by
JENNIFER CONNELL '99
More than two decades after earning an undergraduate degree at Montclair
State, Steve Adubato is back inside its classrooms. Armed with a doctorate
in mass communication, multiple Emmy awards for his work as a broadcaster
and a popular weekly column in The Star-Ledger, he is one of the
most recognizable personalities in New Jersey.
Adubato returned to his alma mater in the fall to teach an innovative
course called "Press, Politics and Pursuing the Presidency: Putting
the 2004 Presidential Election into Perspective."
The concept was the culmination of years of discussions between Adubato
and Geoffrey Newman, dean of the University's School of the Arts. How,
they wondered, could they best combine Adubato's media and political savvy
with the University's focus on interactive learning?
"Though public policy, media and communications influence the way
we think, talk and act, many don't understand how they intersect,"
Adubato said. "We wanted to create a course that brought together
students from different disciplines and different mindsets, so that whether
they were studying political science, communication or media, they could
take this class together."
The result was a curriculum that actively engaged students by bringing
live television to campus and industry insiders into the classroom.
"Steve brought to this class many professional guests who shared
unique insights with the students," Newman said. "The course
also included several live television productions that were taped using
the students as audience respondents." A special series of "One-on-One
with Steve Adubato" called "Democracy Works" was taped
in front of a student audience at the University's new Alexander
Kasser Theater, four shows were broadcast on Thirteen/WNET (PBS),
CN8-The Comcast Network and Cablevision.
History
in the making
Taught in the midst of the presidential campaign, the course allowed students
to live and learn history simultaneously. They analyzed debates, campaign
commercials, newscasts and Internet coverage of the election, and they
engaged some of the political and media industry's most knowledgeable
people.
Paul Mulshine, a conservative columnist with The Star-Ledger, talked
about the politics of politics--from dirty campaigning to "gotcha
journalism." Julian Philips, FOX News anchor, talked candidly with
students about the possible biases and influence the media had on the
2004 presidential election. Political pundits Bill Palatucci, finance
chair of the New Jersey Republican State Committee, and Democratic analyst
Congressman Bill Pascrell III, stars of the weekly show "The Battling
Bills," traded partisan jabs. Political veteran Harold Hodes, former
gubernatorial chief of staff, long-time lobbyist and key strategist to
numerous gubernatorial and political candidates, discussed why negative
campaigning works and offered students insight into why the system is
so difficult to change, and Montclair State students played an integral
part in the exchange.
"Steve is a quality commentator. He has political instincts, street
smarts and finesse," said Hodes. "He creates a dynamic that
allows students to engage in meaningful dialogue, and that is the key
ingredient."
The challenge
is to challenge
Analysis was a key component in Adubato's classroom. He challenged his
students to go beyond the required reading and viewing to question what
they saw and heard, and to document their theories in daily journals.
"Too often students don't think critically enough," Adubato
said. "The worst answer a student can give me is a simple yes or
no. I want to know why."
A collaborative effort among four disciplines--broadcasting, journalism,
political science and communication studies--interest in the course surged
upon its offering.
Wednesday nights last fall found the large lecture room in Richardson
Hall teeming with more than 100 graduate and upper-level undergraduate
students.
"Not only did the students enjoy and appreciate the many contributions
Steve made in teaching this course, but the course brought together majors
from multiple departments who normally do not have the opportunity to
work with artists and scholars from the television industry," said
Newman.
Students were introduced to conflicting viewpoints and pushed to challenge
their own preconceived notions.
NJ Monthly magazine Editor David Chmiel was a guest lecturer when
the newsstand issue of the magazine examined the rise and fall of Gov.
James E. McGreevey. The class discussion centered on the media's propensity
for "gotcha journalism." A heated discussion followed about
what makes something newsworthy.
"Don't accept anyone's argument at face value," Adubato told
the students. "Challenge them and come up with your own belief system."
Having appeared on television with him many times in the past, Chmiel
was happy to get the request to be a guest lecturer. He credits Adubato's
ability to listen in making him a successful moderator.
"Steve brings it down to a level that everyone can understand. The
fact that he is such a great listener allows you to have an actual conversation
on-air, and in the classroom."
 |
| Steve Adubato with MSU alumnae in the editing studio. Seated: Kelly Norvis '01; standing left to right: Mirjam Lablans '00 M.A. '04, Teresa Abrusci Wierbicki ’98 and Regina Potocnie '03. |
Making
his mark
It was 1980 when Adubato was a Montclair undergraduate. Ronald Reagan
was running for president, there was beer in the Rathskeller, and the
Clove Road apartments were the most inviting place on campus late at night.
Adubato wrote a weekly column for The Montclarion called "Tracks
to Trenton" in which he explored how decisions made in Trenton affected
higher education. And he was campaigning to be president of the Student
Government Association.
Adubato proved to be a quick study. After losing the student government
race, he went on to become the youngest person elected to the New Jersey
State Legislature, and to win countless awards for journalism and broadcasting
excellence.
Montclair State, he says, is where he honed his skills. "This is
my alma mater. This is where I learned media, journalism and politics."
These days he is at the top of his game. He has been featured by New
Jersey Monthly magazine as one of the "25 Most Influential People
in New Jersey," and was recently named to the magazine's list of
"Power Players" as one of the top five media figures in the
state.
A Montclair resident, Adubato calls Montclair State "part of the
cache of the community."
Having been to the Kasser Theater for a taping of "Democracy Works,"
Hodes also reflected on the changing face of the University. "Clearly
there has been a comprehensive plan by [President] Susan Cole to grow
the University. The campus is unbelievable. The theater will become a
destination place, just as Yogi Berra Stadium has...Montclair State is
on the move. It is a university to be reckoned with."
It's about
caring and learning
Adubato
is a firm believer that no one really cares how much you know until they
know how much you care.
There is no doubt about the sincerity with which he dedicates himself
to his craft and to sharing his expertise. He is a broadcaster, author,
motivational speaker and a university professor. He anchors two Channel
Thirteen/WNET (PBS) television shows, "Caucus: New Jersey with Steve
Adubato" and "Inside Trenton," in addition to anchoring
"One-on-One with Steve Adubato," which is broadcast on CN8-The
Comcast Network. The show employs many Montclair State graduates including
producer, Mirjam Lablans '00 '04 M.A. who served as Steve's teaching assistant
for the class. "There is no shortage of talent at Montclair State,"
Adubato said.
Adubato appears regularly as a media analyst on "FOX & Friends"
on FOX News Channel. In addition to his weekly column in The Star-Ledger,
he contributes to New Jersey Monthly, NJBIZ and NJ Medicine.
Through his firm, Stand and Deliver, he coaches executives on communications
and presentation skills and has written two books, Speak from the Heart
and Make the Connection: Improve Your Communication at Home and at
Work. The latter is due out in November.
Still, Adubato insists, it is a constant learning process. "You can
get very insulated as a journalist because you only talk to people you
know. It's been a great experience for me to teach this class at Montclair.
It's like having a really smart group of people in a focus group every
Wednesday night. I've learned a lot."