Interview: Alexa D'Amato and Michael Dent on The Afternoon Ramble

·12 min·1 clip

Hofstra students report from the historic presidential debate in Philadelphia, sharing their surreal experiences as college journalists.

This episode features an interview with Hofstra University student reporters Alexa D'Amato and Michael Dent about covering a historic presidential debate in Philadelphia. The hosts are the associate news director and news director, respectively, of the university's radio station, WRHU. They were selected for a partnership allowing them to report from the debate site. Their reports aired on the program "All Things Considered" at specific times, 4:48 and 5:48 PM, beginning the Monday before the debate. Alexa D'Amato describes the experience as surreal and a rare opportunity for a college journalist. She was stationed at the National Constitution Center, interacting with politicians and other journalists. Michael Dent discusses the logistical process of securing credentials and setting up broadcast equipment on location. He details the collaborative effort with NPR to produce their segments for a national audience. A surprising insight is the level of access and responsibility granted to these student reporters at a major national event. Alexa emphasizes the value of this as a hands-on learning opportunity beyond the classroom. Michael highlights the technical and professional coordination required to broadcast from a remote news event. The episode reveals how a university partnership can provide real-world broadcast journalism experience. The student reporters convey a sense of awe at being embedded in a significant political moment. The tone is conversational, educational, and reflective, focusing on the behind-the-scenes process of journalism. The style is an interview format, with the host prompting the students to share their personal experiences. This episode would appeal to journalism students, educators, and anyone interested in media operations around major political events. Listeners seeking deep political analysis of the debate itself might find the focus too procedural.

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