An Interview with Erin DeGregorio

by Gordon Nary

Gordon: What initially interested you in pursuing a career in journalism?

Erin: I went into undergrad knowing I wanted to major in English like my mother and aunt, and I thought that I would become a book writer/author. Little did I know that I would end up liking working more with facts than wracking my brain for fictional story ideas. Who knew I would see my name as bylines in newspapers, magazines, and online newsrooms years later instead?

The moment that made me want to pursue journalism—before I even realized that it could actually be a career for me—happened by chance before my senior year of high school. I attended a massive literacy autographing event at a hotel in Times Square (New York City), where I met a few of my favorite young adult authors at the time. They signed my copies and I remember asking each of them for advice as an inspiring writer. When I was ready to leave the event, security gave specific instructions of what turns to take and what escalators to go down to get back to the street level. It turned out that I was led right into a sea of people gathering near the red carpet premiere of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.” I saw the film’s lead actor, Shia LaBeouf, greeting fans and watched other stars walk in front of an upright, larger-than-life Bumblebee robot to get their photographs taken. When I walked into the hotel earlier that day, nothing had been set up to indicate something so major would shut down a portion of Times Square just a few hours later—no lights, no paparazzi, no red velvet ropes, no metal barriers, and certainly no yellow Camaros. Even though I was behind all of the action, I decided to stay in the crowd for a few more hours, pushed forward to get closer, and watched the rest of the premiere unfold instead of going back home. The rush of adrenaline, coupled with the jealousy I had for the reporters interviewing these stars on the red carpet, was something I wanted to chase and experience again.

Gordon: When did you attend Siena College, what degree did you earn, who was your favorite teacher, and why was that teacher your favorite?

Erin: I was an English major who minored in marketing, writing, and communications at Siena College (Loudonville, New York), graduating in 2016. I served as the college’s English Society's treasurer my junior year and vice president my senior year, and spent the summer going into my senior year working on an original research project through the Donald R. ’63 and Pamela L. ’95 Casey Endowed Summer Fellowship Program, focusing on the infectious interest of the undead in pop culture, particularly through AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”

I credit so much of who and where I am today to my time at Siena. Spending weekends studying at the college’s library, interning at the college’s Office of Marketing and Communications, and exploring connections between literature and pop culture whenever I could in research papers—thanks to all the professors who allowed me to do so—prepared me to ask insightful questions, look at topics through different lenses, and learn where to look for academic research. Some of my favorite papers I wrote but never published, for example, were “The Suburban Home: The Failing Foundation for Public and Private Spheres and Identities in ‘Revolutionary Road’ and ‘Far From Home’,” “Suffering in the Suburbia of ‘Edward Scissorhands’ from Exerted Self-Control,” “Vampires May Not Have a Heart Beat, but Do Have Feelings: Exploring Homosexuality and Homosociality in Vampire Literature and Film,” and “Rick Grimes: The Best, Inhumane Zombie Apocalypse Hero in ‘The Walking Dead.’”

I didn’t have just one favorite teacher. A majority of my English, writing, and marketing professors—including Cheryl Buff, Karin Lin-Greenberg, Lisa Nevarez, Michael Pepe, Todd Snyder, Keith Wilhite, and the late Mary Fitzgerald-Hoyt—encouraged me to keep pushing my thinking and writing forward, and each helped make my educational experience at Siena so enjoyable. I took their classroom lessons with me in graduate school and beyond.

Gordon: When did you attend CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, what degree did you earn, what was your favorite course, and why was it your favorite?

Erin: After graduating from Siena, I attended the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism (New York, New York) and earned my master's degree in journalism—with a concentration in arts and culture reporting—in 2017, where I honed my print, broadcast and audio reporting skills. Given that it was an accelerated 16-month program, I didn’t have a favorite course because I often found that when I did enjoy a particular class, it was over and time to move onto another topic.

With that said, some of my favorite grad school moments actually happened outside of the classroom where I gained real-world exposure and experience. As a student reporter, I managed to interview Sochi ice dance gold medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White on the historic rink at Rockefeller Center (New York City) minutes after they announced they would not be competing in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics to defend their title; interview a number of Team USA Olympians, Paralympians, veterans, and hopefuls ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Games, in the heart of Times Square; cover singer and dancer Paula Abdul’s triumphant return to touring after 25 years (which was later retweeted by Abdul); and was front and center for an impromptu press conference with then-New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray—amongst reporters from local news outlets such as FOX 5 New York, 1010 WINS, ABC7 Eyewitness News, and NBC4 New York—after they voted in the 2016 presidential election. They all truly were once-in-a-lifetime experiences that reassured me journalism was the right path for me.

Gordon: Please provide us with an overview of your work at Fordham University School of Law.

Erin: I’ve worn a few hats at Fordham Law School since 2019, primarily writing for the Law School’s online newsroom and alumni magazine, covering the school’s faculty, students, alumni, and events. This past year, I became the Law School’s digital marketing and communications coordinator—aka the social media manager. I was excited to return to my love for marketing because I had pushed it to the side for so many years in order to focus on becoming a better writer and reporter for print journalism. For me, social media is another way I can storytell and now grab followers’ attention through photography, videos, and well-crafted and informative captions. Fordham Law is a special place with such unique and passionate people. I’m grateful that I have the ability to show what a Fordham Law education looks like from the moment students walk onto campus for an Admitted Students Day to when they receive their J.D. degrees, as well as after graduation when they embody the school’s motto as alumni and work “in the service of others,” in their respective careers.

Gordon: Please provide us with an overview of your work at The Tablet.

Erin: I primarily worked the education beat as a staff writer at The Tablet, the Diocese of Brooklyn’s newspaper, for a little more than a year, pitching and writing stories related to the Catholic elementary, junior high, high school, and college levels in Brooklyn and Queens during the ever-evolving coronavirus pandemic. When I joined the newspaper in July 2020, New York City was beginning to navigate the “new normal,” with federal, local, and state regulations changing nearly every day. I felt a responsibility to tell the stories of local Catholics who weren’t being covered by mainstream media and show how their faith was playing an instrumental role, in whatever they were doing, after the lockdowns were lifted. It was also critical for me to report on how Catholic schools, students, faculty, and administrations were physically returning and safely resuming after six months and what the new academic year would look like with required health and safety and vaccine mandates in place. Day-to-day life was fuzzy to say the least, and it was my job to keep up with it all for our readers. I believe my work helped increase the newspaper’s profile and reputation in providing the latest in Catholic education news during such unprecedented times.

Gordon: Who are two of your favorite journalists and why have you selected each of them?

Erin: A lifelong New Yorker, I grew up watching NY1 and it’s still my go-to choice for local news. Spectrum News NY1 reporter Roger Clark is someone I always look forward to watching because he often covers all the cool, current and upcoming things happening across the five boroughs. I’ll admit that this comes as no surprise given my affinity for pop culture, sports, and arts and culture. Some recent segments that come to mind are his visits to the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—STORY AND SPECTACLE exhibition at the Museum of the Moving Image, to the Barbie exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design, and to the Bronx Zoo for the new “World of Darkness” exhibit. Clark always reports with such enthusiasm that he makes you want to get up and go check out whatever he’s talking to you about in that two-to-three minute segment.

Another favorite journalist of mine has always been Katie Couric. When I was applying to grad school, I underwent an admissions interview with the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism and I remember being asked a number of questions that tested my knowledge of current events and delved into my passion for journalism, including “Who do you admire in the industry and why?” So, a decade later, I’m having deja-vu with this question. But the answer remains the same—Couric seems approachable and relatable and isn’t afraid to push back and ask the sometimes tough questions, not the “gotcha” questions, in the right tone. Her interviewing style and approach to reporting is one I continue to enjoy consuming through her “Wake-Up Call” newsletter.

Gordon: What are some of the ethical challenges of journalism and how should they be addressed?

Erin: I think one of the most pressing ethical challenges facing journalism right now is the public’s over-reliance on artificial intelligence in consuming and processing information. A quick Google search or “Hey Siri” prompt, for example, can answer a question in mere seconds, but does it provide the correct answer you need? As a journalist, I check the sources and look for multiple pieces of coverage to verify or confirm something’s accuracy, because it’s second nature to me. Others may not be thinking about that and may just verbally repeat or copy and paste the answer they’ve received, taking it at face value with little to no extra research. I always tell my non-reporter friends and family, if something sounds fishy or unbelievable, trust your gut and fact check it. Look for reputable and reliable sources and take the extra step to see if that organization/publication has a media bias.

Gordon: What are the ethical challenges of digital marketing and how should they be addressed?

Erin: I think a ethical challenge of digital marketing that we sometimes encounter is deceptive advertising on social media. For instance, it can come in the form of clickbait, an exaggerated or crafted testimonial, or misleading stats/data in order to make you, as a consumer, click a story link or purchase a product. There should be accountability for misinformation or usage of hyperbole, and social media influencers should make it obvious and say “#ad,” or the like, as a clear disclosure to their followers.

Gordon: Thank you for an exceptional interview