Audio & Video Work:
This video project is an extension of my previous VO project about the SMU Catholic Center and their weekly Sunday Supper. Specifically, this package focuses on the impact that COVID-19 had on the Catholic community on Campus. Thanks to local families and businesses, the Catholic Center was able to keep their tradition of weekly dinners going during COVID. They provided students with $10 gift cards so they could continue the tradition in a safe way with friends. IN anticipation of attendance levels returning to pre-pandemic levels, the Catholic Center recently brought brand new furniture. They hope that the new additions will help facilitate small group discussion, and community. Students of all faiths are welcome to attend every Sunday night at 6:15 at the Catholic Center, which is on the corner of Univeristy and Airline. If you want to donate a meal or become involved, you can visit the Catholic Center's website at https://www.smucatholic.org.
This VO project was about Sunday Supper at the Campus Catholic Ministry. Each week after mass, students walk over to the Catholic Center which is on the corner of University and Airline, around 6:15 pm. This event started around 10 years ago. Members of the community volunteer to sponsor food for an evening for the group of students. Before COVID, there was usually 80 students attending per week, but now the numbers are closer to 60 students per week. Students sit both inside and outside for the event (depending on the weather) and socialize in small and large groups. There is a brief announcement at the end of the Supper where the directors of the program give announcements about outreach events in the coming week. Sunday Supper allows the Dallas community to connect with religious and non religious SMU students. You do not need to sign up to attend each week, and everyone is welcome. If you want to sign up to sponsor a Supper, you can visit the Catholic Center's website at https://www.smucatholic.org.
For my "Ask the Expert" Interview, I chose to talk with Prof. Jake Batsell. Prof Batsell is the O'Neil Chair of Business Journalism- a program which combines Cox Students and Journalism and Fashion Media majors. Most of his classes focus on Business Journalism, digital audiences, and entrepreneurship. In this interview, we discussed his background, including working at The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. We also discussed my personal experiences in his MSA and Business Journalism class over the past 2 years, as well as how other students can learn how to enter into the realm of Business reporting. Financial literacy is one of the largest barriers into this field, and Prof Batsell helps break down the steps it takes to become a good Business Journalist. This interview provides listeners the opportunity to learn more about the O'Neil program and Prof. Batsell's Business Journalism expertise. If you want to connect with Prof. Batsell, you can find him on Twitter @JBatsell.