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RU-tv Students Visit NBC's Today Show

Fourteen Rutgers students visited NBC's Today show on April 10 and met alumna Natalie Morales RC'94. The trip was part of the RU-tv Living-Learning Community program.

"When Natalie Morales came over to talk to us, it really encouraged the residents to focus on their goals and work towards them. Watching a live television program similar to one RU-tv produces twice a week, meeting a successful Rutgers alumna, and doing all of this in a big market like New York City was an experience I'll never forget," says Matthew Wolfson, an RU-tv Living-Learning Community supervisor and current School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) student.

Field trips help to fulfill the goals of the program by providing opportunities for the students to get an in-depth look at many aspects of journalism and television, including journalistic integrity, impartiality in reporting, and the role the media plays in society. Working with the Rutgers University Alumni Association and Rutgers alumni who are involved with the Today Show, the visit offered a unique experience to community members: a chance to see up close some of the inner workings of nationally broadcasting a live television production. 

"It was exciting and energizing for the whole group. [WNBC Sports Anchor] Chris Cimino also spoke to us and was very friendly and down-to-earth. My favorite moment was when the entire group did the Rutgers spirit cheer ("Upstream red team, red team upstream!") during a pan across the audience. All together, it was an exciting and, especially, validating experience as they recognized the similarity between the way the Today show does it and the way we do it," says Mohammed Nazmussadad, a Living-Learning Community floor leader and SAS student.

The RU-tv community combines residential and academic experience into an extra- and co-curricular program. Students explore aspects of television production varying from hands-on equipment training to development of their own original television content that is broadcast on the Rutgers University Television Network.

For a quick view of the group's appearance on TV, visit ur.rutgers.edu/video/rutv/ru-tv_today-lg.wmv.

Morales was thrilled to meet with students from her alma mater. She will be inducted into the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni on Saturday, May 2, in New Brunswick. Visit Ralumni.com/HDA to learn more.