Absegami Media Students Produce “Living Well” with Robin Stoloff

 

For Robin Stoloff, taping her shows at Absegami is a bit of a family affair. Her son Luke Stoloff, on the left, is in the media class. Next to Luke is Howard Hirsch, a director at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, Holly Johns, 16, a junior, Robin and Gianna Malgieri, 18, a senior.

Absegami Media Students Produce “Living Well” with Robin Stoloff

By Maddy Vitale

GALLOWAY – Absegami High School media students get to work in all facets of the broadcast industry. From operating the camera, to the teleprompter, to being on-air, every student gets a glimpse into the life of television. From the excitement in the seconds before the show begins, to the thrill that comes from a successful broadcast, these teens experience it all.

And now, they are getting even more than a sneak-peek into the production world. They are getting the real-deal. The media students are helping with the production of the show “Living Well” with Robin Stoloff, an accomplished news reporter, television personality and local celebrity.  

Stoloff, of Galloway, was a long-time news reporter and anchor at NBC 40 before it went off the air in 2014. Now her two-minute health and lifestyle features air on SNJ Today News on Channel 26 WACP Tuesdays at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. and are also used on Lite Rock 96.9 WFPG.  

Mike Piotrowski, Absegami media teacher, worked with Stoloff when he was a cameraman at NBC 40. When NBC 40 went off the air Stoloff gave Piotrowski a call to talk about a partnership.

The idea grew into her taping her show at the Absegami studio.

“The kids are not only getting experience with someone in the business, but a local celebrity,” Piotrowski said.

And even more important than that, since the students are helping with production of a real show, some potential opportunities have arisen. While Piotrowski could not give specifics yet, he said his class may be producing a commercial for a food bank in the near future.

Stoloff’s new studio segments have been well-received. She said the media students have been very professional working behind the scenes.  

Students in Mike Piotrowski’s media class at Absegami such as Holly Johns, 16, get to hone their production skills.

“I have always enjoyed being around younger people and helping them reach their potential.  Mr. Piotrowski and the students have been great,” Stoloff said. “They are extremely professional and dedicated.  In TV production, a lot can go wrong so I was a little nervous for our first shoot, but everything went smoothly.   I am also finding that the guests think shooting with the students is really cool. And it is!”

But before “show time,” there was a lot of work to be done.

First, Stoloff needed a studio set to film her segments.

Professional set designer Peter Avagliano and Absegami industrial arts teacher Don Matousch created a set. They worked through the summer to make sure everything was perfect.

Stoloff said she was extremely thankful for their hard work.

“They were aware of my health segments from NBC 40 and wanted to see them back on the air,” she said. “They also saw it as a great way to help students and education.”

The partnership between Piotrowksi and his media class and Stoloff have been so successful.  

Senior Gianna Malgieri, 18, a senior, has been interning for Stoloff and loves the new studio. She wants to be a sideline reporter covering football someday.

“It’s such a nice opportunity and the studio is great,” she said.

Malgieri said she doesn’t get too nervous during tapings. Like the other media students, they are getting great experience in all areas of production.

Holly Johns, 16, a junior, explained that the media students rotate. Sometimes she will work the camera, another time a teleprompter or audio. She loves it all. When the class does Gami-TV, their inhouse broadcast, they even get to be the hosts.

“It’s all equally important,” Johns said. “It is a lot of fun. I love doing Robin’s show.”

On Oct. 26, Stoloff’s guest was Howard Hirsch, a director at the Atlantic City Rescue Mission. She said one of the many advantages of having a studio in the area is it is easier on the guests.

SNJ Today studios are in Millville in Cumberland County.

“It is far for many of my local contacts to travel for such a short interview. Having a studio in Galloway makes it more convenient and therefore, easier to schedule guests,” she said.

And there is an added perk for Stoloff.

She gets to see her children, both of whom go to Absegami. Her son Luke Stoloff, 17, is a junior and is in the media class. Her daughter Alanna, 14, is a 9th grader.

“It is not often that parents get a chance to come into their child’s world, so it is interesting to see him and his fellow students during their school day,” she said.

She said she hopes her daughter takes media classes in the future as well.

Stoloff has plans to start a foundation with scholarship opportunities for students in the media program at Absegami as a way to give back and show appreciation to the school and the students.

She offered some advice to students interested in going into journalism:

“Get as much experience as possible. Do internships and don’t worry about how much you are getting paid at first,” Stoloff said. “Don’t go into a job because someone thinks you should or just to make money.  Find something you like and learn to make a living at it.”

Email Robin Stoloff at robin.stoloff@townsquaremedia.com

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