Faculty Spotlight: Marc Rosenweig

Nine years ago, Marc Rosenweig decided to end his 30-year career in the television and media industry and begin educating the next generation of professionals.

He left behind an impressive record of achievement, which included being part of program management teams that launched CNBC and the YES Network, where Rosenweig worked as the senior vice president of programming. Rosenweig pointed to his time at these networks as his most satisfying during his time in the industry.

“Being a part of teams that started two cable networks and seeing them grow from scratch into something in the future was very satisfying,” Rosenweig said.  But, he felt it was time to begin preparing the next generation of journalists.

“I wanted to give back and share my knowledge of the media industry with students," Rosenweig said. “So they can get off to a good start with their careers.”

Rosenweig worked with other professors to develop curriculum for the school’s new Journalism major and Sports media concentrations and currently coordinates the Journalism and the Television and Digital Media majors. For the past nine years, he has moderated panel discussions at the nearby Yogi Berra Museum to provide an experience for Montclair State students. He also teaches classes such as: media ethics, media management, news writing and production in the TVDM major, and supervises a number of student internships.

“I emphasize to students to be as versatile as possible; do it all: research, writing, reporting, interviewing, editing, video,” Rosenweig said. “Be prepared, be on time, be ready be someone who goes the extra mile.”

Aside from his own experiences and knowledge, Rosenweig will routinely bring some of his contacts from the field, as well as alumni of the program, to his classes to share their experiences and speak with his students. This is another way that Rosenweig works to prepare his students for life after college.

When advising his students, Rosenweig likes to harken back to journalist Jimmy Breslin, who said, “I tell them to be their own advocate. If you don’t toot your own horn, there is no music.”

When Rosenweig began his career as a full-time instructor, finding the best way to let his students know he was always available was the biggest challenge he faced.

“At first I was trying to develop my teaching style, how to motivate students to want to learn,” Rosenweig said. “I had to figure out how to let them know I was here for them, that they could always come talk to me.”

“That’s what I emphasize to students; they must be able to conduct group and individual work successfully.”

Since then, Rosenweig has taken satisfaction in watching his students succeed in the classroom and then in their careers. And while he acknowledges he may assist them, he gives all the credit to his students.

“They’re the ones that do it. I can share techniques, but they deserve all the credit.”

Rosenweig is proud of the progress that he and his colleagues have made in TVDM and Journalism since his arrival almost a decade ago, and looks forward to what the future holds for it as well as the School of Communication as a whole.

“The future is very exciting here,” Rosenweig said. “We have a new building under construction which will give us more learning tools to share with the students as well as many people teaching here who know how to use those tools to enhance learning.”