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Nick Ballasy

Name:  Nicholas A. Ballasy

Hometown:  Warrington, PA

High School:  Central Bucks HS - East

Class Year:  Class of 2008

Majors:  Communication (Radio and Television) major, Journalism concentration, Political Science minor

Honors:  Rider University Merit Scholar, Target Corporation scholarship recipient, Awarded Rider University “Journalist of the Year” 2004-2005, Awarded Best Rider News Column of the Semester (2004-2005), Best Public Affairs Show Top 3 National Finalist in the National Broadcasting Society competition, International Telly Award for The News at Rider (Producer and Reporter)

Clubs, Activities, and Organizations: President of the Rider University Network (comm.rider.edu/run), President of Associates of Lamda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society, Vice President of Alpha Lamda Delta Honor Society, Rider News staff writer, Executive Producer and Reporter for The News at Rider (campus newscast), host and produce On the Issues, a public affairs talk show for campus and public access television across Central NJ and Bucks County, PA, wrote and produced Honoring True Patriots, a war veteran documentary

Internship: American Broadcasting Company (WABC) News - World News Tonight in New York City

Why did you choose to attend Rider University?
I chose Rider because it isn’t too small of a school but it’s also not too large.  Everyone is supportive of students and I saw a window of opportunity when I learned I could begin producing programming as early as my freshman year.  Each show, of course, had to be good enough to air, but I was confident Rider would give me the tools to learn.  Also, with easy access to New York City and Philadelphia, I knew that great internships in broadcasting would be at my fingertips – even if I wasn’t attending an urban institution.
 

What do you like most about Rider?
Academically, I enjoy Rider’s small student to professor ratio and the fact that all of the professors I’ve had were very accessible and willing to help students outside of the classroom.  I also like how undergraduates can take advantage of Rider’s television studio and other resources as early as they want.  I feel that Rider’s greatest asset as a whole is its student centeredness.  Students are involved all around the University.  Students have a strong voice at Rider. 

Rider’s location is fantastic.  My friends and I love to go to concerts and at Rider, we have easy access to Philadelphia and New York City.  Some of the best concert venues are nearby.  Also, we get the opportunity to visit the nearby shore – even if it’s just for the day.
 

What was/is your favorite course?
My favorite course is Political Communication because it provided me with an in-depth look into how politicians running for office present their platform and agenda to the public through the media and how the media relays it to the public.
 

What professor at Rider has influenced you the most?
Professor Shawn Kildea was instrumental at my early development at Rider.  He allowed me to start production on my program “On the Issues”.  I explained to him what I wanted to achieve as a freshman, utilizing Rider’s “get involved right away” attitude, and he guided me throughout the process.  He introduced me to key people in the Department of Communication and Journalism before my first semester at Rider so I was able to get help with my show from upper classmen and professors early on.
 

What has been your most memorable learning experience at Rider?
Getting involved with the Rider University Network (RUN) early was the best thing I could have done.  I got a great deal of experience conducting interviews and producing programming for the television network.  By the middle of my freshman year, I was booking interviews and doing shoots off campus with crews.  Some of the interviews I’ve done were with Former President Bill Clinton, Former Vice President Al Gore, 2004 Presidential Candidate General Wesley Clark, 2004 Presidential Nominee Senator John Kerry, New York Governor George Pataki, Governor Ed Rendell, Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, Miss America 2006, Star of RENT Anthony Rapp, Congressman Rush Holt, and Former UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter.  I look forward to so much more.
 

What are your plans after Rider?
I plan to start as a reporter at a middle market television station and hopefully move my way up to report in New York for a giant like ABC News.