SHU Alum Produces TV Special about U.S.-Mexico Border

Maisy Carvalho honed skills as student newspaper editor and SHU broadcast producer

Maisy Carvalho ’22 has made tremendous strides in the broadcasting field since earning her degree in media arts with a concentration in journalism from Sacred Heart University. She recently produced an hour-long, prime time special, On the Frontline, about conditions at the United States border with Mexico.

Carvalho was an active student at SHU. She was a resident success assistant and a student government representative, in addition to working for the office of student engagement & involvement. She also was editor-in-chief for The Spectrum, SHU’s school newspaper, and was senior producer of The Pulse, the University’s student-produced television news program. It was her work with The Pulse that piqued her interest in broadcast journalism.

“My experience at Sacred Heart is my foundation for being where I am,” said Carvalho. “Even though I had never been in a real newsroom before, I was taught news judgment, communication and how to meet deadlines efficiently. I also was taught how to rely on other people and utilize others’ strengths to make a production the best it could be.”

Carvalho is a producer at WSLS 10 News in Roanoke, VA. She got the position after posting examples of her work on YouTube with tags to attract news directors. Within days, she was receiving emails from stations around the country interested in hiring her. After deciding the WSLS 10 News station was the best fit, she moved to Virginia to begin her job just a week after graduating from SHU last May.

Day-to-day, Carvalho is responsible for making sure news segments run smoothly with correct information and that they are interesting for viewers. She is also responsible for writing daily content and producing breaking news pieces. Her routine changed, however, when she was given the opportunity to produce the hour-long, prime time special, On the Frontline.

The station’s main anchor, John Carlin, hosted the piece, which focused on the Virginia National Guard’s 30-day deployment to the Mexican border in Eagle Pass, TX. Carvalho was familiar with the content, so her news director offered her the opportunity to produce the special.

“It was a crazy couple of months, and there were moments when I did not think it was going to happen,” said Carvalho. “Being on the younger side, I sometimes found it tough telling other professionals in the building what to do. Luckily, I work for a great company and with a team that supported me through all the bumps in the road.”

Joseph Alicastro, a SHU communication professor and faculty advisor for The Pulse, worked alongside Carvalho when she was a student. Recognizing her talent did not take him long.

“It was during Maisy’s junior year that she really flourished. It was clear that she was talented at news production and in her ability to be a leader,” said Alicastro. “She truly brings out the best in the people around her.”

Carvalho says she is grateful for the opportunities SHU provided her. She suggests that students interested in a broadcasting career take advantage of internship opportunities to experience the fast-paced, day-to-day life in a newsroom.