ComArts comments on careers

(L-R) Michael Curran, Matt Shearer, and Kurt Wirth discuss the line between entertainment and journalism. Photo by Aria Conti

Lasell held its annual ComArts Conversations on Tuesday, April 8, in the Yamawaki Auditorium. Assistant Provost Ken Calhoun and Communications Professor Meryl Perlson planned this event with Calhoun emceeing the event.

While this event was mainly for people looking to join the communications industry, Calhoun spoke on the fact that it’s a good opportunity for all majors to network and connect.

“I think this year’s lineup has something for everyone and that anyone, even the general public, would find the conversations illuminating and entertaining, not to mention educational,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun and Perlson partnered with four guest speakers who all have successful careers within the communications industry to share their wisdom with current students.

“The first matter of business is building the lineup of guest speakers,” Calhoun said. “To do that, we look at people who are making a difference, who are changing the game or bringing the work of content creation, design or storytelling to a new place.”

Matt Shearer, who spoke at the 10 a.m. session, is a digital media storyteller and journalist for WBZ Newsradio. Shearer is known for his creative TikTok’s and Instagram Reels.

“Journalism is storytelling, and storytelling is one of the oldest forms of entertainment. So let’s not completely take the art out of stories now just to say we’re journalists,” Shearer said during his ComArts Conversation.

At the 1 p.m. conversation, Latoyia Edwards, is a notable morning news anchor for NBC10 Boston and NECN, and was named one of Boston’s most influential Bostonians. “When you fake it, it actually becomes who you are,” she said.

(L-R) Hanna Babek, Latoyia Edwards, and Ken Calhoun discuss Edwards’s career in a ComArts Conversation. Photo by Caitlin Orsino

Freshman Lain Tripp heard Edwards speak and enjoyed the discussion. “I went to the 1 p.m. conversation with Latoyia Edwards, and I found her conversation really interesting! She talked about what it’s like to be an anchor on NBC, and I liked seeing how dedicated she is to her position. Toward the end, Latoyia actually began crying and getting emotional over her job, and it was touching to see someone so passionate about what they do,” Tripp said.

Travis Robertson is the co-founder and executive creative director of Colossus, an advertising, design, and creative company located in Boston. Robertson has worked with brands from Jack Daniels to New Balance to the Bruins. He gave advice to the students in the audience on how to further their careers.

“Your past lives, no matter how menial they seem, influence everything you do today, ultimately leading to more meaningful work. Be your most authentic self,” Robertson said during his talk.

Sophomore Katie Potter attended the second ComArts Conversation, which was with Alberta Chu, a documentary filmmaker and Founding Director of ASKlabs. “I liked ComArts Conversations because as someone who has switched majors a few times, it was a great way to solidify seeing myself entering the field,” Potter said. “I would definitely recommend to all majors because we got to see how even if you major in biology like Alberta Chu you can and still enter this industry and market yourself as an “expert” in that field.”