FreeVoice - About Us

The FREEVOICE Online is a biweekly publication of the Department of Mass Media, Visual and Performing Arts. It is an outgrowth of the FREEVOICE, which was first published by the department in 1976.

Fall 2009 Staff

Professor Olive Vassell oversees the production of the FREEVOICEOnline and the FREEVOICE printed edition. Originally from London, she is founder and managing editor of Euromight.com, a multicultural pan-European news site.

Sora Arero is a junior majoring in journalism. What makes a good story: When the story can engage its readers, listeners or viewers, and make the consumer feel they are a part of the story. A good story responds to people’s call and communicates with the audience. Long-term goal: Work with news giants; CNN, ABC, VOA, and MSNBC and have my own radio station.

William Baltimore is a third year journalism student. What makes a good story: Writing about the facts and showing how the facts impact our everyday lives makes a good story. Long term goal: To own my own newspaper and write about the great things that happen locally and nationally.

Jocelyn Benjamin is a junior majoring in journalism. What makes a good story: A strong statement of facts that contains conflict and resolution while producing emotion and "ACTIONS." Long-term goal: To join the entertainment journalism umbrella and cover industry-specific news.

Porscha Coleman, Web Designer is a senior majoring in journalism. A good story is one that reaches the people, and inspires reflection and action. Long-term goal: to obtain a master's degree in documentary film and tell stories through print, online, and film media.

Melissa Costa is a junior majoring in journalism. What makes a good story: A good story is the one that lingers in the reader’s mind. It causes the reader to talk about it, share it and, perhaps, take action against or in favor of it. Long term goal: To become a feature writer for a magazine that covers minorities.

Elizabeth Dilone is a senior majoring in journalism. What makes a good story: The way the writer lays it out and how long its retained in the reader’s mind. Long-term goal: To write a romantic novel and work for Univision or Telemundo, the most popular Spanish channels in the United States.

Mindy Hill, Web Editor is a senior majoring in journalism with a career focus in public relations. What makes a good story: When all the facts are present and the information is informative and the reader can benefit. Long-term goal: To be a public relations consultant focusing attention to the missions of companies and organizations.

Rita Holland is a junior majoring in Journalism. What makes a good story: Bold, detailed, and thorough research that presents hard-core facts and produces positive results. Long-term goal: To work in Sports Journalism and write for a local magazine.

John Holmes is a junior majoring in journalism. What makes a good story: A story that immediately draws the interest of the reader and keeps the reader captivated through the entire story. Long-term goal:To become a successful sports writer who covers sports for a respectable newspaper or magazine.

Thomas Hynes, Photo Editor, is an editorial supervisor at PR Newswire. What makes a good story: Truth, humor and relevance. Long-term goal: To write for Saturday Night Live, a political column and fiction.

Ebony Jones, Copy Editor is a junior majoring in print journalism. What makes a good story: A good story is informative, engaging and thought-provoking. Long-term goal: A career in technical writing and also to work as a freelance writer.

Andrea Wright is a junior majoring in journalism. What makes a good story: Factual information that is presented in a way that captures the reader’s interest regardless of the subject matter. Long-term goal: To secure a career with a reputable news organization and excel in the field of journalism.

Tinawati Soesianto is a junior majoring in journalism. What makes a good story: If the writer can make the readers to see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and feel the story. Most of all, the story should have a purposeful message that can inspire its reader. Long-term goal: To become a freelance international writer and a photojournalist.

Contact Us by e-mail at freevoice@udc.edu.