By Dylan Kelley
Jeffrey Hope has worked at NESCom at Husson University since 2012, but his work in the journalism industry for many years prior. Out of Emerson College, he worked at WABI- TV5 as a videographer. After moving to Alaska and working for KTUU, he moved back with his family and has a major career change.
“I was a stay at home dad, and also made how-to videos for Lie-Nielsen Toolworks. “My wife worked in healthcare, so I would work part-time making videos and taking care of the children, then we would almost switch. Hope says that while working in the journalism field, he never imagined being a professor.
“I had no teaching background, but I have mentored planty,” Hope says. “We moved around a bit so it never really came into play. When they relocated to Bangor, knowing that they would stay, Hope says he just started looking for jobs.
“I knew a lot of people in the industry worked at NESCom, and I said ‘I want to work with those guys.’”
Hope says that’s what give NESCom an advantage. “Everyone here is from the industry that has vast knowledge and good connections.” Hope has worked at NESCom since 2012 and is the department head for journalism and sports journalism. Hope says that any aspiring journalists should become more than just a reporter.
“Nowadays, it is very useful to know about marketing, and how to properly run social media. There are many freelancers out there and the more that you can do the more useful you can be for not only yourself but whoever you may be working for.” Hope says that anyone that is interested in journalism to contact him. “I’m open to talk,” jokes Hope.
Sports journalism major Kevin Doyon says that Hope has taught him many things, including how to be a professional not only in journalism, but in life.
“He’s from the industry, so he knows who to talk to and how to approach it. He also taught me how to act professional in any setting.” Doyon is one example of the many students that Hope has mentored in their years at NESCom and beyond.