November 2004

NBC Nightly News producer visits School of Journalism

Electronic journalism students at the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications had a chance to learn from one of the best when Steve Capus, executive producer of NBC Nightly News, spent a day teaching and talking to students.

"Steve Capus was shaping the lead for the NBC Nightly News—Colin Powell's resignation—even as he was evaluating our students' nightly Carolina News," said Charles Bierbauer, Dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies. " It gave our students a sense of front line journalism that's hard to match," he added.

Monday, November 15, became a busy news day as Capus first met with the electronic senior semester students who produce Carolina News, a live, 30-minute newscast that is seen weekdays on campus cable. He then taught a class in television reporting before returning to watch the student newscast. His critique stretched more than 90 minutes, as students peppered him with questions about national news.

Capus talked about the current transition from Tom Brokaw to Brian Williams on the anchor desk of NBC Nightly News, the network's decision making in projecting results of the recent Presidential election as well as what it was like at NBC during and after the 9/11 attacks.

"For our students, this was an extraordinary opportunity and we are particularly grateful to WIS, whose endowment of a visiting lectureship made this possible," said Bierbauer.

Capus has been executive producer of NBC Nightly News since May, 2001. He is the recipient of some of broadcasting's most prestigious honors, including a DuPont-Columbia Award, three Emmys and six Edward R. Murrow Awards.