Rachel was inducted into Syracuse University’s S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications’ Wall of Fame in 2012.
Michelle Hernández
Michelle Hernández graduated from the Newhouse School where she majored in advertising with a minor in political science. She began her career as an associate buyer at Hill Holliday/Trilia Media, where she worked across a variety of clients and quickly grew into a media buyer role.
After three years in the industry, her passion for learning and helping others achieve their goals led her to Newhouse NYC, where she now serves as the program manager. In her free time, Michelle enjoys painting, studying new languages, testing out recipes and exploring her neighborhood.
Michelle lives in Brooklyn, but she will always consider Puerto Rico, where she was born and raised, her home.