Welcome to Point of View, where we share the stories of all your favorite Pittsburgh legends from their Point Of View. Filmed in the Center for Media Innovation studio and led by the Point Park News Service, POV is a collaboration with Point Park’s student-run television station U-View. You can catch episodes of POV on U-View’s YouTube page.
Pittsburgh native Damon Young is an award-winning writer and cultural critic. His work, known for its sharp wit and fearless honesty, has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, GQ and The Washington Post. He was awarded the Thurber Prize for American Humor for his 2019 memoir in essays, “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker.” His latest book, “That’s How They Get You,” promises to further challenge and entertain readers with his signature voice. Michelangelo Pellis and Damon Young talk humor, shame and gentrification on this episode of POV.
Read Michelangelo’s profile on Damon Young in Pittsburgh City Paper.
Mary Ours has been breaking down your weather on KDKA since 2019. After celebrating 5 years at the station, she has a lot more to do in the ‘Burgh. Learn more Mary Ours in this episode of POV with Robert Fornataro.
Joey’s P.A.W. is a local organizations that funds prosthetics and other assisted materials for animals in the greater Pittsburgh region. Student Alexus Metayer sits down with founder Tanya Diable and fellow educator Boon. Learn more in this episode of POV!
Doralee Brooks is the City of Asylum’s Poet Laureate of Allegheny County. She is a professor, poet and community servant. Doralee is a fellow of the Western Pennsylvania Writing Project, and nonprofit organization, Cave Canem, which is committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of Black poets. Learn more about Doralee with student Michelangelo Pellis in this episode of POV!
Tori Yorgery has been a general assignment reporter for WTAE Action News 4 for over two years. The Penn State alum is now moving onto her next chapter. Sit down with student Alexus Metayer and learn more about Yorgery’s time in the ‘Burgh, where she is going next and her advice for early-career journalists on this episode of POV.
Signed to famous Pittsburgh native Wiz Khalifa’s record label, North View Heights rapper Fedd the God makes a visit to the CMI studio. In this Primanti’s lunch interview with student Alexus Metayer, Fedd details his musical journey, volunteer work with local students and what is in the works. Check it out below!
Emmy Award-winning multimedia journalist Erica Mokay stops into the CMI studio with student Devyn Amigh in this episode of POV. Check out below to listen to her journey to KDKA, some wild reporting stories and her best advice for up and coming journalists!
Have you noticed some new artwork on Smithfield Street? Meet one of the artists behind the colorful murals. Student Michelangelo Pellis sits down with local artist and Carnegie Mellon university graduate Max Gonzales. Learn more about what got Gonzales into graffiti art, being named Pittsburgh’s most wanted graffiti vandal and upcoming projects in this episode!
Elena LaQuatra is the morning traffic anchor and noon news anchor for Pittsburgh’s Action News 4. She joined WTAE in 2015 as a digital content creator for 4 the 412. After a reporting and anchoring stint at a television station in Erie, Elena returned to WTAE to a general assignment reporting role in 2018. Learn more about how her pageant career lead her to journalism by watching below!
Point Park alum and lead singer of “Chase and the Barons” details his media and music journey in this episode of POV. Learn more with student Jill Musser.
As a Choreographer, Kiesha Lalama has created more than 50 works to date. Kiesha choreographed feature films, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Sorority Row, hit television documentary Broadway or Bust (PBS), and television series Outsiders (WGN). Student Cassandra Harris sits down to learn more about her role as Managing and Artistic Director of the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Watch below!
Self-entitled “Yinzer-in-chief” Brian Carothers of oneBURGH joins us in the studio with student Avery Jerina. oneBURGH is dubbed Pittsburgh’s largest social media network with over 400,000 followers on Facebook. Tune in for all the latest details on a new show recorded on the Duquesne Incline and Carothers’ career journey in the interview below.
It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood when David Newell, also know as Mr. McFeely from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, paid a visit to the Center for Media Innovation. Conducted by students Natalea Hillen, Anthony Durzo and Kalliyan Winder, we sit down with the famous devilery driver to see how he’s been carrying on the Rogers legacy.
Our first episode features director of Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation and former Tribune Review reporter Andrew Conte, interviewed by student Devyn Amigh. Check it out below!