![\"title](\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/college-of-communication-and-media\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2019\/03\/focusimmigration.png.0.1x.generic.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nA Multi-Platform Project<\/h2>\n
George\u2019s idea \u2013 incorporating an immigration focus suggested by Alex and former News Lab intern Linette LaTurka \u2013 was quickly adopted by faculty, students, the Center for Cooperative Media and student editors of campus media attending a collaboration meeting.<\/p>\n
The newsworthy topic resonates on a campus where many students are either first-generation immigrants or related to first-generation immigrants. \u201cStudents felt that in this era of fake news, responsible journalism was required to tell the truth about all the nuances of immigration. The group stressed the importance of including all political viewpoints on the topic in order to shine a light on an important topic,\u201d George says.<\/p>\n
For students like Alex, the project is personal. \u201cIt really hits home for me because I myself am an immigrant and I think this topic is more important and relevant than ever today,\u201d she says. \u201cBy being able to tell immigrants\u2019 side of the story it will put a face to people who often just become a number.\u201d<\/p>\n
Effron notes, \u201cWe\u2019re all working together to involve students in multiple platforms \u2013 from social media and PR to television production and journalism \u2013 and give them a real-world experience.\u201d<\/p>\n
Faculty members have given immigration assignments that will provide project content. Professor Stuart MacLelland\u2019s students are shooting a short immigration-themed drama, while Thomas Franklin\u2019s multi-media class is producing journalism stories. Professor Kelly Whiteside\u2019s students are generating sports content for social media. George\u2019s features class students are reporting on everything from undocumented immigrants\u2019 anxieties to Trump supporters\u2019 immigration beliefs.<\/p>\n
The Montclarion \u2013 the recent winner of six first-place awards in the New Jersey Press Foundation College Newspaper Contest \u2013 will produce a special edition and an immigration reporter will speak at the April 10 School colloquium, where students will also discuss their project contributions.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne of the project\u2019s most exciting \u2013 and most experimental \u2013 elements is the social media viral campaign,\u201d says George. Professors Yi Lui and Mark Beal\u2019s Public Relations graduate students are devising a social media strategy that coordinates content and uses School social media handles to create the anticipated thunderclap effect. Additionally, a new website will draw work from all platforms to a single #FocusImmigration portal.<\/p>\n
To help fuel this, a new hashtag #MyImmigrantStoryIs invites people to share their immigration stories on social media. \u201cWe\u2019ll also set up a campus storytelling booth where people\u2019s stories can be recorded on camera,\u201d George says.<\/p>\n
Live from Montclair State University<\/h2>\n
On the night of April 10, campus radio station WMSC will be broadcasting live \u2013 as will the Montclair News Lab.<\/p>\n
While the News Lab\u2019s election night coverage aired on Montclair Channel 34, the April 10 telecast will be broadcast statewide from 4 to 6 p.m. \u201cThis is an exciting \u2013 and really significant \u2013 opportunity for our students,\u201d Effron says.<\/p>\n
He is working with colleague Vernard Gantt and others on the two-hour News Lab telecast, which will feature live and taped interviews and features.<\/p>\n
As Montclair News Lab executive producer for the planned telecast, School of Communication and Media student Samantha Easterday and her team of producers will ensure the live broadcast runs smoothly. \u201cI\u2019m really excited to see all of our hard work coming together. I want my crew and team to be able to look back and feel proud that we created an entertaining, informative production.\u201d<\/p>\n
Effron is equally enthusiastic about the project, insisting that, \u201cFor someone like me who has been in media my whole career, this is a joyful experience to see students embrace the project and make it even bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n