Fall 2020 – Point Park News Service

Documenting the vast spectrum of the effects of COVID-19

December 18, 2020 covid-19, photojournalism, video

These short video pieces are final projects of students from the JOUR 302 photojournalism course. Firefighting during a pandemic By Luke Mongelli A pandemic Thanksgiving in Murraysville By Lauren Nania Google working from home during pandemic By Gin Garner DJ Pandemic By Geena Provenzano Dating during a pandemic By Jared Murphy Music education during... Read More

Mental health and physical fitness are important, and a helping hand is always available

December 17, 2020

By Donald Bierhals Shannon Stonebrook senses a heightened level of anxiety amongst her clients due to COVID-19 and the restrictions put in place because of it, and she understands that the holidays, in general, can be a tough time for some people Lance Schrecengost believes people need to get their bodies moving, but also that extreme exercise is not for... Read More

Local Businesses Adapting to Pandemic

December 16, 2020

By Jamella Smith George Luck and Amber Boyd did not time the opening of their new smoothie and tea bar around the pandemic, but they’ve been able to make a go of it despite the COVID-19 virus. For Danielle Blair, a creator, the pandemic is a perfect time to make candles, soaps and bath salts that grew into a business.... Read More

Students’ Attitudes Toward Social Media Use During Pandemic Ebb and Flow

December 16, 2020

By Vanessa Vivas Senior theatre arts major Sara Maner, 21, woke up one day to a 21st-century epiphany: Instagram creates body dysmorphia in young adults. Michael Mathey, 21 also a theater arts major, woke up to a similar realization: he wants to cut off his relationship with social media. However, senior dance major Libbie Louis, 21, has been learning to appreciate... Read More

Long Distance Relationships and the Toll They Pay After College

December 14, 2020

By Joey Walz Ylva Forsuld has dealt with long-distance in the form of hours, and countries, ranging from three hours to 4,300 miles. Leigha Holt and her boyfriend will be living in the same state beginning in early 2021 for the first time in two years, which she is both happy and worried about. Katie Clevenger reminisced about the early... Read More

A Pittsburgh-based, successful business woman

December 7, 2020

By Jamella Smith Alicia Jenkins’ first successful business was a construction firm, which started while reestablishing a relationship with her estranged mother. While she mended things with her mother, Jenkins also realized she was good at business, even during a pandemic. “Everything that I ever thought would be a boundary for me, wasn’t. There are no boundaries, only what is... Read More

Butler County radio personality impacts community

December 7, 2020

By Donald Bierhals Bob Cupp gets up no later than 4:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. He grabs a cup of coffee, catches up on sports news for an hour, then “hits the ground running” as he makes his way to the Butler radio station where he has been working for 36 years. Tyler Friel admires Bob Cupp’s ability to make... Read More

Theatre Creator Writes His Plays About Tough Conversations

November 17, 2020

By Vanessa Vivas At the age of 11, Adil Mansoor chose himself and his identity as a young queer Pakistani boy. At the age of 35, he chose himself again and took an uncomfortable conversation about queerness with his Muslim mother to write a play. Mansoor is a local Pittsburgh theatre director and educator whose work focuses on centering people... Read More

Take a trip to Cuyahoga Valley

October 30, 2020October 30, 2020 Cuyahoga Valley, Environment, Jared Murphy, national park, photojournalism

By Jared Murphy Originating as a National Recreation Area in 1974, Cuyahoga Valley was redesignated as a national park 26 years later in 2000, making it the only national park that originated as a national recreation area. Cuyahoga Valley is the only national park in Ohio and is the closest park to Pittsburgh. Cuyahoga Valley is home to about one... Read More

Point Park University’s COVID-19 cases at a rise after weeks of zero cases

October 8, 2020

By James Barchetti After many weeks in which a dashboard documenting COVID-19 cases at Point Park University was barren, administrators have confirmed their first COVID-19 case in a commuter student. There have been multiple students quarantined in Lawrence Hall due to contact with people who have the virus throughout the last few weeks. The commuter was the only student... Read More