Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication

Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication

To prepare students for the responsibilities of inspired leadership and service in the vibrant public discourse that is essential to the health of our nation’s democracy, the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication has for two decades provided students with unparalleled experiential, programmatic and curricular opportunities.

 

Practicum credits in The Fitzwater Center or Ravens Sports Network allow students to apply what they learn in the classroom in real-world settings.

 

Since 2008, PoliticsFitzU has partnered with regional media—most recently with The Boston Herald, NBC-10 Boston/NECN/Telemundo and The Granite State News Collaborative—to cover the road to the White House, which starts in the Granite State, home of the First-in-the-Nation Primary. Students from across campus can enroll in a practicum credit to work with PoliticsFitzU to cover the Iowa Caucuses, the N.H. Primary, the national political conventions, the November vote, and the Presidential Inauguration as credential media.

 

Other practicum opportunities that help a student’s resume stand out can be found on the Fitzwater Center’s award-winning production teams, which keep the studio lights on and the mics hot year-round. In the Patterson Television Suite, students work in master control with the Fitzwater Center staff as they record and edit New Hampshire Public Broadcasting’s “The State We’re In,” a weekly public affairs show that hit its 200th episode in 2024. Students can also join the production crew for regular podcasts, including: “$100 Plus Mileage,” with Citizens Count, and “The Legal Impact,” with Laura Knoy of the Franklin Pierce Law Center at UNH.

 

Looking for experience in journalism, event planning, marketing, and public relations? Join a Fitzwater Center practicum to deliver a vibrant slate of programming for campus and regional communities, including national Fitzwater Forums; the Tuesday Briefings public affairs series; the Fry Lecture Series; Constitution Day observances; The Fitzwater Center Honors and The Medallion Lecture; and IndieLens Pop-Up, a national civic engagement initiative sponsored by PBS and ITV. Students can also be part of the regular news show on FPTV; host talk radio or music shows on WFPC-LP 105.3 FM, the area’s arts and culture station; or write for The Pierce Arrow, the campus print newspaper.

 

And as the NATAS-award winning Ravens Sports Network moves to FloSports, a global streaming platform, practicum students can be found in the press box calling play by play or providing commentary, on the side-line interviewing players and coaches, or even in the studio producing recorded segments for pre-game and half-time shows. An RSN team even joined the Men’s Soccer team in Charlotte as they won their second national championship, making NCAA history with its national Spanish-language livestreams. 

 

The 12,000-square-foot comprehensive communications facility includes the Patterson Television Suite, equipped with advanced remote technologies; a smaller high-definition studio available for student use; two high-definition mobile field production units; an audio production studio and editing suite; a high definition video production instructional laboratory, classroom and editing suites, all with the Adobe Creative Suite, on a Macintosh platform; digital media technology for use in student’s coursework; and an interactive journalism lab.

 

For further information regarding The Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication, contact Dr. Kristen Nevious, director, at (603) 899-1039 or email neviousk@169577.com

About Franklin Pierce University

Franklin Pierce University is an accredited private university in New Hampshire that achieves outstanding student success through the integration of liberal arts and professional programs. The University includes a 1200-acre residential campus in Rindge, N.H., as well as centers in Manchester, Lebanon. Goodyear, AZ and Round Rock, TX. Students in the College of Business, the College of Health and Natural Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences earn degrees through the doctoral level in classroom-based and online programs. Franklin Pierce is a NCAA Division II institution, with 24 varsity athletic teams for men and women.

Drawing on our strong foundation in liberal education, we offer highly personalized, financially accessible academic programs that develop essential professional skills, promote close community connections, and help students realize their potential to become engaged and qualified leaders.

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