Sheridan pad of paper and pen on a table

CTV journalist gives Sheridan students front-row seat at Queen's Park presser

Newsroom authorby Dylan KavalskyMar 4, 2021
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Students in Sheridan’s Public Relations – Corporate Communications post-grad certificate program got a first-hand look into the inner workings of Canada’s news media last week, thanks to CTV News journalist Colin D’Mello.

The network’s Queen’s Park bureau chief dropped into the program’s Issues and Crisis Management class to share his insights into the often-complex relationship between the media and government. The session was the brainchild of Sheridan PR prof and former provincial government communications director Gabrielle Gallant.

Queen's Park Bureau Chief Colin D'Mello
But this was no ordinary guest lecture. During his Monday morning visit, D’Mello paused to log into a live news conference with Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care. Students watched in real-time as D’Mello posed questions to the Minister about vaccine rollout in seniors’ homes. Afterwards, he discussed students’ impressions of the Q&A and parsed the province’s response to the media queries. 

Later, D'Mello gave the class a virtual tour of a typical journalist’s remote workspace, which includes an array of desks and monitors needed for reporting and live broadcasting.

Public Relations – Corporate Communications program coordinator Nathan Mallett says the unique experience shows how educators are embracing the new-normal of distance education.

“Although most professors would much rather teach face-to-face, the shift to virtual has opened up some possibilities for amazing classroom activities,” said Mallett. “Guest speakers can drop in effortlessly from anywhere and there seems to be no limits to who is available.”

Gallant’s next visiting lecturer will be former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne.

Dylan Kavalsky is a student in Sheridan’s Public Relations – Corporate Communications post-grad certificate program.

Pictured above right: Queen's Park Bureau Chief Colin D'Mello during a live news conference.

Students in Sheridan’s Public Relations – Corporate Communications post-grad certificate program got a first-hand look into the inner workings of Canada’s news media last week, thanks to CTV News journalist Colin D’Mello.

The network’s Queen’s Park bureau chief dropped into the program’s Issues and Crisis Management class to share his insights into the often-complex relationship between the media and government. The session was the brainchild of Sheridan PR prof and former provincial government communications director Gabrielle Gallant.

Queen's Park Bureau Chief Colin D'Mello
But this was no ordinary guest lecture. During his Monday morning visit, D’Mello paused to log into a live news conference with Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care. Students watched in real-time as D’Mello posed questions to the Minister about vaccine rollout in seniors’ homes. Afterwards, he discussed students’ impressions of the Q&A and parsed the province’s response to the media queries. 

Later, D'Mello gave the class a virtual tour of a typical journalist’s remote workspace, which includes an array of desks and monitors needed for reporting and live broadcasting.

Public Relations – Corporate Communications program coordinator Nathan Mallett says the unique experience shows how educators are embracing the new-normal of distance education.

“Although most professors would much rather teach face-to-face, the shift to virtual has opened up some possibilities for amazing classroom activities,” said Mallett. “Guest speakers can drop in effortlessly from anywhere and there seems to be no limits to who is available.”

Gallant’s next visiting lecturer will be former Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne.

Dylan Kavalsky is a student in Sheridan’s Public Relations – Corporate Communications post-grad certificate program.

Pictured above right: Queen's Park Bureau Chief Colin D'Mello during a live news conference.

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