Connecticut Mirror state budget reporter Keith Phaneuf “fell backwards” into his good ‘sudden death’ story, and into his career as a journalist. (Photo courtesy of WNPR/Chion Wolf)
Three semesters into his college career at the University of Connecticut in 1983, Keith Phaneuf dropped out.
Deciding he had no business majoring in engineering, Phaneuf nabbed a job as a reporter at a local radio station, WINY in Putnam.
“I wasn’t entirely interested in working for the radio industry, but I really liked the reporting aspect to my job,” Phaneuf said.
After a full year of covering municipal meetings for the radio station, Phaneuf decided to re-enroll at UConn, this time majoring in journalism. Continue reading →
Elizabeth Crowley, a 2013 UConn Journalism graduate and former editor in chief of The Daily Campus, now works at NBC Universal as a Creative Coordinator. (Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Crowley)
Elizabeth Crowley credits her University of Connecticut journalism classes and professors for helping her discover two important things: her passion for media and a path toward achieving her career goals.
Three years after graduating with her UConn journalism degree, Crowley is now working in Manhattan for NBC Universal as a creative coordinator.
A native of Fairfield, Connecticut, Crowley said she always aspired to make it in New York City.
She transferred to UConn from Northeastern University in her sophomore year, picking journalism as her major. During her very first week in Storrs, she began writing for UConn’s student newspaper, The Daily Campus.
Crowley said she loved her journalism classes, and reporting and editing for The Daily Campus. When she wasn’t practicing her print journalism skills in Storrs, Crowley interned at her local newspaper, the Stamford Advocate, writing mostly feature stories. She worked at the Advocate full-time during every break; winter, spring and summer.
Crowley said she focused all her efforts on print news when she first arrived at UConn. But after studying broadcast journalism in a class taught by adjunct Prof. Steve Kalb, she said became much more interested in television news production. Continue reading →
Ryan Gilbert graduated from UConn with a degree in journalism in 2012 and now works as national editor at Broadway.com. (Photo courtesy of Ryan Gilbert)
Growing up a train ride away from New York City, Ryan Gilbert always wanted to see Broadway shows.
Now, seeing them is his job.
As national editor of Broadway.com, a website devoted to news and editorial coverage of New York City’s theater scene, Gilbert sees every Broadway show at least once and brushes shoulders with some of the biggest names in theater.
He also curates web content for the 43 cities that host tours of Broadway shows through Broadway Across America, Broadway.com’s parent company. Recently, he spent several days immersed in the “Phantom of the Opera” production in Orlando, Fla.
He’s basically living his dream.
Fifteen years ago, though, his dream was very different. Continue reading →
Teresa (LaBarbera) Dufour has held most jobs in a broadcast newsroom: reporter, producer, anchor and host. Dufour says each of her job experiences, beginning from when she was still a journalism student at the University of Connecticut, were invaluable steps leading her to the next opportunity.
Fun fact: On New Years Eve 2013, Teresa married businessman Brandon Dufour in a lavish affair at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT and changed her professional name from LaBarbera to Dufour.
In a Q&A, Dufour explained the arc of her career in journalism since graduating from UConn in 2001. Continue reading →
David Ushery is an anchor for the weekend editions of “News 4 New York” and is the host and creator of “The Debrief with David Ushery.” Photo via nbcnewyork.com.
After landing competitive internships at both The Hartford Courant and Los Angeles Times while studying journalism as an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut, David Ushery recognized his calling in the news business.
Ushery is now an Emmy-award winning news anchor at one of the leading news stations in New York City, WNBC-TV News 4.
“I treasured my time in the small journalism department,” Ushery said in a phone interview. “In fact, I went back recently to say thank you to Wayne Worcester, who was one of my instructors there. That foundation of print and writing has served me well in my career.” Continue reading →
Karen Ali, a 1988 UConn journalism alumna, currently works as the web editor at the Connecticut Law Tribune in Hartford. (Photo courtesy of Karen Ali)
Karen Ali, a 1988 University of Connecticut graduate, discovered her passion for journalism while writing for The Daily Campus. Ever since, she has immersed herself in the journalism world. After stints at the Waterbury Republican-American, The (Danbury) News-Times and Patch.com, Ali now works for the Connecticut Law Tribune in Hartford.
As the CT Law Tribune’s web editor, Ali manages the website, handles the social media accounts, writes and copy edits articles, and takes photographs.
Ali also keeps busy blogging for a wellness website and writing freelance pieces for an indie book reviewing company.
In an email interview, Ali recalls her experience at UConn as a positive one, including the nerve-wracking “sudden death” assignment all j-majors face. Continue reading →
“Read everything. If you don’t read, you’re not a writer,” advises ’09 UConn grad and current ESPN.com NBA editor Justin Verrier. (Photo courtesy of Justin Verrier)
Justin Verrier graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2009 with a double major in Journalism and English. He currently serves as the contributing NBA editor for ESPN.com.
Verrier is responsible for organizing the National Basketball Association editorial content on the sports website while also contributing to blogs, columns and features. In the Q&A below, he talks about his job, his experience as an undergrad at UConn and his advice for aspiring sports journalists.
Ashley Papa ’05 serves as both a Guest Segment Producer and a writer for Fox News. (Photo Courtesy of Ashley Papa)
Ashley Papa works as the guest segment producer for “The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson.” The live news show on at Fox News Channel covers topics ranging from general news to investigative reporting to politics. Papa books the various talents for on air commentary and does all the pre-interviews with the guests.
Papa also writes about nutrition, dating and relationships for Foxnews.com’s online feature magazine. She is a 2005 graduate of the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science.
In an email interview, Papa shared insight into her broadcast journalism job as a talent booker and how UConn helped to shape her career.
What is a typical work day like for you?
A typical, non-breaking news day looks like this: I get in around 8 a.m. and leave around 4 p.m. However, I start checking the blackberry as soon as I get up. When I get into the office, I meet with my production team and my anchor to go over the show rundown and guest segments for the day. We talk about the topics we’re covering, I’ll do pre-interviews with them to get their point of view. If it is a satellite interview, I have to coordinate ordering studios, wherever that may be.
Greg Bordonaro ’08 was named editor of the Hartford Business Journal in June 2013. He started his career at the Hartford Business Journal 5 years ago as a reporter. (Photo via hartfordbusiness.com)
Greg Bordonaro landed the top editorial job at the Hartford Business Journal in June 2013. Bordonaro is a graduate of the University of Connecticut who earned his degree in Journalism and History in 2008.
In his role as editor, he oversees the Hartford Business Journal’s award-winning weekly business-to-business newspaper, website and special sections.
Founded in 1992, the Hartford Business Journal serves 25,000+ readers in 61 towns in the Greater Hartford region. Its website – HartfordBusiness.com – is a regularly updated online hub of news and information, providing daily email alerts and a digital archive of articles.
Bordonaro, a West Hartford resident, recalled his experience as a UConn Journalism major in an email interview.
Caitlin Emma, a 2011 honors journalism and political science graduate from Leominster, Mass., says UConn challenged her and lead her toward her career as a politics reporter. (Photo courtesy of Caitlin Emma)
As an education reporter at Politico Pro, Caitlin Emma gets to feed her passion for Washington D.C. politics and policy.
Emma, who graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2011 with degrees in journalism and political science, credits her UConn professors with nurturing her interest in politics and storytelling, and really pushing her toward her career goals.
What else has Emma accomplished and what advice does she have for current journalism students? In an email interview, she offered some highlights.
