Piper Pascarella
Champaign,IL
Summary
Rising junior in the College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, studying journalism with an interest in covering U.S. politics. Skilled in professional audio recording and editing, broadcasting several stories on central Illinois' NPR affiliated station, Illinois Public Media. Newsroom experience includes Illinois Public Media (Reporter for Illinois Student Newsroom) and UI7 Newsroom (Assistant Producer on Illini Sports Night, Incoming Producer for UI7 Live in the Fall of 2024). Currently working in the College of Media as a teaching assistant for JOUR 200, an advanced composition course offered at UIUC.
At the moment: Examining the intricacies of womanhood in West Africa, and how the global issue of period poverty has led to a woman-led grassroots organization's fight to reframe the culture of menstruation in Sierra Leone. Using documentary filmmaking as the primary medium, this project examines the complex historical and cultural factors that impact how periods are viewed in Sierra Leone, as well as the profound implications that arise as a result of this multifaceted issue.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Producer - UI7 Live
UI7 Newsroom
07.2024 - Current
- Duration: 1 month
- Incoming producer for UI7 Live shows in the Fall of 2024
- UI7 Live is a weekly television broadcast that covers news in Champaign County.
Teaching Assistant
College of Media - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
01.2023 - Current
- Duration: 1 year 5 months
- Worked closely with doctorate level professors to teach an introductory online journalism course to over 200 students
- Graded assignments and delivered comprehensive feedback to more than 20 students every week
- Critiqued stories and assisted in revising work
- Held weekly office hours to tutor students individually
Documentary Filmmaker
College of Media - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
01.2024 - 05.2024
- Duration: 5 months
- Traveled to Freetown, Sierra Leone to create a documentary about period poverty and the profound implications the issue has on women in the west African country.
- Spent one week covering a women-led NGO in Freetown called Uman Tok. The organization works to reframe the culture of menstruation in Sierra Leone by distributing reusable feminine hygiene products and reproductive education to school aged boys and girls.
- Spent months researching the topic and built trust with documentary subjects by demonstrating empathy, active listening skills, and cultural sensitivity during interviews.
Assistant Producer - Illini Sports Night
UI7 Newsroom
01.2024 - 05.2024
- Duration: 5 months
- Worked as an Assistant Producer on Illini Sports Night, a weekly, live show dedicated to covering Big Ten athletics.
- Assisted executive producers in delegating story ideas to reporters and fulfilling all pre-show duties.
- Wrote teases, created run downs and assisted in editing stories for broadcast.
- Sat with executive director in control room and observed the show's operation.
Reporting Intern
Illinois Public Media
01.2023 - 12.2023
- Duration: 1 year
- Worked closely with professional journalists, public-radio reporters, editors and producers to create multimedia stories at professional standards
- Gathered information and developed perspectives about news subjects through research, interviews, observation and experience
- Operated in a hybrid program of classroom, professional and internship practices to produce weekly, local stories of the Champaign-Urbana area
- Reviewed audio scripts and corrected errors in prescribed editorial style and formatting guidelines
- Selected audio cuts and created pre-produced audio programs
- Broadcasted work on central Illinois' NPR station
Education
Bachelor of Science - Journalism
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL05.2026
High School Diploma -
James B. Conant High School
Hoffman Estates, IL05.2022
Skills
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Multimedia Journalism
- Photojournalism
- Microsoft 365
- Professional Audio
- Radio Broadcasting
- Leadership Qualities
- Audio post-production
- News writing
Locations
Greater Chicago Area
Timeline
Producer - UI7 Live
UI7 Newsroom
07.2024 - Current
Documentary Filmmaker
College of Media - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
01.2024 - 05.2024
Assistant Producer - Illini Sports Night
UI7 Newsroom
01.2024 - 05.2024
Teaching Assistant
College of Media - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
01.2023 - Current
Reporting Intern
Illinois Public Media
01.2023 - 12.2023
Bachelor of Science - Journalism
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
High School Diploma -
James B. Conant High School
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